Farewell to a Friend
Perhaps there's nothing more shocking than having to learn that I'll be saying goodbye to one of my dearest friends so soon. Annabel Paredes, who has been part of the barkada since we were in high school, passed away on October 22, 2011 due to cardiac arrest brought on by the complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Her condition has been a terrible ordeal during the last month of her life. I only got to visit her once in PGH and she looked so optimistic then hoping that things would go better for her. I never knew then at that time that that will be the last time I'll be seeing her alive. It has been a tough battle and I wished the doctors would just have told her from the start if she would make it or not.
Her death has been a tragedy and unexpected event. She was only 29 years old and she had her whole life ahead of her. Yet if you think about it and review what she had gone through, her life has never been put to waste. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in B.S. Political Science. Afterwards, she put herself through Law school and managed to finish and pass the bar exams. She even got married to her longtime Pakistani boyfriend. Plus, she had even travelled to most parts of Asia Pacific. She had died doing things that she wanted to do in her life. She didn't die in vain.
I am sad because I will no longer see her in future get-togethers with the barkada but I know she's in a better place now. Wherever she may be, I hope she has already attained that eternal peace that she deserves.
I shall always cherish the memories I've had of her. I will always remember the time where we went to the fortune-teller in Quiapo, the time where we went to the spa to have parrafin wax bath, the time when she and Mary rode on my car for a joyride...
Annabel, your memory shall always be remembered. You've been a dear friend to all. May you rest in peace and finally embrace eternal happiness with our Creator. Good luck on your next journey in life!
Her condition has been a terrible ordeal during the last month of her life. I only got to visit her once in PGH and she looked so optimistic then hoping that things would go better for her. I never knew then at that time that that will be the last time I'll be seeing her alive. It has been a tough battle and I wished the doctors would just have told her from the start if she would make it or not.
Her death has been a tragedy and unexpected event. She was only 29 years old and she had her whole life ahead of her. Yet if you think about it and review what she had gone through, her life has never been put to waste. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in B.S. Political Science. Afterwards, she put herself through Law school and managed to finish and pass the bar exams. She even got married to her longtime Pakistani boyfriend. Plus, she had even travelled to most parts of Asia Pacific. She had died doing things that she wanted to do in her life. She didn't die in vain.
I am sad because I will no longer see her in future get-togethers with the barkada but I know she's in a better place now. Wherever she may be, I hope she has already attained that eternal peace that she deserves.
I shall always cherish the memories I've had of her. I will always remember the time where we went to the fortune-teller in Quiapo, the time where we went to the spa to have parrafin wax bath, the time when she and Mary rode on my car for a joyride...
Annabel, your memory shall always be remembered. You've been a dear friend to all. May you rest in peace and finally embrace eternal happiness with our Creator. Good luck on your next journey in life!
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