by Billy CHUNG FOR YUEN

It started like any other day. I had breakfast with my wife while watching the morning news on TV. They were still covering the news of the day before, updating traffic news etc. As usual, I saw my wife off to work: a kiss on each cheek, even though she will want one on the lips. But it?s never on the lips when she is wearing lipstick; it is our morning routine. She left for work and said ?trouve toi tantot?. I did not see my wife again that day.

That morning was the 7th July 2005. The day before, London was awarded the 2012 Olympics game and the whole city was euphoric. Less than 24 hours later three bombs exploded within minutes of each other on three trains of the London Underground and another one exploded an hour later on a bus. As a result, 52 persons died and over 700 persons were injured. Rachelle was one of the victims of the Kings Cross/ Russell Square explosion.

Actions like these do not discriminate the colour of skins, ages, faiths, nationalities. People of different nationalities and faiths died in these explosions. All families and people, who lost someone in these attacks, are going through the same pain. Who would have thought that one day someone from the small island of Mauritius would be killed in such acts on foreign soils. The whole country has mourned with me and my families. People of different faiths have sympathised with us. Support and help came from families, friends, and particularly the Prime Minister of Mauritius and his government, the High Commissioner of Mauritius in London, the British Government and its representatives, The Municipality of Port Louis and Lord Mayor, directors and staff of Air Mauritius, public and private companies in Mauritius and England, the people of Mauritius, and people all over the world. At no point during those dreadful moments and days did I and my family feel unsupported. Practically everything was taken care of on our behalf. For that I can only say ?thank you?.

I wish with all my heart that no other Mauritian families go through the same pain and that such act will not occur in the small island we all call Home. We live in a multicultural society and, albeit some troubles in the past, we all live in harmony and as one family. If the world could see us and learn from us, we will all live in a better one.

I got married when I was 28 years old and ten months later, became a widower at the age of 29. The 25th August 2005 would have been our first wedding anniversary. Words aren?t enough to express this pain, this loss. A part of me is now gone and my life will probably never be the same again. But life goes on?..