I HAD BARELY LEARNED LIFE - by Jemima Lawal

I was only nine years old I had barely learned life. But that wasn't the beginning of it I remember very well The first time was years before I was five or soMy parents had to travel and leave me with aunty Dunsin Nobody knew anything Every time my dad would call , he would be the only one to speak with me. There was always one excuse or another why my mum couldn't come to the phone. They did return after a few months But my mother wasn't the same as I remembered She was different. Her eyes looked --- Different I couldn't quite explain it at the time. But now that I remember, she looked like she was recovering from something. Actually, she was. But the thing never quite left her. It came back some years later, when I was eight. This time it was worseOr maybe it felt that way because unlike the first time, I watched it with my own eyes. At the beginning she tried to be strong To act like it didn't hurt But I saw it too clearly I might've been young ,but I wasn't stupid As time passed, she could barely leave her bed comfortably anymore. She couldn't leave the house either. I come from a middle class family. We weren't wealthy, but we weren't poor either. Anybody could easily tell I was well taken care of too. But during that time I had to grow upEspecially after aunty Dunsin left. She had her job and her own family to take care of. She wished she could have stayed for me , but we all knew that was impossible So it became just myself, my father and my ailing mother. I started carrying out errands alone. I would hear the neighbours whisper things about my motherNews had gotten to them that she was sick. It was through them that I found out what was wrong with my mother Why she lost colour Why she lost the brightness in her eyes and smile Why she slowly lost her favourite thing — her hair CancerThat's what they called it I didn't know what it was at the time But I knew it was a terrible thing It was the reason I had to grow up too fast. Time passedEven more One day at nineI came home from school The doors were wide open My dad was sitting on the floor with tears in his eyes They were red Blood red Like he'd been crying for hours There were people in the inner room That's where maami had been since she got sick. I didn't understand Who were these people?And why was my father sitting in a pool of tears He looked up at me And then he started crying again He cried even harder I was confused Was my presence causing him pain? I looked towards the room again and just as I walked towards the entrance, I saw a familiar face run towards me It was aunty Dunsin She grabbed me Wrapped me in her armsPressed me tightly against her chest. And just then The visitors walked out. There were five men, all carrying something Well , now I know it was someone. But at the time, I thought it was something. It was wrapped in white. From top to bottom and all around. Aunty Dunsin held me even tighter and turned my head away She kept saying she was sorry I asked what it wasWhat were they carrying that was so heavy?? Where were they taking it? She finally looked at me She held my face "That's your mommy. We lost your mommy. We lost her. She's gone" As she spoke, I heard my father scream loudly behind her. I've heard those words before In the movies we watch Isn't that what they say when someone dies? Maami couldn't be dead , thoughI was so sure of itI had just seen her before I walked inShe held me She said she was taking a walkShe waved at me She....She was gone That wave?That wasn't her That was her last goodbye I looked at the room one last time And it dawned on me I was only nine years old I had barely learned life. But my mother....Maami was gone. Note: this is just a story. My mother is alive and well and she will live long in Jesus name 😂😂😂

Other insights from Jemima Lawal

Contributor Points

Points-to-Coupons

Referral Earning