emo mo mo

today is my dead cousin's birthday. he passed away in 1996 while attending national service. to this day, i still am not sure of his death circumstances but i have not summon enough courage to ask the rest of the family. they may be saddened yet again. he would have been 32 (i think) this year. dying young was such a waste of a talent of his. he was smart and funny and caring. i cannot really remember what he looks like. i remember his favourite action though. it was pulling other people's nose. my nose had been pulled by him so frequently in the past that i only remembered it. i can still remember the night when the news of his death came. me and yu were sleeping when all of a sudden, our parents woke us up and asked our neighbour to babysit us. the night passed in a blur and the next morning, we were told he was dead. from a bullet wound nonetheless. maybe my memory is hazy but that was all i could remember.

i went to the temple with my aunt today to clean his urn. i cannot believe how dirty it was. the temple had its walls repainted but it did not protect the urns that were residing there. anyway, we prayed to him and said our birthday wishes. my aunt cried a bit and i got teary. he was special to her i guess since she practically raised all of us- my sisters and cousins.

treasure your lives everyone. there are others who want to live but cannot due to various circumstances. and treasure those around you. do not take them for granted, especially your family. makes me want to clear up any misunderstandings between friends and family.

tsubasa^^ i need wings to fly