HIM (Comets Tale)

~On Third Mainland Bridge~

Aduni just got back from work, the look she wore on her face spelt "what a bad day".

"Honey I'm home", she called out to Nathan whom she presumed to be asleep, it was almost 8pm.

With some curiosity in mind, she headed for his room, dropping her hand bag and coat by the arm of the couch.

"Nate,are you asleep?". She gave a rather cautious knock at his room door, then slowly she opened the door causing a creaking sound that obviously startled the kid on the bed. Nate turned towards the half opened door spotting his mom peering through by the entrance.

"Dear, you're still awake?". She asked as she entered his room and sat by his side. "Guess so, aunt jenny just left like an hour ago". Nate replied sheepishly as he sat up, resting his back against the bed head.
 
"So my little mustard isn't scared to be all alone". She teased with a faint smile to her face. 
 
"Not really, jenny only left an hour earlier because she had something urgent, and she knew you'd be home soon". Nate said, giving a toothy smile.
 
Aduni placed her palm against his forehead to check his temperature.
 
"Nate !,you're burning up". She said without hiding her worry.

"I'm fine mom, I swear. Aunt jenny gave me the right percentage of blood as you instructed ". "But your temperature says otherwise young man".

She thought to herself, why she entrusted him in Jenny's care, her sister had always been care free thus she must've missed something.

With that , she moved closer to his bedside table and opened the drawer scrambling for the thermometer, when her eyes captured something within the drawer.

Nate noticed her sudden freeze and asked. "What now mom".
 
"Where'd you find this Nate?". Aduni asked, referring to a photo album she could've sworn she hit too well to be found.

"Don't know, your room I presume". "Oh...you presume . what have I told you about taking things without my approval. You know what, forget that. Now where's the thermo-".

In her mind she imagined things, her biggest secret could've been exposed, she was about to finish her statement when she was interrupted by him.

"Mum, who's Teju?." The sentence triggered a knotting sensation within her stomach. Indeed her deepest secret had been exposed!.
 
"Wu..what do you mean by who's Teju?". "I saw him in the photos. He seemed close, and he looked a lot like me". Nate replied, receding under his blanket, his eyes fixated on his mom crouched by the table. He could see anxiety in her eyes from the way they widened.

Aduni got  up, the photo album in her hand. There was an awkward silence that lasted for some seconds as she ran her palm through her kinky hair, and once again sat by his side. She had to let it out, it wasn't going to be easy but she had to.

"There's something you need to know Nate. I never meant to hide it from you". She said. Nate sat up on his bed, his knees meeting his chin.

"What mom?". Aduni exhaled deeply, she knew this day would come.

"Want to hear a story?". She asked, opening the photo album. The first picture of her and her husband taking their vows on their wedding day brought back memories, memories she'd tried to bury.

"What's the story about, and what does it have to do with my question?". Nate inquired. Aduni moved closer to him. Her face opposite his.

"Promise me you'd be strong. Believe me, this is hard for me too". Aduni said, holding back tears. For a minute , Nate felt guilty for asking such a question or for ever going through the photos. He loved his mom way too much to see her in hurt. 

" you don't have to tell me if it hurts that much". He said moving closer to her, he wrapped his arms around her.

"No, its best that you know everything now. Nows the time". Nate still kept his arm around her as she began the story.
 
"Its a story about the FLASH . that one story you've always asked I and jenny to tell you about. Drizzling racing slowly hitting the windows of our car as your dad, Segun drove by the third mainland bridge back in Lagos-".

"Oh, in Nigeria?". Nate asked, resting Hus head on Aduni's lap. " yea, the bridge connects mainland Lagos to the island...., we were heading home from the cinema".

"There's something about that day that seems so hard to forget".
                                             ~

FEB 13TH 2050: TEN YEARS PRIOR

we'd spent some good time at the cinema, it was fun for I and Teju, except for Segun he kept on saying the film was too childish. He only agreed to it just because of Teju and well, his second son on the way. Nathaniel.

It was certainly a fun weekend but the traffic we suddenly encountered on our way home definitely killed it.

"Mom, I want to wiwi".  Teju pestered from the back seat. I turned towards him from the passengers seat finding him struggling with his pants.

"You'd have to hold it till we get off the bridge" said Segun , with a heavy sigh to it. "We'll be home before you know it" I said to him, knowing fully well we might be here a bit longer.

The traffic was a jam, slow moving and very frustrating, so I decided to wine down the car windows . I needed God's air.

"Adu, the a/c is on" said Segun. "Turn it off, real airs much better". I looked out the window, gazing at the setting sun in the west. The purple tinted clouds and the water underneath the bridge. Slowly the streetlights began to seen more obvious with the darkening skies.

I looked towards Segun, his eyes fought back sleep. I could tell what was going on in his mind. He could've stayed home with Netflix and avoided this.

Teju was behind my seat, playing with my braids when I felt this soft breeze caress my skin. Without thought, I looked out of the window noticing what seemed like a shooting star stretching across the sky at jet speed.

" Segun!" I said tapping him by his lap. I pointed out the window, the trail seemed like streaking lights descending.

"What is that?". I asked. "A shooting star" Segun replied. I turned back to try to alert Teju only to find him curled up on the leather seat, asleep.

It must've lasted for a few seconds before a loud explosion was let off. I tried to protect my ears. I gazed out the window squinting, to behold a bright flash of light so bright. So white, almost blinding . like a flash it was gone.

"God . what was that?!". I asked Segun. Still looking out of the window. I was expecting an answer but none. I noticed the road lights had gone off.

"Segun". I said, turning towards the drivers seat to find him not!.

All that was on the seat, were the green t shirt and denim jeans he wore. He'd disappeared!. In panic, I turned towards the back seat, to check on Teju but shockingly he too was gone!. Only his clothes rested on the seat.

At that point, I was in full panic mode as I unfastened my seatbelt anxiously. And began to yell. I suddenly noticed some women hurriedly alight from a mass transit parked right in front of us. Some with their hands on their head.

"Hey..". "Where them go?". "Olorun o!!". Those and other words were all I could hear, backed with loud cries. Sooner it was everywhere.

I turned back to the drivers seat, still trying to find him, like he'd shrunken into the size of an ant. Then I made my way to the back seat in search of my Teju.

"Stop this. Teju!. Teju!!".  I yelled, before exiting the car through the back door.

I stood barefooted and moved to the guard rails by the bridge. The windspeed intensifying . my instincts told me to walk up to a lady by the mass transit. So I did in a hurry, in need of answers.

"Ahh...did you experience it too. The vanishing ?". I asked gripping her by the shoulders, she replied nodding her head still in shock. My hands slowly left her shoulders as I rushed back towards the car.

I cried. "Teju. Segun!".

                                                ~ 
"So that was how they ceased to be" Aduni said. Nate still rested his head on her laps. He faced her. "Dad and Teju vanished. But why?". He asked.

"No one understands why, not even after a decade. Nate, I told you this so you'd understand how important you are. You and all the other boys out there. Those around weren't as lucky enough". Aduni traced his eyebrows with her fingers, her eyes still locked with his.

"I love you mum". Nate said.