Mikaela's Moon

Raymund and I went home to my parents' house in Batangas City last Saturday. My mom went on vacation with my brothers and we were in charge of looking after the house.

One of my neighbors, my high school classmate's youngest brother, passed away last April 12. He was involved in a horrible car accident with his friend (who was driving). Both of them were 19 years old. His name is Kristopher and he was a nursing student. Both of them were a little drunk and had collided with a bus on the Diversion highway (the highway leading to the Batangas port).

I dropped by the Cay's house on Sunday afternoon. His dad was outside the house, and I approached him and told him how sorry I was. He asked me to go inside, and I was hesitant because I was scared of what I would see. Not wanting to be disrespectful, I slowly made my way into the house and found his older sister, pale and shaken and still looking very much in shock. We were not close, but when she saw me, I could see how grateful she was that I came to visit, and I did not hesitate to give her a kiss and a hug. She trembled and closed her eyes.

I looked at him, this young man lying in the coffin. His pictures showed a handsome young man, very friendly looking and healthy. It does not show the same young man in the coffin. His face was waxed. My mom told me that his head was almost chopped off from the accident. The car had gone under the bus and was thrown out again due to the impact of the crash. I could see how his face was waxed so that it would appear that he still had a face.

A wave of emotions passed through me. I could feel his presence. He had so much to say to his family, so many last goodbyes...I silently prayed for him, for his peace and his family's grief. I was saddened by the fact his mother was not there to see him. I did not know him very well, but I wanted to cry at the sight of him. How young he was. He had so much ahead of his life...

I didn't stay long. I said goodbye to his sister and father after praying by the coffin. I was trembling with emotions when I went back to the car. I told my husband how he looked, since he refused to look at the coffin.

It made me realize how we never really know when our "time" is. Life is so fragile. Let us be careful when driving. It may sound so cliche, but I'm encouraging everyone to please not drive when you've had something alcoholic to drink. Let us pray for Kristopher.