A Little Story Closer to US / 8:23 AM

A Little Story Closer to Us presents "Till Death Do Us Apart" written by a fellow from Singapore named Muhammad Hazwan Bin Norly. This is the first of many future stories that will be written and posted on this blog. A Little Story Closer to Us was created in lieu of the writing competition  themed Love and Romance. It serves as a sort of written gallery for any works by Muhammad Hazwan Bin Norly. Author's note: "This is a great platform for me to just put in anything I happen to write down. The themes may vary for different stories but as a man of emotions, it usually revolves around love, romance, lust, anger and happiness. For this story, I wrote in the Singaporean context with terms like aunties and whatnot because we always imagine our love stories at other places so I wanted to do something different. I hope you like it." Soon to come is also A Little Poem in the Book.

Till Death Do Us Apart

 

I walk past lampposts and bus stops remembering every single detail of the day we first met. It wasn’t a sunny day and I wasn’t in my best mood. In fact the sky was pouring it heavier than it had ever been that July. It was the same lamppost which I banged into while running for shelter amongst others who fear of getting a cold.

 

I still remember which exact seat you were fortunate enough to procure from all the aunties who were ferocious when it comes to seat-grabbing despite their petite first impressions. I didn’t notice you at that moment though. You were hardly the type to stand out of the crowd. However, by just catching a glimpse of you staring at me with those lovely normal brown-black eyes, it was as if you were wearing a bright pink flamingo suit. You weren’t of course. You wore a plain white t-shirt with straight cut jeans which were hiding underneath your flat black jacket.

 

I laughed at the very thought of this. You were so normal yet something seemed to have attracted me to you. That something proved strong enough to make me want to hold your hand and say: “I think I like you”. Up till now explanations still escapes me.

 

The answer you gave me was unexpected though. “Do you want to get a drink of coffee at Arab Street with me?” You were ever so brave for such a normal person. You always were.

 

Memories of my childhood friend who attended the same kindergarten with me were playing like a tiny sitcom. We were laughing at every silly thing our five year old minds could conjure. We became friends like we were friends since birth. That night at the café at Arab Street, I felt just like my five year old self again. Making a new friend in an instant and talking endlessly like the ten minutes ago were like ten years. It interested my curiosity. I felt safe talking to that stranger whom I found out was named Veronica or better known as V. Well, now you aren’t a stranger to me anymore but you had always remained the same; normal. By the end of the day I realized I was not in such a bad mood anymore.

 

And just like a love story on the big screen, we ended up together, you and me. I feel awkwardly embarrassed now at how I’d always shout to the sky while standing on top of the Esplanade roof, telling the world how much I loved you. You would always smile and laugh nervously, tugging on my shirt telling me to stop. But I could tell you secretly didn't want me to. I miss that innocent smile of yours that seemed to belong to a little girl.

 

There was also once where we fell asleep almost at the same time on the train, as if wanting to share the same dream together. Your head was on my skinny shoulder while I rest my chin atop your head, both holding tightly to each other’s hands. In fact, I never felt a need to let go. It was a funny thing to remember because the trip ended with us stranded in some random station and we had to dig up our pockets for money for a taxi ride to send you home. You were so panicky that night, it was almost cute.

 

When we reached your home just in time for you to not get in trouble with your parents, you were so relieved. I felt immensely satisfied even though I had to sleep in your void-deck for the night as there were no forms of transportation around and I had but a dollar for another taxi ride.

 

But as people who were in love always found out, love either mends your heart with many obstacles or breaks it in one foul sweep. When we fought, it felt like you were nothing to me and I am sorry for that. I hope you forgive me. There was once you almost left me saying: “I think I made a bad decision that night when I asked you out for coffee”. But later that night when you found out I was involved in an accident, I woke up looking straight into those oh-so-normal brown-black eyes.

 

Thinking of all these funny little stories we wrote together makes me want to throw all these memories away. It’s just too painful to remember, not without you here to remember them with me. But I know you wouldn’t have wanted it that way. You always wanted the best for me, as much as I wanted the best for you.

We were always fond of the saying: ‘Till death do us apart’. Well now it seems it has done us apart. That disease you carried silently every night and day we spent together spread slowly but you never complained until the last few weeks of your life.

 

And now that portrait of you in my arms, the same one you painted during those last few weeks, hangs on my wall. It serves as an unchanged memory of you in my heart. I never wanted it to end this way but I guess it was a path you knew you were going to take. I respect that and this story of our love shall be yet another piece of memory of you for I love your innocent smile, I love the feel of holding your hand tightly, I love the smell of your perfume, I love your normal brown-black eyes, I love your plain sense of fashion and as long as these memories still exists, I love you.

I just thought a story looks best in black. =))