My lower back has always been giving me problems,
and long hours of walking in Singapore have made it hurt so!
I really need to work out and strengthen my back man -_-

Went to Sifu @ Bangsar for a quick fix to ease the pain.
For the first time, this guy called Najib massaged me.

“Any particular problems?” he asked
“Yeah, my lower back always hurts,” i spoke to him through the face hole on the bed.
I think because i didn’t look up to see his face, he offered up the information that he’s blind.
“100% blind.”
“Oh…. *didn’t know what to say* Where are you from?”
“Sarawak. What do you do?”
“I’m… a writer.”
“Oh that’s nice! I have a friend who’s a writer too. He’s from Indonesia. His name is Willy.”
“Oh Willy! I know Willy!”
“Is he the one who had cancer?”
“Yes…*awkward to talk about disease* ”
“Ah then he’s the same one la!”
” He’s a really nice guy…”
“Yes he’s very nice… He helped me a lot when i had an accident.”
“How did he help you? *sibuk* ”
“When i had an accident, i couldn’t work for a long time… and he gave me money to pay my rent.”
“Aww… that is so nice of him… *feels so proud of Willy* ”
“Yeah, he’s a very nice guy,” Najib repeated.

We were quiet for a while, probably lost in our own thoughts of what an angel Willy is.

“How long have you been a masseuse?” I asked, because he was so good at feeling the painful spots on my back. 
“Since i became blind… 4 years here in Sifu, but i took a course in 2001, and since then, i’ve been massaging.”

Silence as i pondered how one became blind at such a young age.
I decided to ask… 

“May i ask… how did you get blind?”
“I got blind when i was 19. Doctors call it retinal detachment. I was playing basketball and the ball hit my face.”
“Oh my god… it was from basketball?”
“Yeah… 27th May 1999… a bad time for me. Next week, it would have been 11 years i’m blind.”

Silence again as he concentrated, and i thought about the card Fate dealt him.
Imagine being able to see most of your life,
and then losing your sense of sight just when you’re about to be an adult…
Imagine the pain and anger and sense of loss…
Imagine blaming the stupid ball, and wishing he’d never touched a basketball in his life…
Imagine never being able to see colour anymore!

Imagine if he could see, i might have met him at a bar,
instead of having him as my masseuse.

I felt so sorry for him,
and that he was so brave,
at the same time.

I walked out of the spa feeling grateful for my kneaded back,
my eyesight,
and how so far Fate has been very kind to me.

I just hope that in times of distress,
i can be as strong as Najib was and is.

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