Well, the only thing I had on me was money for Just one bus ticket, nothing more, nothing less. I don't even have anything on me to buy snacks on my way or even buy something along for them at home. I just had enough to get me home to see my mother for the last time before she give up the ghost.
I was standing in front of the ATM machine withdrawing the last thing I had on me, I was hoping and praying it would dispense, cause the money in my account was a round figure, just the exact amount and for the past three days have been surviving on garri only, just because I want to keep this money to home. It was like I was pierced when I received the message from my sister, “Mummy hasn’t spoken yet, the doctor said she won't survive it, if you can come, please do now before.....”
She never ended the message, but I very well knew what she was trying to say.
The machine made it usual beeping sound and it flashed the same error message on the screen again,“Unable to process.”
I was fed up that I slammed the machine board with my fist, I never realized someone was behind me until I heard her hissed. Well, there's nothing I could do, I stepped aside and was thinking of the next thing to do, I pocketed my hands and felt something, lo and behold it was a ₦50 note, just the amount needed to withdraw my money via a POS machine.
I crossed over to the other side of the road where POS attendants were, that's where I would be getting my ticket to board a bus as well. After withdrawing the fund successfully, I started looking out for the cheapest option, I saw a danfo bus that was looking sick, it's conductor was shouting loudly, "Ibadan, ₦1,000, Ibadan ₦1,000, he dey go, no lodse guard." My heart sank, there was nothing else on me, not even for a sachet of water.
I walked up to him, handed over the ₦1,000 and collected the small brown ticket, holding onto it as if it were a visa to Canada note. I was looking for a space to sit around when the driver told me to not go far cause the bus would be leaving in twenty minutes.
I found a not so quiet corner and sat down, I tried my sister line but it wasn't reachable, I tried again, same. I was just there lost in my thoughts.
“Bros, bros abeg…..” I heard a voice said.
I looked up and saw a young guy kneeling in front of me, he was about twenty years of age, his face looks sad, tired, and stressed.
“What happen?” I asked, tired as well.
“I need to reach Ibadan, my sister is so sick, she just gave birth as well and she needs blood. I happen to be the only one who can donate for her and I don't have transport fare, please, even if it is ₦500, pls help me.”
I stared at him, as if looking for something in his eyes, what will I do, I don't have anything on me. Just this one ticket.
I looked at the ticket in my hand, and I thought....My mother.
“I swear, it's urgent, she's the only one I have please, have been begging around but no one is ready to help, I even wanted to sell this small phone of mine, but nobody wants to buy it....they thought it's a stolen phone.... please, I can even give you this phone in exchange for ₦1,000 or ₦500.*"
My chest tightened, what kind of test is this, my mother is there lying between life and death, and here's this guy as well, a total stranger he is, but he's someone's brother and lifeline/only hope. But so thought about it, even though it wasn't easy, but, it's obvious my mum wouldn't made it, she could have given up the ghost before I even arrive Ibadan, but this guy's sister can still make it, she would want to fight for her life given that she just gave birth as well.
So, I responded him, “I honestly do not have anything on me. But.....I can give you this ticket.”
His eyes widened as he said, " Are you serious?”
I nodded.
He took it from my hand and said, “God bless you, sir, God will honour you, He will surprise you........"
Just then, the conductor called onto me, and I beckoned on him to go. He asked for my number and I gave him. And I watched him board the bus I should have been on. I felt heavy within me, my heart felt like it would pop out. I told myself there would be another way. Maybe a friend would send me something, maybe a free bus will come.....Maybe....
By evening, I was still there at the park, sitting, expecting a miracle, but nothing came, no miracle, no text, no calls, no free bus.... nothing.
Then around after 9p.m., my phone rang. I checked, it was my sister.
"Toyosi, Mama's gone.”
I lost balance, it felt like the world tilted a bit. I didn’t cry, well not yet. I just sat there as different buses came and left, blaring their horns which sounds to me as if I was being mocked.
I walked back to my house feeling so heavy, I was crying inside of me. Immediately I entered, the bulb flickered. Well the power station had done their worst.
In that darkness, I sat on the bed, pulled off my shoes, stared at the ceiling and and cried. I did not know when and how I slept off.
My phone vibrated and that was what woke me up, it was still very early in the morning.
It was a call from an unknown number.
I picked it up and heard, "Hello sir, she made it, I was able to give her the blood. Thank you so much sir, may God reward you, I would repay this kind gesture........"
I couldn't even say a thing, I dropped the phone and started crying again. I didn't know if I was crying for my mother, or for the lady who survived. Or maybe I was crying because for this unfair world that forced and asked me to choose between saving a total stranger or saying goodbye to my own mother.
All pictures were generated using AI.
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