We used to stay with my grandparents when we are young. Being the second grandchild in the family, my grandmother (Ah ma) dotes on me a lot. She used to bring me and my elder sister to shopping. We will always bring home bags and bags of candies. Even if Ah ma went out while we are schooling, she will buy candies back for us without fail.

When it is time for us to move to our own house, we will stay over at Ah ma's house during the weekends and school holidays. Ah ma is a very good cook. She can cook a lot of deserts and complicated dishes. There was a time when she did not realize she cut her finger while chopping the meat. She was so engrossed that she only realized it when we told her we bite on something funny. That day, is the last day Ah ma touch the wok and the chopping board.

Ah ma always remembers what I like to eat, the flavour of mooncake I fancy, the brand of potato chips I like. I used to talk to her as if she is my best friend. I can play Chinese chess with her the whole day. Ah ma always purposely lost to us when we played poker cards during the Chinese New Year.

This is my Ah ma. She is always there for me when I want and need her.

As time passes by, I grew and Ah ma aged. I started working and Ah ma started visiting the hospital more often. Soon, Ah ma behaved like a kid and refused to eat her medicine unless I am the one who feed her. I do not like my job anyway, so I quit to look after Ah ma. I stayed by Ah ma's bedside all day, only go back home to sleep at night. I feed Ah ma medicine, I talked to her, I watched the television with her. I took care of her just like the way she took care of me.

I got a new job and starting working. Due to the passion for the job, I started working 24 hours 7 days a week. I will be on the way to visit my Ah ma but if the phone rings and the production line is down, I will rush back to the company. The company did not pay it's employee bonus that year even thought it is making tons and tons of profits. The company's reason was that oil price raised that year and the economy was not doing well.

My grandmother died and I wasn't by her side to accompany her through her last journey. I haven't seen her for months before she passed away. Whenever I was on my way to visit her, something will crop up in the company. Till this day, I still cannot forgive myself. Even when Ah ma is not around, she is still living in my mind, teaching me not to neglect the important people in my life.

Learn more about this author, Ho Tin.
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