It was September 7, 2005, and I was on my way to work.

I was a bit early. It was 7:25 a.m. and work would start at 8:30 a.m. Thus I decided to enjoy the gentle warmth of the sun. I took a walk.

People who passed me by offered me smiles and hearty hellos. Oh, you could never understand how a simple greeting of a stranger could lighten up your day. You simply could not help but smile as if the sun has suddenly risen on your face; you simply glow.

But that seventh of September was different.

The upward curl of my lips could not disguise the hollowness of my breath, nor the tears glistening in my eyes. I felt warm all over and I found it quite hard to breathe. I never liked starting my day this way, but there was no choice to make. Things justhappen.

On and on I had told myself in the past, this too shall pass. I was referring to the problems that came my way. I thought of them, and figured I could no longer be easily put to tears. But still, there I wasabout to pour out stubborn tears.

This day, I knew, would be one of those loneliest days of my life.

Father was ill again. He had not fully recovered from the problem in his kidneys. Mother thought he had to be hospitalized again.

Slowly my thoughts drifted back to my younger sister's face. September 7 had never been lonely to her. Yet this time it was.

I could clearly recall the tears burning in the corners of her eyes. She was going out for a field trip and would arrive late. I felt so sorry for her. But she understood.

In our lives, we have to make certain sacrifices for more important things. Things don't always go our way and we are left with no choice but tosacrifice.

I glanced at my watch - 7:42 a.m. Time to stop this trail of thoughts and get to work.

Happy sixteenth birthday, sis. I'm sorry.

All I could do was pray for her a happy day.