Received this from yuko (a very good friend of mine and of aud) from japan yesterday, i was overjoyed to have seen her email address included in it. Aud and i have been trying to contact her for years, it is either she has not replied or was totally out of touch, not replied our mails or not answering our calls. It was frustrating, but still we did not give up hope, we left messages and asked our japanese friend to assist in calling from japan. Still nothing.

In the postcard, she mentioned that she is hospitalised and will be fine and out in a few days time. So, i smsed aud to tell her of the good news (that we have found her and the fact that she replied with a post card). Aud was as flabbergasted as i was, she then expressed that she was worried of yuko and her condidtion.

Janie: What condition, she's just in for medical treatment la?

Aud: Ya, she is being treated for cancer!

Janie: OMG, what cancer??? shit i didnt know

Aud: Yes, i told you before

Janie: No, i thought she was being treated for poor liver/lungs due to excessive smoking and drinking. Shall we visit her in japan?

Aud: Yes, I want to go now!, i feel so sad, i want to cry...

U couldn't have imagined how down and in despair i was after that. Now, i know why she has been out of touch and have not visited us at all for 10 years. She has been in and out of the hospital every now and then for her treatment. Yuko is an extrovert, daring, generous, forgiving and honest person, i should have guessed something was not right! Back then when she was 20 years old, she always looked pale and had to apply tons of makeup, we thought she was just vain, never would have guessed, it was a disguise.

I am so bad at this...I do not know how I would react if anything were to happen to her, her colourful but short postcard is the one thing I look forward to receiving every Christmas, coz i know she will not miss out on those greetings. i put my hands together and sincerely pray for you speedy recovery. i want to see that pretty face soon...

- I miss you -