Losing her possession was never something she expected would lead to a lesson about valuing what truly matters. Life does have its way of showing us the value of certain items in unexpected ways. Looking back, it quite unfolds how that neglected item ended up becoming one she treasures to have again.
Fumi is a young high school graduate, her first phone, the gadget that first introduced her to the world of technology, vanished in the back seat of a chartered taxi. It was due to her careless mistake, but the value she had attached to it heated up the pain of the loss. Her graduation photos, fellow classmates' numbers, and memories stored in it felt irreplaceable. And just when she thought she was recovering from that setback, she was hit by the painful demise of someone she loved, adding fresh salt to her emotional wounds.
These two experiences were more painful than she could bear. Losing her dad to the cold hand of death was a blow that left a deep ache, alongside the loss of her device. These things were her identity – the love, gestures, kindness, photos, online courses, important contacts, and cherished messages – all gone forever.
The incidents left her with an unceasing fear of losing something dear to her on a daily basis.
"What if it happened again? What if this time I lost another thing I treasure so much?" she asked herself. The fear of losing things she cherished haunted her like a ghost.
Though she understood that death is inevitable and cannot be held back once it strikes, for an item like a phone, she believed she could take precautions to keep it and its contents safe. "I just need to be more careful like Idris once I'm able to save up and purchase a new device," she said, convincing herself that another loss was improbable.
Amidst these worries, her mind went to Idris, her neighbor and school friend who knows how to safeguard the least thing like his life depends on it. For Fumi, Idris was just a regular friend she envied, unable to fathom why she couldn't take that best part of his careful living lifestyle instead his presence in her life was nothing more than that of a casual acquaintance. Their conversations were pleasant, but she had failed to realize the depth of their connection until a certain incident.
One morning, a knock came at the door, and her mom answered it.
"Oh, Idris. How are you this morning?"
"Good morning Mama, I'm doing fine. Is Fumi home?"
"She is. I will just call her for you. Today is her day, so she is at liberty to enjoy all the sleep she wants," her mom said playfully.
"Fumi,Fumi! your friend is waiting at the verandah."
"Alright mum, I'm coming."
After a few minutes, she stepped out.
"Hi Idris, hope everything is good this morning."
"I'm not with a machete or a gun, so we are all safe," he replied, ending with laughter.
"Today is March 25th, the day a beautiful damsel was born. To make it colorful, I got this gift for you as my little way of contributing to your joy."
"OMG, this is something I've treasured having. I have been saving for this since I lost the first one. Oh, Idris, I'm shocked and short of words right now," she exclaimed, hugging him joyfully to express her excitement.
The gift she never dreamt of was a shock that left her truly surprised by his gesture. His act of generosity surpassed the bound on their casual friendship. She was able to understand that their connection held a deeper significance than she had initially thought.
That early hour of the day made Fumi see a side of Idris that went beyond the surface level,he was willing to set his needs aside to support her during a tough time. His kindness showed a part of him Fumi never fully understood. It was as if an unnoticed door had swung open, unveiling the treasure of a true friend who stood by her.
His true generosity was shocking, allowing her to see that treasure comes in various forms. His kind gesture made Fumi see him beyond the label of "friend" and took him as a part of her family.