an unforgettable night

as i was reading the anatomy of larynx and epiglottis just now, this painful memory appeared back.

the memory of a 7 years old boy who had almost choked (well, that's why larynx reminded me of him)

it was late at night. the small, innocent boy was chit-chatting with my aunt about his daily routines. about his father. his abusive father. his always-drunken father. and also about his tough mother who had gone through lots of sufferings. it was midnight and he was about to sleep in my room. in the meantime, his mother was fighting with cancer in a hospital ward. with already-spreaded cancer. the cancer had spreaded to her spine and under her skin. the cancer was everywhere.

it was 5am in the morning. and the phone rang. i heard my mum talking downstairs.

"dia dah meninggal," that was all i could heard. those words struck my heart. inalillah wa ina ilaihi raji'un. and he was still sleeping soundly.

just about few hours ago i met his mother in the hospital. she was asking for more and more painkillers. she was crying in agony.

and now, her soul had departed from her body. may He always bless her.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
"Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall test you with evil and with good by way of trial. And to Us you will be returned" (21:35)

the boy was still dreaming in his sleep. dreaming of a beautiful and peaceful life that other children enjoyed. the life that was not his. at the age of 7, he was left with a 5 years old brother and an abusive father. the father that was far away from islam.

i could still remember that day vividly. he was crying out loud beside his mother's burial ground. while his little brother still didnt understand anything. she had always been their shelter. the shelter from their own father. they laughed together. they ran together. they hid together from the father. and now the patient and tough mother had returned back to her Lord.

their father won the parental custody and the two innocent brothers were back to their luxurious yet soulless home. may they always be tough. may He protect and guide them always. insyaAllah. aminn.

وَالضُّحَى - وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى - مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى - وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الاٍّولَى - وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى - أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيماً فَآوَى -
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلاًّ فَهَدَى - وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلاً فَأَغْنَى - فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلاَ تَقْهَرْ - وَأَمَّا السَّآئِلَ فَلاَ تَنْهَرْ - وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ

"By the forenoon. By the night when it darkens. Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor hates you. And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present. And verily, your Lord will give you so that you shall be well-pleased. Did He not find you an orphan and gave you a refuge. And He found you unaware and guided you. And He found you poor and made you rich. Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And repulse not the one who asks. And proclaim the grace of your Lord. " (93:1-11)

always be thankful to Him for what you have as there are many others out there who can only dream for things that you'd got.