"Where?!!!".
I was stranded, standing in a sea of darkness surrounded by loneliness!!
It was scary! And I was terrified!!!
"Where!!!". Again, I inquired!!
No! Does it matter to me where I am now?
I have been tainted! With my own two hands while still maintaining my rationality! I took a life!
My body fell to the ground as it dawned on me, the realization of what I had done! An unspeakable act that goes against every moral I have spent my whole life building!
Murder! I killed a person! I took a life! Deprived another of their own life!
My mind was not in shock nor was I heartbroken or devastated.
Rather, what I was feeling was a sense of confusion! Loss and a desperate attempt to find excuses for which I could justify my actions.
But no matter what I did! No matter how many excuses I came up with, I still find myself reverting to that confusion and loss!
I am ashamed! Ashamed of what my mother would think when she sees me like this!
Afraid to see how disappointed my father would be me when he finds out what I had done.
Please! Anybody! Keep me locked up in here forever so that I will never have to face them!
The darkness! It is gratifying!
The loneliness!! It warms my heart as it covers up any traces of what I had done!
It doesn't mock me. Rather, it comfortably covers up my evil deed.
'I wish!! I wish!!! I wish I would forever be in here!!'.
I curled up my frail body in the darkness, embracing its warmth as I attempted to merge with it in body and soul.
"Now, Now. We can't have that".
It materialized from within the darkness, and out of it was an image crafted out.
The image felt like the darkness that surrounded me and it was bending to its will, obediently submitting to its authority.
The image became clearer, yet its figure was thoroughly concealed in the dark. The only thing I could see of it was the mask with a teary gesture drawn on it.
The design of the mask struck my heart in a way that words cannot describe.
"Who!!!". I said, confused.
I was in the dark, a place that could either be considered my way to the afterlife or an imaginary world conjured up by my consciousness.
Whatever it was, I did not expect that something or someone could access me.
"This all must be very confusing for you right? I can only assume that it is".
The voice spoke cordially, its tone and demeanour so carefree that I found it sickening.
"What do you want".
I was tired! All I wanted was to be alone and in a place where I could not be seen. So what is it? What does this voice want from me that it would so heartily ruin my lonely moment?
"What I want?... Is that really what you are curious about".
Its mask turned toward me as the surroundings went silent like it was waiting for my answer.
"In situations like this, is it not common sense to ask who I am? Shouldn't that have been your first question".
The voice jovially walked and paraded in front of me like a kid expressing their freedom.
"As offended as I am that you did not ask for my identity, I will overlook that and tell you who... Or rather what I am".
It stopped parading and stood precisely in front of me. There was no light to reflect its shadow over me.
Just a deep swirling of the dark coupled with the mask it wore.
"I am a being who has been revered in many names, worshipped by many and likewise feared by the multitude".
Both of its arms were slowly raised by its side and widely stretched out as it continued to speak.
"I am a being without form, and when I do take on a form, I am characterized by the nature of the form I embody".
It walked closer, its step elegant amidst the darkness as it proclaimed; "In my current form, call me The Weeper".
Its tone conveyed respect, authority and charisma. A part of me was in awe at its presence which seemed to be defined by the very surroundings I was in.
"The Weeper!". I repeated!
"Yes. And as one, I heard you weeping profusely and have come here for one purpose only".
Its right index finger was raised or at least that is what I felt after the weeper paused during its speech.
"To help you stop weeping!". It proclaimed, confidently.
My brows flinched. I was interested. My mind and soul were in extreme pain, and there was nothing I wouldn't give to make it stop.
"What you are going through right now, I have been there".
What is it saying? How the hell would it know what I am going through?
My mind is in shambles, my thoughts are scrambled and it claims to be able to understand my experience?!
"Your gaze! They say you don't believe my words!".
How should I? Why should I?
"Well, it's understandable. I also wouldn't believe it either if a weirdo just comes out from nowhere and starts spouting out nonsense".
As it spoke, it made a playful gesture with its hands.
"It's fine if you don't believe me, I just have to make you. And I know just the perfect way to do so!".
Its mask abruptly turned toward me. I could feel the eyes behind the mask gazing at me like it was trying to pierce and see what was beyond my outer skin layer.
"Oduduwa Awakening! First Oduduwa! Death Of Your Aunt! Guilt". It said, nonchalantly.
"How is that? Do you believe me now?!". It asked, confidently.
"And if that alone is not enough to make you believe me, then how about this. My shining star in the dark!".
How!! That was the first question I thought of as I heard it.
"Is that enough proof to understand that I know everything there is to know".