WIDOWED
CHAPTER 6
THE END
We were on our way to the village for her funeral. My children and I, all dressed in black led the procession in a hearse. Every other person followed behind. I still couldn’t believe my eyes. My children were simply inconsolable and I was doing all I can to calm them down.
It was late in the evening when our small convoy of cars reached the village. Canopies and chairs were already arranged and everyone was in the main family compound waiting for the arrival of the corpse. As soon as we rounded a corner and reached the compound, a loud wailing emanated from the villagers. Enoma’s mum came straight at me and started beating me and accusing me of killing her daughter. I tried to free myself from her grip but couldn’t.
By the time she was pulled away from me by some villagers, my dress was already torn. I hurried into the main building to have a change of clothes. My children found everything strange. For a start, they had never been to the village all their life. So, the quarrelling, fighting, cursing, arguments and everything they were witnessing, coupled with the death of their mum put them in a terrible mood.
When I got back from inside the house, I met Enoma’s elder brother and he engaged me in a verbal onslaught. What he didn’t know was that I was an expert in verbal fencing.
“You killed my sister!!” He exclaimed, rushing at me.
“I didn’t” I countered. “I loved her”
“You destroyed her” He retorted, trying to punch me in the face. He was held back by some mourners.
” Curse you! Curse you!” He repeated as he was being pulled away. Well, I was adept at replying to his digs. However, it was a funeral ground and I didn’t want to spoil everything. I had to pay my last respects to Enoma in a dignified way. I had loved her truly and still did even in death.
When her brother was taken away successfully, I went to the back of the house, close to where her newly dug grave stood and wept like a child. I sat there thinking of all the good times we had. Our wedding, her first trip to the city, her easy ways, warm smiles and dimples; her perseverance, understanding, support, advices, strength, companionship and unwavering and undiluted love for me. I thought of all these things and wondered aloud how dumb I had been.
I don’t know how long I had stayed there. I was only brought out of my day dreaming by Bessem my eldest daughter. She told me Amarachi my youngest daughter was hungry and needed something to eat. I got up and followed her into the house.
It was funeral day the next day. The burial was done just after sundown. When it was my turn to speak, I came forward and narrated my life with Enoma. I said all the good things I could say. I can’t state them here because it will only break your heart the more. She was buried finally and we all went back to the front of the house for the reception.
A week later. I took my six kids and left back to the city. The return journey to the city wasn’t easy at all. No one spoke to the other as I drove back to our base. There was complete and total sadness in the car. We made a brief stop at the Mile 17 park in Buea so that the children could have a bite. However, no one seemed to be hungry and so I drove on.
It was late in the night when we got to base. The children, after haven freshened up, went to bed immediately. I went into my bedroom and Enoma’s clothes could still be seen hanging in the wardrobe. Everything was just as she had left the morning she went to the hospital. I sat on the bed and wept quietly.
The following day, I was the first to wake up. I went to the living room and sat on my favourite sofa. I sat there thinking about her, smiling in the midst of tears, then I heard Enoma called me.
“Wake up!! Sleepy head” She said. “You will be late for work.”
I was startled and woke up. Standing before me was Enoma, looking strikingly beautiful.
“Why are there tears in your eyes?” She asked, laughing.
“I was crying in my dream baby.” I said getting up and giving her a tight hug.
” Why? What happened?”She asked
“I dreamt that we had six children and you died.”
“God forbid”
“I am serious baby. God should really forbid it. ” I said.
“Please tell me about the dream.” She said, sitting beside me.
“It started like this…”
THE END
So its a dream all these while aah