The Fragility of Time

Life has a way of surprising us—not always in the way we hope. One day, the people we love are full of life—healthy, smiling, and so full of energy that we forget to worry. We take comfort in the routine of seeing them well, and it never really crosses our minds that anything could change.  

Then, in a heartbeat, everything shifts. You get a call or hear a diagnosis, and suddenly, the person who seemed invincible just yesterday is lying in a hospital bed, looking so frail and worn. It feels unfair, like the world has pulled a cruel trick on you. And just like that, your mind races with everything left unsaid, all the memories that feel too heavy to carry alone.  

You find yourself staring at their hands, remembering how they used to move with ease and purpose. Now they’re still—weak and fragile. You wonder how this happened so fast. The room is filled with doctors, machines, and worried faces, but what sticks with you most is the feeling of helplessness, like sand slipping through your fingers.  

The hardest part is how quickly hope can falter. Everyone around them seems weighed down with fear, unsure of what to say or do. It’s like the air itself is too heavy to breathe. You try to stay strong, whisper reassurances, and force a smile, but deep down, you’re terrified. Terrified of losing them. Terrified that you never truly appreciated all the small, beautiful moments when they were well.  

And then your mind drifts to the people who will be left behind—the family that has leaned on them for strength and guidance. You worry about how they’ll manage when the time comes. How will they go on without the person who has always been their anchor? You feel this gnawing ache, not just for the one who is ill, but for those who will have to rebuild their lives when the world feels so empty. Because you know that when that day comes, things will never be the same again.  

It’s heartbreaking to think about how everything changes in an instant. You want to protect them all from the inevitable grief, but you know you can’t. So, you just hold on a little tighter and pray for strength—not just for the one fighting for their life but for everyone who loves them.  

Life’s unpredictability is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It doesn’t care about our plans or dreams. It doesn’t give warnings. All we can do is hold on to every moment we have with the people we love. Hug them tighter. Laugh a little louder. Be more present.  

We don’t know how much time we have left with the people who mean the most to us. So, let’s not waste it. Let’s make sure they know how much they’re loved. Let’s make memories that will stand strong, even if the worst happens. And let’s hold on to hope—even when it feels like it’s slipping away—because sometimes, that’s all we have left.  

au revoir.🙃