In sterile halls, where shadows creep and hide,
He'd paint a smile, deep inside my soul reside.
Bubur Manado, a joy we'd share,
Bakwan jagung, echoing laughter in the air.
A whisper shared, a fragile talk,
In hospital rooms, sacred ground.
A fleeting moment, a wish untold,
In another life, our story bold.
In between the beeps and the IV's steady flow,
He'd weave a tale, a gentle, soothing show.
A comic relief, a moment of grace,
A flicker of joy, in that somber space.
But time, a cruel thief, stole our precious hours,
Leaving behind echoes, and faded flowers.
In another life, where time stands still,
We'd laugh love, our hearts fulfilled.
Palu, June 2024.