Aunty Nancy

'Sadly darling, it's her'

Who would've thought these 4 simple words would bring tears to my eyes and a stop to my heart?

Aunty Nancy was always this fixture in my church. She was just always there. She taught in Sabbath School, she conducted the children's choir, she played the piano during service, all my life in church, she was there.
Every kid who grew up in church knew her, every one of them would've been taught by her, spoken to by her.
I found out on facebook from her grandaughter that she's now in a coma and will most probably be going soon within the week. Imagine my shock, imagine my sadness, imagine.
I mean, its not that I had a very close and meaningful relationship with her. I've not spoken to her in such a long time, in fact, it shames me to say I can't even remember our last encounter.
But I look back, and I realise just how much she is in all of my memories in church. Sure, she was always in the background, but she was just there.
And now, when I go back to chuch back home, she just won't be.
And life will go on, as usual, people will continue to leave.
But there will always be this void she left.
Its amazing how fast things can change, just to remind us how temporary this life is, how important every encounter in life is, how little time we really have to share our love.

Rest in peace, Aunty Nancy. You're free now.