I was whiling some time away in Joo Chiat one afternoon when I spotted a beautiful pink and white floral dress in the window of a multi-label boutique. As I stepped into the shop, the owner greeted me with such a warm smile and welcome! She asked if there was anything in particular I was looking for. When I asked about the dress in the window, she excitedly told me it was a piece she had just imported from Greece.
My heart stopped a beat – the last holiday I shared with my mum before she passed away last year, was in Greece. During that trip, I observed for the first time how she marvelled at flowers, even the ones by the roadside. She took the time to stop, whip out her phone, and take photos of the ones that caught her eye. The large flower bush in the resort we stayed in deserved a ‘wefie’ (see photo below).
I tried on a few other dresses, but my heart was already set on that dress in the window so reminiscent of that beautiful flower bush. Needless to say, I walked out of the shop with that very dress, teary eyed.
When I was more composed, I sent a message to the shop through their Instagram account. I wanted to convey my gratitude for the shop owner’s warmth, and explain how meaningful that purchase was to me. Her response was empathetic and appreciative, and in that short conversation we connected through the topic of death as two very human beings.



I love unexpected positive interactions with strangers – but this one is especially precious. Having had my fair share of dismal, or at best, aloof customer service experiences, this felt like a gasp of fresh air from the get go. Thank you, Ruth, for bringing your warm, human touch to Singapore’s retail scene. And for seeing, acknowledging and holding space for my grief.
About the author: Daphne lost her mother to bile duct cancer in 2022 and started Letters for Life with Vadivu to help others convey their love and messages to family and friends in a deeper, more meaningful way.