Pray

Tucked away into a northwest corner of Malaysia, away from the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, lies the relaxing, sleepy island of Langkawi. Langkawi has long had a special place in my heart, having visited it many moons ago with my sweet friend Kristen. After a turbulent past year, I craved its cool blue waters and lush green hills.

I last visited Langkawi when I was in medical school. Kristen and I were rising second year students at the time, and we had been afforded the opportunity to perform a small pilot study through the research department of our medical school in Kuala Lumpur. Study completed, we snuck away to Langkawi for a few days. While my memories of the weekend have mostly faded, the sentiment remained years later: this was my happy place. Langkawi was an island I could return to whenever I needed her, for she would be there, her pregnant hills and outstretched warm waters waiting patiently for my return.

More than ten years later, I returned to Langkawi to think. So much had changed since my last visit. I had graduated medical school, completed a rigorous residency program, and matched into a competitive fellowship that I loved. Along the way I had found and lost love; I had moved to wonderful new places; and I had travelled the world over.

I had so much to be grateful for.

One morning, while relaxing at the breakfast table, I found myself in a moment of sweet irony. As I reclined under a wooden canopy, surrounded by swaying tropical trees, I read a book chosen by Kristen for our mutual book club. I smiled and sent Kristen a picture of the moment- I had found myself sharing my quiet early morning in Langkawi with her once more, just as we had years before.

The remainder of my time in Langkawi was spent by the water or in it. I drank in the oceans of Langkawi, my eyes constantly thirsty for its blue-green beauty.

Soon, it was time to fly back to Kuala Lumpur. In my final moments before checkout time, I lay on my bed watching the waters one last time. Light turquoise blended into deep blue. The ocean was steady today. Heavy winds had slapped waters against the shore the night before, like dough being kneaded roughly against a solid counter, but today, the water had returned to its natural state.

The storm had passed, and the waters were still once more. And I, too, was content.