Shared

Human remains, Tuol Sleng, Cambodia.

Shared

A close friend has just lost his mother, another dear friend her father. Neither of them said a word to me. I hear about it by mere coincidence. What’s going on? Sad news isn’t socially correct anymore? Are we off-limits unless beautiful, happy and tanned? Have hardship and mourning become shameful ills? So, friendship too should wear a condom? Nothing glamourous about a dead body, so quick-let’s hide it. Well, no. These things in life need to be shared. We are a gregarious species. We need to take each other in our arms, in times of joy as in times of pain. Otherwise, it would mean that we, ourselves, are already dead.