...

She was a young successful silver jewelry designer, married with two kids. She was the friend of a friend.
I didn't know her personally, but I got in touch with her a while ago via facebook, offering my services as a photographer to catalog her jewelry pieces.

A month ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia, three weeks later, she passed away.

It was a case of being here one moment, and gone the next. The news hit me hard, like a rock on my head, and for a second there, I felt like I was being introduced to the concept of death for the first time. I came to a sudden realization that, I too, could die any second! without warning, without feeling that "my time is drawing near".. without nothing.

I looked at my body, and felt my soul watching it, felt that my soul was a separate being, something living inside a machine or a device, and it could exit this device any minute, leaving it cold and useless.
I had a hard time sleeping that night. For some reason, I could hear the silence around me. My heartbeat sounded louder than usual, but not faster. My eyes were seeing things I usually don't notice in the dark. My feet were very cold, and I had a stomachache. I felt very much alive.
But was I ready?

People forget, they eventually get caught up in what we call "life" and forget. Until something like this comes their way, and reminds them that nothing.. is forever.

I hope this young woman's soul is somewhere beautiful, in a place where she feels at peace.