a life

I spent sometime with the parent of my best friend, Orvokki, who moved to Finland last summer. They are visiting NYC from North Carolina. I have known them for one year or so. They are always so warm and kind that I can be really myself. I don’t know if I should write this, but I found out today that their son in law had passed away two months ago. It was on my birthday, February 8th. I've known that he has been suffering from a brain cancer. I've never met him or his wife who is Orvokki's sister, but I will not forget the day of his death. It would be strange to say, but I feel connected to all the family member of hers. Beneath their smile, I saw their sadness and pain, yet there was nothing that I could do or say. Life is unpredictable and death is not avoidable. However, dying at one's young age is hard to accept, especially for people who are left. The longer I live, the more I will have to face this. I looked up the night sky after I had left them. All I could do was to wish for his eternal sleep in the vast universe or as a part of the universe. May peace for somebody who passed away on the date when I was born and for the family who has been so warm and kind to me.