The spinning earth came to a stop. Everything around me literally got frozen. I stared at my mom as if I was in coma. I didn't move until she hit my shoulder.
"Come on! Let's hurry to the hospital!" she urged.
I came back to the present and hurried out the house with my mom. Her hands trembled, making it almost impossible to lock the gate quickly. I was irritated by that because I was scared. My heart was hanging in my throat. All I kept saying was, "Have mercy, Lord"
Yeah, I was a church girl!
When my mom finally locked our gate, we ran out of our compound and into the streets.
Mom was prancing left then back to right, very confused, "I don't know if I should call taxi or we should enter okada" she confessed her worry, her hands on her sweaty forehead.
"Okada would be faster, Mom" I told her, trying to sound as calm as possible but failed.
"Okay"
It was as if they were scarce that evening. Almost every vehicle that drove past were cars. We, after wasting a few minutes that matter, finally got into a keke.
Mom was also praying the prayer in my heart as we rode to Isalu hospital behind Excellence Hotel, Aguda. We locked our hands together with the aim of comforting ourselves.
We got to the hospital finally.
"Where is John?" my mom asked the auxiliary nurse at the reception.
"Here ma" came the masculine voice from behind us.
We turned around.
"Are you the John that called me?" my mom asked.
"Yes, ma. I am"
"Where's my dad?" I asked, almost crying.
The man looked deep into my troubled eyes. He seemed to be searching for consoling words for me but he found none. He just bowed his head.
"Young man, where is my husband?!" my mom yelled.
I shut my eyes.
Lord, let this be a dream!
"I'm sorry madam but your husband is dead"
Again, the world stopped spinning. Everything froze. My eyes remained shut. In fact, I closed them tighter.
I heard someone slapping some skin so I opened my eyes only for me to find my mom on the floor and John hitting her.
No! I can't lose you too!
I knelt down by her side in an instant and began to scream till my windpipe hurt, "Mommy! Mommy please don't go too! Please, wake up!"
"Doctor! Doctor!!" John began to call. He caught sight of the auxiliary nurse, still standing behind the reception.
"You sluggish fool! Go and call the doctor, amebo! This one resemble African magic for your eye! Doctor!"
The nurse stared menacingly at John before running off to get the doctor.
Women!
***
I sat still at the reception on those very uncomfortable chairs that have become bad omen in Nigeria. They are metallic with tiny holes and stainless frame, joining together in threes. I sat on them, trying to stop my body from shaking on its own accord.
YOU ARE READING
Handling Grief
Teen Fiction"Leave me alone, Dianne!" I protested, shaking my cousin's hand off my shoulder. "Mirabel, I'm only trying to help. Think about it na. Your dad is dead and your mother is insane...!" "...my mother is not insane...!" I screamed at her, raising my pre...
