My car of ten years

How long is the grieving period for a car?

On 23 August 21, I drove my 12-year-old Hyundai Avante for the last time. He was smooth like he usually was, but the mechanic told me that the day before he had acted up again and refused to start. He knew never to let me down, this old car. I knew he was sick for a while. He sputtered and stalled and caused me to panic one morning in August when I drove the boy to school during the peak hour. But he did not leave me stranded there. He still crawled all the way to the workshop. Every time he coughed and heaved, I felt bad like I was trying to make him work past his 'use-by' date. At traffic lights, he started to tremble so badly I did not know if he would give up his last breath.

This old car had been my most trusted companion for the last ten years. He saw me through an entire decade of my life. I ran to him when I needed to cry alone. I always felt safe and comforted after a short drive and a good cry. When Granny died, it was me and him on the road following the hearse. He seemed to know my sadness because I had tears pouring down and he was just quietly doing his work to bring me safely to the crematorium in Mandai. We had adventures together, going to places we never went and I felt he never begrudged me for my poor sense of direction and sometimes bad driving. There was this one time I chased an errant driver to exact an apology from him for cutting into my lane and nearly causing me to crash. My trusty companion seemed to understand my indignation for he wasted no time in making it clear to the other driver what we were capable of. He must have sensed my bewilderment too for later I was muttering to myself what a beast I had become. He must have known the emotional toll of long work hours on my mental health. He witnessed it every single day when I sat at the wheel with things going through my head.

This trusty friend was always very silent. He had no temper and no tantrums. I knew he was old but yet I had extended his life. People tell me it was not the wisest decision. I always make bad financial decisions. So be it.

I hope he rests in peace. Thank you for your years of service and for being my faithful companion all these years. I miss you so much.