The last time I saw her was at my Raya open house. She came early, with her sister Aly who cooked amazing curry for the roti jala that she brought. While Aly cooked and mum last-touching up the food, Lily kept me company. She looked like she was cold so I gave her a blanket, which she just put aside. I was mopping and she was watching. I felt comfortable with her there, chatting a little. Aly came to the living room, taking a break. "Aik, macam tu ke mop?" she teased. I wasn't that pissed so I kept quiet. No point arguing with midde aged ladies who's been doing it for years, and besides, her curry's awesome. Lily argued, "Dia dah mop satu lantai tadi. Ni second round."
After 2 rounds of express mopping, I laid on the sofa, tired. Lily was more concern about my migraine and slight diziness, than the cancer that she's been fighting for more than 4 years. Mum finished preparing, walked to the living room, saw me with my legs up, relaxing on the sofa. "Amboi, baring ke?", she asked sarcastically. Before I could give any smart remark, Lily came to my defense, "Dia penat tu. Dia kemas tadi". The two went on about me deserving/not deserving that rest while I kept laying there, happily.
Today, in the car with mum, I randomly commented, "No wonder everyone loves Aunty Lily, kan". "What do you mean?" asked mum. " Remember during the open house? She defended me even though she didn't have to. And like you said, she always defended whoever that's being scold." I recalled mum telling me that Lily's the favourite of the family. Although timid, she's very soft, loving and always defended her children against her sister/mum's criticism. "It's hard not to love her" I added.
Next 30 minutes, with mum and Aly in the car, we got a call that Lily collapsed. We hurried through bad trafic, got there in double the time it usually take, and got the worst news. Lily's gone. Everything happened so fast. The moaning, the crying, the staring, the funeral, the burial. But I couldn't help but wonder, she even left at a convenient time, not wanting to trouble anyone. At a Saturday, when everyone's not busy. In the afternoon, when there's ample time for the process to be done before dusk. In Syawal, after her kids could celebrate Raya with her. This year, when her second daughter has finished her Diploma and her sister got job offers, after sacrificing her work to look after her for years. She had even told the Ustaz how she wanted things to be done, so it will go smoothly.
The only inconvenience was, it rained today. But how else could the sky weeps for losing someone sweet like Lily?
Al-Fatihah
