Remembrance

She was as much part of the little church down the road as the large sky blue cross that was painted across the entrace. Sitting on a small wooden stool on the sidewalk she had known me since early childhood, in fact I cannot recall ever passing by the church without her being there.

Sometimes she was - almost lost - staring into the empy space - sometimes expressively chit chatting with street vendors passing by or just sharing pieces of acient wisdom of a forgotten world with the worshippers coming out of the church.

She always had some caramel or tamarind candies for us whenever we were on on our way back home from school. Later on she understandingly smiled and nodded her head when I was dropping my first girfriend off in the small bylane next to the church. And finally, every morning when I went to office I made it a point to slow down the car, pull down the window and wave my hand, wishing her a good morning - not really realising that it wasn't only only the blue paint of the cross that had faded in time.

Now, she isn't any more and I take the direct way to office.

No more candies,smiles or good mornings.

Hail Mary.