I was trembling as I drew closer to her. She was so thin, her eyeballs were sunken and her perfect white teeth had turned ash. Mom had become a shadow of herself. I finally got to her and sat on the bed she lay on.
"My angel", she took my hand in hers. I was already in tears.
"Mom, you said you'll be fine. You promised", I sobbed
She kept smiling and the smile never wavered.
"I'll be fine, I promise". Then she tightened her grip on my hand. "How was school today? Have you eaten? I can cook for you... What will you like to eat..."
She kept talking till I asked her to stop. Then she smiled again and I must say that since she fell sick, her smile had never been so full of life and beautiful as the one she just gave.
I was trembling as I drew closer to her. She was so thin, her eyeballs were sunken and her perfect white teeth had turned ash. Mom had become a shadow of herself. I finally got to her and sat on the bed she lay on.
"My angel", she took my hand in hers. I was already in tears.
"Mom, you said you'll be fine. You promised", I sobbed
She kept smiling and the smile never wavered.
"I'll be fine, I promise". Then she tightened her grip on my hand. "How was school today? Have you eaten? I can cook for you... What will you like to eat..."
She kept talking till I asked her to stop. Then she smiled again and I must say that since she fell sick, her smile had never been so full of life and beautiful as the one she just gave.
"I love you, Ruby, I want you to know that. And I will always love you... Always"
"I love you too mom".
And then she hugged me so tight I thought my back was going to snap. Where did all that strength come from?
Then she released me.
"Go call your dad. I need to speak with him"
I wiped my eyes and left the room to call dad while I stood by the back door with our pastor. He was saying something but I wasn't listening. My mind was troubled and I was having goosebumps all over my skin. Then I heard someone scream. Dad.
He was crying.
On impulse, everyone rushed towards the room. I got there first and the only thing my eyes settled on was my mom's lifeless body and dad kneeling beside her, crying his eyes out. Everyone made to grab me but I pushed them all away and ran to my mom.
She was dead. I jerked her as if that would wake her up. I was hearing a voice like mine screaming 'you promised, you promised
Then everywhere began to turn dark. I was hearing AB's voice, my dad's voice, and all other voices. They were calling my name. I recoiled from any hand that touched me and sunk deeper into the silence. Into the darkness, away from the noise and pain I felt. I just shut everything and everyone out.
White ceiling, white bedspread, strong antiseptic odor. That's how these things happen. I woke up in a hospital. My sight was blurry and I could hardly keep my eyes open but I could tell there was a figure making some adjustments on a pole and a line attached to it.
"She's awake", I heard a voice say. It sounded like dad. What about mom? She was always the one who sat close to me whenever I fell I'll... So where did she go??
Doctor Audu came over to my dad. They were calling my name but my eyes couldn't stay open. And I tried to talk but I felt a lump in my throat. I felt empty and my chest was tight. I was having difficulty breathing. Then the memories came flooding in, like a wave, and I felt nauseated.
"Dad, where is mom? I want mom"
He looked at doctor Audu helplessly.
"And where is AB? I want mom and AB"
Doc Audu stepped outside and came in almost immediately with AB. AB looked so out of place like he hadn't slept or eaten for days.
"I want to go home", I blurted. "I need to see mom. How is she doing? Wait what are you all doing here? Dad! Mom is ill and home alone. What if she needs help?!!"
They were all quiet and staring at me like I had gone crazy. Well maybe. I tried to sit up but they rushed to me. Then AB said;
"Ruby, you have been in a coma for five days. Please you should rest"
I looked at him, then at dad, doctor Audu. I didn't know when I started to cry again. It dawned on me that I was never going to see my mom...
Why is death so cruel? Why does it snatch people who mean so much to you? People you love a lot. And then the wicked ones are left to keep roaming and causing havoc?