What is life? What is our sole purpose on this earth?
These are questions that have crossed my mind throughout my life, but most importantly, recently; a few weeks ago, we buried my aunt. That one hit deeply. The grief has come in increments, the period of denial, the period of acceptance, and the period of sorrow. Because grief moves & comes in waves, I have just been allowing the days to unfold as they need to.
Since losing my grandma at the age of 11, I have questioned life a lot. I don’t think I ever fully grieved her, but something has always kept me going: the belief that she is an angel watching over me.
In December 2022, I met a woman in Morocco, at the airport in Casablanca. Only God knows why our paths crossed at that moment in our lives. We were two women ready to enjoy ourselves after working hard all year. We exchanged numbers and kept in touch. That December, she and I were like “five and six,” inseparable, you can imagine it. As I write this, tears fill my eyes. She came to my home, and I welcomed her with open arms and so did my Mom. We simply enjoyed building a genuine friendship. Eventually, I left LIB and continued my travel plans. We kept in touch for a little while, but then life happened, and our communication faded.
Recently, I received the kind of news no one ever wants to hear, she passed away. I have been shocked, speechless, and truly heartbroken.
One thought keeps going through my mind: I wish I had kept in contact with her.
Returning to the question I asked at the beginning, I am learning that our sole purpose on this earth is love: to give it and receive it unconditionally.
Writing this is difficult. People I know aren’t even reaching 40 anymore. Losing lives in their early 20s and 30s is devastating. It forces me to reexamine the posture of my own life and heart. I want my life to flow with nothing but love, because that is why God put us here.
Vanessa Korboi 