Edna3362 wrote:
My mom and I went to the mall for a while, for fun's sake.
I just met one of my childhood neighbors at the mall, along with her younger sister. Last I've seen them was, well, 7+ years ago. And that time, the younger girl wasn't any older than 5 or so back then. Quite a sight seeing her again as a teenager.
So the old friend of mine and my mom had a little chat. As I see them, it kinda made me sad. I dunno at first, probably it had something to do that it reminded me that I'm more of a still a child than my old friend, who is actually 3 years younger than I'm.
Then their conversation ended, and went where we're going.
A moment later, my mom told me that -- them seeing her again would remind of their mom. Their mother, who was also my mom's best friend, she passed away about 8 years ago. That time, my old friend was only 12, and her younger sister was no older than 5.
Then, maybe seeing them reminds my mom of their mother, who was also her best friend.
Been holding back my tears the whole time. Even if I momentarily forget, it seem that I couldn't let it go afterwards.
I'm rather sad seeing them again. For more reasons than one.

It could be longing, it could be sympathy, it could be pity -- whether it's just about me, or really about them -- perhaps both, perhaps all at once...
The point is that I'm just sad seeing them again.
When I thought of the memory when they mourned, it coincided with my worst years.
Their mom was sick and dying that time. I vaguely remembered how was it that she was suddenly sick. Her death wasn't a surprise to me back then, but it did affected those around her. Poor youngest child of her that time, hadn't grasped the concept of mortality yet.

I'm certain that I did remembered that she asked why her mom was sleeping in that coffin.

And, that, her grandparents couldn't honestly answered her.
When I looked deeper into the memory, I realized said mom's friend was the very first person I ever confided about skipping classes. This was the very year right before I stop going to school and going out for years.
.. In turn, after she died, my neighbor friends back then would rather run to my mom about their troubles.
How was it that I didn't realized all of that then? It was just another memory to me back then.
But then, I was too busy dealing with my own anger and fear about the world around me. While they mourn and express their angst out there, probably wanted to lock themselves too. Except they couldn't, they're probably not allowed to.
Anyway, I, 8+ years too late to ever express my sympathies to them.