Wednesday January 24th 2018 was supposed to be the happiest day of my aunt's life but....
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My Special Invitation
Few weeks ago, I got a message from one of my cousins asking me if I would be attending our aunt's wedding(Wedding date-24th January, 2018). I knew my aunt she was talking about but i couldn't remember who she was. I almost ignored her message but I was taken aback by her surname., we were bearing the same surname. I had to ask her again who she was and I realized she was my cousin that I had not seen for over 7years.
Ooooh wow!!!
That was the scream I made. I knew her when she was so little. I was wowed by how much she had grown. It was really nice hearing from her. I had not seen many of my cousins in so many years because we live in different states in Nigeria and I have not been traveling to my home town during festive periods.
24th January was supposed to be the date for my aunt's wedding but it turned out the other way.
The news
A week plus ago, some minutes past 7am while I was getting ready for a new day, I got a call from home that my aunt whose wedding was slated for January 24th, 2018 was dead.
What???
I asked.
It didn't sound true.
I pinched my self so I could wake-up from that evil slumber but nay it was true. I pinched myself again harder this time just in case the sleep was too deep but no. Reality struck with a bang.
I had lost my aunt.
Ahh I screamed than my voice could carry, I shouted her name just in case she was close so she could hear me. I screamed again to see if my voice could make her change her mind.
If only screaming could make the dead come back to life, maybe mine would have brought her back.
At a point, my legs could no longer carry me, I had to sit down. I had to end the call. I was speechless. Tears came running down my eyes. Her pictures were on my head,even clearer than reality. Her voice, I could hear clearly in my head. So how is it possible that she was dead. I had to return the call.
The Details
Here was our conversation on the phone
Me: Hello dad, what did you just say
(I couldn't wait for him to reply)
Me: Please what did you say on phone when you called. Did she really die.
Dad: Yes she did
Me: I screamed again but this time I had to control myself. What happened, how did she die.
Dad: She was killed by stray bullet.
Me: How can it be true. Where? How? By who?
Dad: She was traveling and was shot by kidnapers who thought their bus was trying to attack them.
Me: (I could not take it anymore) OK dad let us just talk later, I can't think straight.
And that was how I ended the call. It was a bad way to start the day.
How can I arrange the thoughts in my head. How would my aunt whose wedding is supposed to be January 24th be dead?
Just few days to her wedding?
There were so many questions in my head with no answers.
The only answer anyone could give me was, "she is dead".
Burial Preparations
Since she was still young, there was no point delaying her burial the "umunna" said. It was best to help everyone get stronger.
But To make matters worse, the "umunna" fixed her burial date for 24th January, 2018.
Same day that was supposed to be her wedding day.
I don't know the reason for this though I asked. Someone said, "since the date was already fixed for her, it was just best to continue with the date.
Good day turned sour
January 24th will always be fresh in our hearts because it was supposed to be the day for my aunt's wedding. Instead it turned out to be the day she kissed the earth good bye.
It was supposed to be the day my cousins and I would see after haven not seen for years. This was supposed to be done in joy. We still saw though but we saw for the wrong reasons.
RIP my aunt till we meet to part no more.
Rest in the bossom of the Lord.
You were hard working, you helped the needy, you loved all.
You made money not for yourself but for everyone that came your way.
Mother earth knows she has lost a great soul.
Rest in Peace aunt, you will surely be missed.
We love you.
Thanks for reading.