It began like every other day, so ordinary that I almost hate to remember it. I was in the dining room sipping my tea as if it were champagne, and my sister was in the kitchen humming one of those regular church hymns. Everything was just being its usual self. I never knew my life was about to turn into a split of “before” and “after.” Well, nothing about that morning suggested it.
Then, my phone rang.
It was my aunt, I picked it up. Her voice was calm, but something about it feels off.
“Toyosi, your mummy just slumped." She said.
I just smiled and replied, “Slumped? It's cause she didn't eat, she will be fine, allow her rest and eat."
“No, it's not that, she fainted. We’re rushing her to the hospital now." She replied.
The tea turned sour in my mouth. I dropped the cup I was holding. My sister stopped humming, rushed out of the kitchen and stared at me wondering what happened.
“What is it?” She asked, sounding calm but curious.
I didn't even give her an answer. I wore the slippers I found by the door and ran off.
I phoned her to ask for the address and took a bike straight. Mum was doing great when she left to visit her sister about three days ago. Though she does experience slumping, it's been a while since, since we made sure she eats on time and takes her pills. Now...she faints. I was greeted at the hospital by the smell of antiseptic and such. Fear gripped me as I entered and found my aunt pacing outside the emergency ward, her wrapper tied carelessly, and her eyes....red.
“Aunty, where is she?” I asked, with my already trembling voice.
“Inside." She said, as she pointed towards the emergency room swinging doors.
I rushed forward, but one of the nurses blocked me. “You can’t go in there.”
“She's my mother, let me see her!” I shouted at her.
“Young man, calm down, that's a female ward, aside that the doctors are working.” She said in a kind but firm tone.
I rested against the wall, my aunty came near and whispered, “She’ll be okay, right?” Her voice was the only sound that felt normal to my ear, I looked at her not knowing what to say.
Minutes stretched into hours, and every single time the doors opened I jumped up hoping for some news. A doctor came out at last and I rushed towards him..
“Doctor, how's she please?” I asked him.
He sighed and responded, “Pray, we're trying our best as well, and...." He didn't end his sentence before going.
Pray? As if I hadn’t been praying since I heard the news that she's been rushed to the hospital. I sank back to the floor and rested my back against the wall, my heart was heavy. I stood up and joined some other families crying, pacing and praying to GOD.
Another time, the doors flew open, I stepped forward and this time, I was able to catch a glimpse of her...My mother was lying down, no movement, an oxygen mask strapped to her face, and I heard some beeping sounds. My aunt rushed over and pulled me back before the nurses noticed.
I felt uneasy. I remembered her voice, it felt just like yesterday whe
she was scolding me for leaving the plates unwashed.
“Toyosi, is this how I will be shouting before you washed those plates in the sink?” I remember vividly how I had rolled my eyes and continued with what I was doing on my laptop. But right there in the hospital corridor, I would have given anything to hear her shout/nag again.
“God, please don't let this be the end” I whispered.
My aunt shook me awake, I opened my eyes to see that it's night already, I had dozed off right there on the hospital floor.
“The doctor seeks our audience.” she said.
I stood up quickly. A nurse rushed over and shouted my mother's name, Mrs Adebayo. I know she's trying to get the attention of the named patient family, my aunt answered na she said we should hurry as the doctor needs us as soon as possible. My heart dropped, what could have happened, I doubt doctors call families to “talk” unless the news is saddening. We followed her into a small office...the doctors office.
“We did the best we could, he said slowly “but...." I almost screamed "she's stabilized now, we almost lost her. If you had brought her a minute later, it would have been another story entirely.”
I felt a kind of joy, a sort of relief...I can't explain it. I couldn't even talk. I looked sideways at my aunt as she kept repeating, “Thank You Jesus, thank You Jesus."
The doctor gave the nurse certain instructions, move her to the ward...... I nodded at everything he said as if I was the one he was talking to. I was not even sure I heard him. But, one thing was sure...Fate had decdied to be merciful that day.
Later, when she had been wheeled to the ward, we were allowed to see her. She was awake, she looked weak, but she has this smile of hers retained on her face. I was glad as she called me.
“My son,” she whispered in Yoruba. Her voice was barely audible, “don’t cry, I’m here, sorry for getting you worried."
“Mummy, please don’t scare me like that again.” I said holding her hands and fighting the tears that had already made their way down.
She chuckled in a cough like manner. “Life is not ours to hold, we will all go someday, I thank God for giving me another chance. Make sure to use your time wisely too.” She said softly.
It was midnight already, my Aunty had already gone home to prepare something as she would be coming over very early the following morning. I sat down on the small hospital chair, and for the first time since I rushed out, I checked my phone to find hundreds of missed calls....especially from my sister. I was too tired, I just texted her and I dropped my phone back. I reflected on my mum's words. A day that began with bread and tea, with some humming turned into a warfare with fate. Just one regular morning, and that sudden possibility of a life without her had looked me in the face.
And that was a fateful day, it was the day I almost lost my mother, it was the day I knew how fragile life and everything is. Ever since then, I have tried to live each day with love and gratitude. Because fate will never send a warning sign, it will just come suddenly like a thief in the night, it will show up uninvited, and change everything.
If you ask me what I remember most...It will shock you to know it wasn't the hospital smell, the beeping sound or even the doctor’s words. It was that weak smile on her face and her gentle frail hand in mine, with that whisper..“Don't cry, I’m here now."
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