Shengliver’s Notes: When this entry was posted for the first time, Mrs Gong was still there. Now she is gone.

I think I am a lucky girl, in good health and with a happy family, but recently I’ve heard some tear-jerking news. Shengliver, you might be interested to hear it.

Most of my mother’s ex classmates are teachers. One of her colleagues was also her former classmate. A couple of years ago, the aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. This aunt is called Mrs Gong. That year her daughter was doing the last year of high school. We were playmates as children. So when I heard about Mrs Gong’s disease, I felt very sad. If I were her daughter, I would have burst out into tears. But I knew her daughter would not cry. The girl is strong minded.

Later Mrs Gong underwent an operation, which extended her life one more year. Yesterday she called my mother on the phone and said, “Katherine, I think I will be going soon. There are two things I wish I could do before I die. One is to see my daughter get married. Unfortunately, there will be no chance of it. The other is to walk into a classroom and teach again.”

Mrs Gong is fortyish. However, tomorrow may not come for her. She has agreed to donate her cornea after death.

Whatever, I wish my aunt could beat the odds and survive.