Most Alive

27/05/23

At the end of every month, my husband and I visit a record store to pick up a vinyl based off a theme that he’s decided for that month. The point of it is simple – to listen to music that we otherwise would not gravitate towards to, and to better understand the record scene in Singapore. It is a simple activity, but one that represents our relationship well – finding joy even when it seems impossible to do so.

During each chemo cycle, I look forward to this day the most because we make an outing of it. I decide what clothes I’m going to wear, we pick the record store first, then a place to eat nearby (one of the few meals that I eat out during my chemo cycles). It is a taste of normalcy, a peek into the life that we want to keep building for ourselves despite the tragedy, despite the pain. It is a testament to finding joy in art, which remains a constant life source for the both of us, albeit in different ways. 

This piece was first published on RIC Journal. Click here to read the full story.