Posts Tagged Changi Airport
The Departed by DR
There is one gate I fear much more than the Gates of Hell that open every 7th month of the Lunar Year – the Departure Gate in Changi Airport. I just sent my girl off for a holiday for three weeks and even though it was not one of those everlasting permanent farewells (I mean it’s just a holiday), I still felt my heart beat one time when I hugged her a temporary good bye.
I’m not much of a softy. I am not sure if that is a proper word or the brand of a sanitary pad but everyone knows what softies do. Softies are men who are soft. Men are supposed to be hard (figuratively and literally), so those who are soft are either old ill-functioning men in need of blue pills or softies.
I am indifferent to many sad, sad things in life. Tear-jerking movies, failing a lot of examinations, Everton getting the better of Liverpool in the FA Cup. Heck, I don’t even weep when I cut onions. But there is one word that sends chills down my spine to the balls- Farewell.
I was reminded of a time two years ago when I sent someone off at the airport for perhaps a good four years. Every one of 
her friend teared at the departure area while she was saying her last goodbye and giving her last hugs. In fact, most sobbed. Even her normally solid dad became a softy for a good one minute. At that moment, only her mother and me stayed dry (tear glands of course). But inside my heart I knew how the mother was feeling. Because I was feeling it too. We felt like crap.
We had breakfast together after she left. Her mother, two other friends and me. Her mother spent a while in the toilet and ordered way too much food when she came back. Soon after, I spent ten minutes in the toilet. And no, I didn’t have a stomachache from all the food. Strangely, I found it difficult to face the mother afterwards. I could never find a rational reason why.
1 comment February 11, 2009
