After Shock

Ring Ring Ring~

I was in the toilet

Ring Ring Ring~

It was 1:25am in the morning and I thought it should be my sister again

Ring Ring Ring~

I quickly rushed over the phone

I picked it up

It was not my sister's voice

It  was a woman's voice

Started off with crying

Saying that my third uncle was gone

I was totally frozen there

My brain was blank

Thinking that, who was playing joke at this midnight?

She claimed for dad

Now I only realised that, it was real

At that time, only I could recognise the sound of my aunt from her tear

I woke myself up

Telling that my dad was sleeping

I held on the phone

Asking my mum to listen

.... ....

It was not a joke

I still remembered that he was the most educated one among my dad's siblings

I still remembered that he was one of the uncle that lived far away from the other uncle

I still remembered that he used to tell his older time story to us when all of us, the younger are around

I still remembered that he always welcomed us with the warmest smile when we were visiting him

I still remembered that he was a filial son of my  grandparents, that he would certainly reunion with all the siblings during Chinese New Year

I still remembered that he was an active person in education, being a temporary teacher to educate after retiring from being a headmaster

I still remembered that he contributed a lot for the Chinese  society in his area, that he was awarded for what he had done

I still remembered that, he was the greatest uncle in my family

Everything

I  still remembered

Until today

Until the moment I am writing this article

I could not accept that he, has left us

Has left this world

To another world

Every moment when I am recalling the moment I receive the call

Every moment do I feeling that it is a dream, it is a joke

It never happen

Still, at the end, it has become a reality

I think, all of us that know him

Cannot accept it

It is really sad that the last Chinese New Year

Is the last time I meet him

It should be a happy night

Uncle went to a wedding party

Perhaps drinking a bit of beer

While walking down the stairs

Out of the blue

He fell

His neck knocked on the cement stairs

Within that few seconds

He passed away

This was what I heard from the entire incident

The day of the incident

Was another black 22nd

Which I hated this day every month

I was thinking

If a person left the world due to health problem

Everyone still could accept it

But

To a normal person like my uncle

It was really shocked to know

He left by this way

A few seconds before he might still cheering up happily with his friends

A few seconds later he had already lost his breath

It was really sad

That

His family members could not see him for the last time before he left

His family members were unable to listen to him for the last time

And

To give his last words

All of the siblings were extremely sad

My youngest uncle's words really made me thoughtful

(Though he was eagerly to go to Bentong after having known the news, which he cancelled his decision due to midnight, and everyone scolded him for his act)

"I only have a few brothers, that I could count using my fingers"

I suddenly feel that

"I have two fingers to count for my only two sisters, and I am appreciating them. Yes, I should."

Until now

It is still a shock for everyone

No matter how

I wish that aunty and all my cousins

will stay tough and accept the reality

May my uncle's soul

Rest in peace