I have a bathroom plant.

It's just a pokok duit-duit that my mom plucked from one of her apartments, which I thought would look very nice, standing in a tall, clear vase, at the right corner of my vanity top.

I have been searching for something to fill that corner, and nothing else seemed to measure up. The minute I placed my vase, along with the plant in it, floating in the water (and I had placed some river stones at the bottom of the place simply for aesthetic pleasure), it fits right in. With the decor and the picture I had in my mind of what my ideal bathroom would look lie.

Now, a pokok duit-duit apparently doesn't require much care. Just top up the water when the level dips. So, sometimes I'd be really diligent and fill the vase every few days or so. Sometimes, not so diligent, and that's when I will only notice it while sitting on the throne, staring into space.

Failure to give the plant its drink will wilt its branches and turn the leaves yellow. When I'm a little bit rajin, I'd pluck those yellow leaves off. Other times, I'd find them floating in the vase. Obviously, it has happened to me one too many times, this failure to siram my plant.

The other day I decided, sod it. It seems like such a hassle, always having to top up the water, and making sure that nothing is breeding in the vase. And it seems like such a chore to be emptying the whole thing to clean it, then having to assemble the thing again. Just so it can prettify my corner. And it's such a manja plant, you know? Sikit-sikit, kena isi air. Bila tak isi air je, wilt and daun kuning.

So, a few days ago, I decided to let it go and pay no attention to it. Biar la, when all the leaves have turned yellow, I'll throw the whole thing out.

But as days go by, it didn't wilt and the leaves didn't turn yellow. And I could see the water level going down so low. Yet, it held on.

Just like us human beings. When faced with adversity, we hang on for our dear lives, not knowing what's gonna happen next. If it will get worse, or if things will turn for the better. Yet, we hang on, and remain strong for the world to see. Even if, inside, we're wilting day by day.

This evening, I decided, everyone deserves a second chance.

And i filled the vase to the brim.

Happy New Year everyone :)