Fragile Love

Short story, copyright mine.





For them, they had no opportunity to exchange last words.

It was a rush, a mad rush down the airport. Shane had so much faith in God. But perhaps all was in vain. He wanted to see her, for the last time, before she was cremated. Anxious to get back, he hardly slept since he heard the news. It was nearly impossible to get transit flights back from America to Singapore, but he was going to make it. He had to. With just the backpack on his shoulders, he ran, the length down Taipei airport to catch the connecting flight. He made it. The moment he boarded, the cabin doors closed and the plane prepared for takeoff. He made it this far, he could make it all the way, even though deep inside he felt like he wanted to die.

Rose was a sweet, quiet girl who loved kids, and loved to smile. Because of this love, she was going to become a teacher. Only that, Rose died early. The departure of a young adult always seems so sad, so wasted. At twenty-three, she was just beginning to bloom into a beautiful new phase of life. But at twenty-three, she decided that it was over. Rose decided to end her life, for reasons only known to her, one fateful morning. Just before her teaching assessment, Rose jumped. Down a seven storey flat. She died on impact.

He bought a ring for her. He had never bought a ring before, and wanted my help on it. Shane asked for my ring size. And bought one with the hope of it being a perfect fit. More than a ring, it symbolized all that he wanted to say to her. That she was special in his life.That she mattered. That of all the girls in his life that he had crossed paths with, she was the best one for him. He never had the chance to give it to her, to tell her that along with this ring, he wanted to marry her, to share their life together.

To see her one last time. He made it. He witnessed the cremation. He managed to press a rose into her hands, her pale and cold hands now belonging to a world not of his own. With a heavy heart he stood there, not believing his eyes. The last time he saw her, she was full of life, full of love. He knew that his heart broke, the moment he heard that she was dead. A heart broken can be mended, but no one could replace Rose, in his heart.

Since Shane was a teenager, he had always dreamed of love. Not just a love based on mutual attraction to one another, or those which conjure up butterfly feelings and tingles of excitement whenever he meets her. Shane wanted a love that endures. He shared to me that for him, it would be like the shooting of an arrow into a bulls’eye. Just need to meet one person, and that would be the right one. Just want to have one relationship. And she would be the best one. So through the angst of the growing-up years, through my crushes, and many failed relationships that I had, Shane stayed true to his desire. He never embarked on any love affair. He did not want to. Until he met Rose.

A love so deep it can only break the soul when it is dying. I felt pained at seeing Shane, my best friend, going through so much anguish. I wanted so much for him to be happy again.

Sometimes love has the ability to tear us apart, yet it reveals in us, the strength deep within that we never knew we had.

Nearly a year later, we met again. Two old friends, not yet weary with the tribulations of Life, instead, looking forward to the new year with many hopes and promises. The year ahead was going to be a good one. I gently asked him, if, it was still painful. He has moved into another season now, after the withering of his fragile emotions the year before. Shane told me that he has, after a period of silence, that he has been able to go on. That God has been so willing to do a heart surgery for him, that he can find himself being attracted to other godly women. I rejoiced in my spirit that he has found himself, along with God’s love. Time heals some; but not all. Only God can heal all.



In memory of Lil, 1 year death anniversary today. Rest in peace.