We have lost her

Greetings!

2011 was a year I will never forget in my life. February 23rd, 2011 was the darkest day of my life and this is because of the great loss that happened in my family. It was sad and pathetic when the news of my mum's death was broken to us. It's my dad that called in the middle of the night and said,

“Sam, we've lost her.” “Who?” I replied , he said, “your mum.”

When I heard this, I was shocked and downhearted. Though I knew she was sick, she had been recovering from her sickness at a very high rate and was to be discharged on the following day, but she died a night before dawn. It's indeed a sad day for all family members. Both the nuclear and the extended family members were thrown into mourning.

“But what can we do?” said his immediate younger sister who came to witness the burial rite of her elder sister. She had already cried herself to stupor but was consoled by friends and family.

Hmmm, as the first child of the deceased, I was already lost in thought as everything seemed over for me. It's like the world was over and I didn't know when I exclaimed saying,

“I'm done for” it's when I said this that my mum's friend at work , Mrs Lawal came to console me with her calming words and to be sincere, the word really saved my emotions at that particular time.

So, after the burial, all those who came departed for their places, but before they left, my mum's immediate elder brother called and promised us heaven on earth. He said,

” I would have come, but our tradition would not permit me to come.” “ Thank you sir,” I replied.

When everybody had left, it dawned on us the children that life was just getting started. Indeed, life just began and I used to be lazy before pulled my strength together and facing the reality of life.

My first point of call was to go into serving bricklayers cement and sand with blocks at construction sites. It's not easy, but I just have to do it. The first day I got to the site, Mr Muftau said,

“ Can this one that looks like a butty work for us like this?” I didn't even let him land with his statement before I replied to him by saying, “ I'm not butty ooo, see I can work very well.” He said, “ no problem. “

Though the work was not easy, because of the situation, I just have to do it. So, when I got home on that day, I couldn't sleep as my body ached. So, I took pain relief drugs and slept. The following morning, I tried to stand and prepare for work, but it's so difficult for me to do so. So I decided to skip the day to take a rest.

So, on the following day, I went there and I was being questioned as to why I didn't show up the previous day. I explained everything to them and they all mocked my weakness. But I didn't let that deter me from doing the work and as time went by, I accustomed myself to the job and it's there I was able to gather and raise what I used to further my education in the university.

As for those that promised us heaven on earth, they were nowhere to be found. But glory to God, we made it at the end.

Thanks for reading.

Picture is mine.