Mylene Tang
Dear Laine.
It’s always hard to know just what to say, when someone so young as you is taken away from us. Even though we only knew you for a short while, the memory of you made us smile and forever engraved in our heart. Laine, you always welcomed us into your life with open arms. Even though we only come once or twice a year, you never treated us like strangers, always talked to us, gave us warm hugs, there was never any barrier and time lapse between us. You, little girl, made us part of you, part of your life. You made us warm and fuzzy inside. In the beginning we all worried you wouldn’t talk, but once you started you never stop. You took over all the conversations, and always was the centre of attention. With your convincing little cute smile and funny logics, you casted a spell on us and won most of the arguments.
Your mommy and brother thought they were older and wiser, but look! Who is the winner here? Kofu, my husband, never knew how to handle younger kids, even with his own. But, being the carefree you, you just hugged and jumped on his laps as if you two were old friends. The footprints you etched deeply in his heart will never fade with time. The image of you bonding with him is the lasting memory that we will treasure forever. You were just like the little girl Agnes in the movie Despicable Me, who happens to love her unicorn like you, and melted the heart of Gru, my husband.
I remembered one time when Matthew was accused of doing something bad to you that he did not really do, instead of accepting his apology, you turned to me and said “Komo, he didn’t really mean it, he’s not sorry”. I was a bit upset with you, but you were so cute and was so dead serious in your innocent manner that I couldn’t hold back my laughter. It was so hard to keep a stern face with you. I always love it when you bounced into my room unannounced. You were very observant and somehow could sense our moods.
One day I was in my room thinking about Mia and pondering about life, you just came in, jumped onto the bed and declared that we were going to do homework together. What homework? You weren’t even in school yet. You took my sudoku book and started doodling and kept on telling me stories. How could anybody be sad at that moment. Yes, homework we did, you scribbled and colored over my numbers, humming your songs and telling stories, you melted my heart, lifted my sorrow and entrapped me into the cuteness.
You were my little hummingbird. There are so many stories about you that if I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever. You taught us to love without conditions, that love does give us strength and a smile is the shortest distance between two people. So next time you hug someone, image you haven’t seen them for a year, or that you won’t see them for a year afterwards.
Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart. So “Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” Knowing Laine is watching from heaven above, and sending her smiles and kisses through each ray of sunshine do give us some comfort for the days to come.
Rest in peace, little girl.