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Dear Linda,
I can’t believe you’re gone. I miss you so much. Please ask God if there’s
anything I can do to bring you back here with me again. I would give up my
life for you.
Just the thought of not seeing your warm smile, not touching your soft hand,
and not hearing your sweet voice brings tears to my eyes. We were so close
together. You knew
when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was angry. You always see through
my feelings and comforted me when I was down. I finally realized what a special
person you are and
how lucky I am to have you as my sister.
The things you do for other people are beyond comprehension. The world is
truly at a loss: the loss of an angel on earth. Do you believe the last thing
I said to you was
“see you later?” I didn’t know “later” now means never…or at least until I, myself,
cross the river of life. I still don’t believe you’re gone. It seems like you’re
still away at Hopkins. You have always been a great student, a caring friend, an
adoring sister, a loving daughter, and a wonderful person. I know on the day you were
killed, you were working hard on your thesis.
Quyen, you did nothing wrong in life. Your life was perfect. It was complete.
You accomplished more in 21 years than most do in their lifetime. Your mission to
Vietnam to promote health care and services for developing countries was heavenly.
Breast cancer and AIDS were important issues to you and they are important issues to
me now too. You visited an orphanage for abandoned children infected with AIDS and
treated the kids like they were your own. You took them to the beach, treated them
to lunch, and even taught them english. You wanted to do research to develop new
drugs to cure diseases that affect millions. I know you have bigger and better
plans for us, a brighter future for the world. I’m sorry your plans were cut short.
I wish I was there for you. Not a single day has passed by that I don’t think of you.
I still can’t believe you’re gone. You left without saying “goodbye” to anyone. I
question God everyday why He would take you away from me when there are so many bad
people in this world. Why you? Why not me? Why not someone else? Anyone else? Did
he find out one of his angels was missing? I will never accept his reason nor will I
forgive the person who did this to you. But knowing you the way I do, you have already
forgiven that person. I can’t believe we’re brother and sister. You care so much for
so many people and that will be the legacy you leave behind.
Your funeral on Saturday was so emotional. Seeing how much your friends, families,
co-workers, teachers, and professors miss you made me feel so miserable. Losing you
is like losing a part of myself. There is a gapping hole in my heart that can never
be filled. I will always miss our trips to the mall, to the beach, to Wendy’s, and
to the movies. I’ll miss all the fun we had and all the happiness you brought to
this family and to everyone you touched. The show of support was immense. I didn’t
know so many people loved you. When you were alive, you cared for so many people.
When you passed away, so many people cared for you. Father Long told me he had never
seen that many people attend a funeral. We needed a dozen police cars just to escort
your beautiful body to its final resting place. I’m sure people thought a president
had died, but no, just an angel.
Promise me one thing though. Save a spot for me in heaven because I can’t wait
to see you again. I fear death no more now. I see death as
an opportunity
to see you again. Don’t worry about me, I know it’s not my time yet. I still
need to take care of mom and dad, and finish the work that you didn't have
the chance to
complete. But when my time does come and my thread of life has been cut,
I will welcome it.
Oh, say “hi” to grandma for me. I know when she was alive, she always took
good care of us. She will now take good care of you. I know she will take
better care of you
than I did. When we were young, grandma asked me to promise her that I will
look after you and protect you. It seems clear now that I broke my promise.
Please tell
grandma this: I promise that even though your life has ended, your name will
live on. Believe me, this should be done. Well until then, just know that
everyone on
earth misses you dearly and pray that one day we will be together again.
You know, I thought I had my entire lifetime with you but our time on earth
together was quickly coming to an end. If only I was a better brother. I
wish I spent more
time with you. I will always cherish the time we had together. I will always
think about the times we would have had. And I will always remember you as
my sister and
my best friend. Even though you are physically gone, the memories I have
of you are embedded in my mind and in my soul. No one can take that away
from me. I guess
this is farewell for now. Linda, I love you and I will never forget you!
Rest in peace, baby sister.
Anh Hai
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