My uncle passed away the other day. He was as healthy as anyone could be. Cause of death? three stab wounds. He was stabbed by three drunkards who damaged his car. He had an argument with them. Just as they stabbed him, a nurse saw them and got help. The three bastards ran and left him for dead. He was a surgeon and he just got out from work so the hospital was nearby. He immediately told the nurse to have the doctors operate his liver because he felt that it was damaged; and true enough, it was. It was the major cause of his complications, i think. My aunt was in baguio that time and she just arrived in Manila. My uncles (her brothers) drove to her to tell her personally. I found out about this as soon as i got home from school (i had an exam). I immediately thought about my cousins. His oldest was Rem (12 yrs old), who is now in fist year highschool. He's a really smart kid and he was closest to him. We really didn't know how to tell the children Rem (12), Francis (8), Claire-"Yayie" (4).
My mom and tita (the one who practically brought them up) sat them down and slowly told them the news. It was heartbreaking. Francis took it best. He said that they're still lucky because they still have so many fathers to choose from: their uncles. Rem, however, didn't take it well. It was expected of course since he was closest to him. Our aunt (the one who sort of raised them) told them that they had so many people who loved them and that everything will be alright eventually; that it was just like when Tatay (our beloved grandfather) passed away, at first it was devastating but since they were surrounded by people who loved them, after sometime, they learned to accept it. This was the saddest part of the conversation: Rem looked at her and said "But ninang (godmother), when tatay died, all of you had finished school...". He was so concerned about his studies because he wanted to be a doctor like his father.
We're still trying to figure out how to support the children. Their mother is a stay at home wife. They were so accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle. What will happen to them now?
I feel so sad for my tita, their mother. She tries so hard to be strong enough for her children and for herself...

Life can be taken away from us in a blink of an eye...
Make your day count...