TL's Farewell

I saw the man on April 13 at 6.15pm in the ICU at Pantai Hospital, holding in my hand the gift book I had just gotten on my birthday party the night before.
I had wanted to show him his very meaningful entry together with the picture he contributed to my book. But he was unconscious.

I walked to his bedside and there he was, breathing hard into an oxygen mask. He looked like he was in deep sleep until he let out a cry for water...
"Water", he said, " I want water".
We called for the nurse who promptly swabbed his lips and mouth with some water. She then told us that there was an unusually high level of toxins in his blood and that he had just completed one cycle of dialysis to remove the toxins.
"He is resting now... and he should come out of it later tonight", the nurse said.
"Is he conscious now?" I asked her.
"He drifts in and out of consciousness", she answered. "When we want to tell him something, we just wake him up by calling his name".
"Thanks", I said.
I turned my gaze to TL lying in his bed still breathing heavy and hard, his eyes closed, I leaned forward, using my right hand, I held his left hand lightly and called his name;
"TL, TL!" I raised my voice.
"Huh??!" he responded
"Do you know who I am TL?" I said. And he tried to open his eyes to look at me. His eyes opened partially and then he said;
" You are Doctor-la"
"No TL. It's Peter... Peter Gan TL...?" I said
He continued his laboured breathing into the oxygen mask.
Seeing that there was no response, I figured he needed rest so, I squeezed his hand and said to him, "TL..., you have just finished dialysis, and the nurse says it's ok. You should continue resting ok? I will let you rest and I'll come back later ok?!"
Then Agnes and I walked to the side and continued to look over him from a distance.
"He looks quite serious? No..?" Agnes observed.
Without skipping a beat, I said; "No darling. He'll be fine, he's got a lot of life left in him, he'll be ok." And with that we said a silent farewell to TL and left.

Barely six hours after that, TL had passed away. At 12.30am April 14, TL succumbed to Septicemia or blood poisoning. Apparently the dialysis didn't work and I was wrong about him being ok.
Well, I still think TL to be the most OK guy in my world. In our earlier and younger days, I would often refer to him as our 'fearless' leader. He would always stand up to any situation and face it with a cool head and solve it with his keen, analytical and organised mind. He showed me what fearlessness and responsibility was about. He showed me how to live with a big appetite and how to love, laugh and pursue everything with a tenacity that only he possessed.
I shall go to his wake tonight to pay my respects and the funeral tomorrow to be pall bearer.
It will be my honour dear TL as it was an honour serving with you.

Farewell my friend. For now.