The night was at a close, the bus slowly driving to a stop in front of a house. It seemed small, as a terrace house, and lit by florescent bulbs, giving it a more old look. The group, just coming back from a very merry house indeed, proceeded with much chatter among themselves. A lady greeted us, her smile wide, and her face bearing the fruits of age: wrinkles and sags. Yet she was jubilant, and very much warm, inviting us in to a cosy home, with few furniture, and very precisely places equipment. We walked on, still in our happy selves, and our guitarist made a friendly conversation with her. The lady had a nice tone, warm and delightful when she spoke about the lamp that was questioned, and just answered the guitarist that it was made by her husband, gesturing to the back of the still unexplored house. We walked as she led, into a room with two entranced; we gasped seeing an old man in a bed, eyes closed. The lady introduced him. Jason. She kissed him softly on the forehead and whispered words, loud enough for us to hear yet soft enough to be considered a whisper. “The carolers are here to sing for us. Dear, wake up please.” He did not stir, eyes shifting underneath his eyelids, but no bodily movement was made. “He cannot move, but he can hear perfectly. One of the best traits I remember about him,” the lady said. We got ready, the whole room now silent with a solemn feel, and started singing, gracefully; more graceful than the previous houses. It was truly amazing, because as we sang, he made small signs of movement; and as he did so his wife clutched his hands ever more so tighter, and kissed him ever more so gently. The first song was sung beautifully, and she thanked us for our amazing voices. We sang another song, again as profoundly graceful as the other, and now, more than ever, we felt sad, and happy, for these two. I, in my heart, could imagine the love needed for this family, the wife, to hold on so tightly. Every time we sang a verse, she would hold his hand and whisper in his ear the lyrics, meaning every word she said, just hoping, hoping that he would wake up. We sang our last song, tears already in my eyes, rolling down my cheek, and then he woke up; or rather his eyes opened, as he started crying as well.
The Songsby Andrew Tai
I wonder what it would be like to grow old with someone and be in love for as long as you live.
As you know, this was written by my friend Andrew. This was a real experience he faced while he was caroling. I just want to share it with everyone not only because he writes so amazingly but what he saw was truly... touching. It gave me a thought, on the couple's love, and what it would be like to watch a couple like that right in front of your eyes. Does it build a lump in your throat and made you wanna tear? It certainly did for me. According to Andrew, this man fell from a three storey high building and got his right brain damaged, therefore his eyes can't work properly.I don't really know how to put my feelings into words after reading this, but to witness something so beautiful but yet so painful at the same time, I just don't know what to think but cry, cry for the couple, for the strength of their love and yet for their pains and sorrows they're going through. Just put yourself in Andrew's shoes maybe, and imagine it. How would you feel? It's definitely something to think about or maybe not, but it did stir something in me I can't quite explain.
Love Rachel*
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