It's been a long time since i shed a tear. In fact, i dont get my eyes welling up easily. i thought i was an unemotional dude, because whenever i watch any sad shows, i just view it to its end with the tissue paper nowhere in sight. Maybe it's a guy's thing, i dont know. But before Saturday, the last time i remember coming close to feeling like this was watching a Japanese drama called 1 Litre of Tears. On Saturday itself, i couldnt help but feel the choking feeling in my throat. There were tears in my eyes. i kept telling myself it was only 3 years. Just what is 3 years? It wasnt like forever. It was only just 1095 days. Only 65 700 hours. Only 3 942 000 minutes. Okay, you get the drift...

My father's sister, my aunt, as well as her husband, set off for Canada to clock their presence there so that they can attain citizenship. A few have asked. Why? Why give up Singapore citizenship? i do not know why. In fact, i do not want to know why. There can be many reasons, reasons that i do not want to probe to find out. If they are happy holding on to Canadian citizenship, i do not need to know the reason why. By giving up on Singapore citizenship, it is not like they have given up on this family. We are family. We still do. We still care and love one another.

Right at the departure gate, everyone was swarmed with mixed feelings. i never thought i would feel this way, but i did. For a moment, i asked myself, if parting was so hard, why still do it? Then i reminded myself, that nothing stands in the way of your objectives and dreams. If you have planned your path, there can only be you who stands in your way, nothing else. i started to think of other things to make myself feel better. i remembered learning that our globalised world is getting smaller with the invention of air transport. That no distance is too great on our beloved Mother Earth.

But whatever it is, when it was time to bid farewell, tears were flowing as freely as hugs were being made. As i began to see the tears on my beloved ones, especially my aunt herself, my floodgates were opened. My sight got a little hazy with my teary eyes. But i held back, for i wanted only to see them off with a smile, never once allowing any tear to overflow beyond my lower eyelid.

i had earlier on thought of something to say to my aunt when i were to give my hug but in the end, my mind was preoccupied with replying to my aunt's request, which was to take good care of my parents. All i said was, "Okay!". i do know that there is no way my aunt will be able to read this here but when i have the chance, i want to tell you:

"Even though you are in Canada, our distance apart is as near as my mental distance. You reside in my mind."