Motherhood ππ Part 2.
I threw myself on the floor and began to wail uncontrollably.
“No, i can’t be dead. I didn’t leave my house this evening to end up dead just like that. Is this how people die so easily? God, i am not ready to meet you. Please allow me go back to my babies”. I sobbed.
One of the twins started crying. My mom tried her best to pacify him but he wouldn’t stop crying.
I moved to where he was and smiled at him.
“Baby stop crying. Mommy is here with you. Although i can’t hold you right now but mummy is here with you”. I said to my baby.
He stopped crying immediately.
I looked at my baby who looked so tender. I remember how i longed to carry my baby in my arms during my pregnancy. When i was tired and consumed by the pregnancy, the thought of holding him one day was what kept me going. i couldn’t believe i won’t be able to do that. I even learnt and memorized a couple of children rhymes and poems.
“So i won’t get to be called mummy π”.
My heart broke into a thousand pieces.
“Why does my heart ache this much even when I’m no longer alive?”. Well, i guess even ghosts do get hurt and feel pain.
“What do i do with the boys? The doctor said we are good to go”. My husband asked looking sad and confused.
“Maybe I will go home with one while your mom take the other baby home. You can’t care for them alone “. My mother suggested.
I rushed to where my mother was and went on knees.
“No! No! No! Don’t separate my babies. Please don’t do that. Let them grow up together”. I pleaded keenly.
My husband looked at his mother trying to seek for her opinion.
“That’s not a bad idea”. My mother inlaw concurred.
“This is a bad idea. It is definitely a bad idea. Honey please don’t give in to this wicked idea. They were born together for a reason. Please let them grow together. Don’t separate them “. I pleaded with tears with my husband.
I guess i forgot no one could hear me.
“I have no choice than to give in”. My husband declared.
I fell down immediately.
“I can’t believe my opinion doesn’t count in the lives of my children who I carried in my womb for nine months. Children i had sleepless nights for”. I sobbed bitterly.
At last, my mother went home with one of the boys while my mother in-law went home with the other.
Thank goodness both grandmas were based in the same state. My husband shuffled both houses almost on a daily bases looking after his boys. I really pitied him.
The scheduled day for my burial finally came.
My elder sister went into the morgue and got me dressed in a fine purple robe. She cried her eyes out while doing this. I just stood hopelessly whilst watching her.
When she was done, my body was placed in a golden casket.
The casket was taken into an ambulance to drive it to the church.
Tears flowed freely as the ambulance drove my remains to St. Peter and Paul cathedral.
The requiem mass was solemn. People cried like babies. Even the priest shed some tears during the homily.
I looked at my choirmaster who was crying like a small child. He had volunteered to stand as a Godfather for my son during his baptism.
My husband! Oh my dear husband. They said men don’t cry but my husband cried like a toddler. His eyes were red and swollen. I tried consoling him but he couldn’t hear me. Agony exploded like a bomb of fire in my heart as i watched my dear husband weep uncontrollably.
“Yes, I shall arise and return to my Father… In you oh Lord, I put all my trust… In you oh my God, I place all my trust π΅ πΆ”.
The choir sang solemnly as the priest sprinkled holy water around the casket at the end of the Mass.
My remains was taken to the cemetery.
It is true that one receive more love from people when they die. The cemetery was jam-packed with friends, family and colleagues who came to pay their last respect to me.
The way Janet was crying, you won’t believe we almost broke each others head some months ago at the office. We haven’t spoken since then. There she was, crying like a toddler.
“From dust you came and to dust you shall return”. The priest said as the casket was lowered down.
A loud cry broke out as everyone became inconsolable. Some people even threw themselves on the floor crying.
Sands were poured in the grave by friends and family.
Little by little, the grave was covered up with sands.
The tears went down and everyone departed sorrowfully to their various homes.
To be continued
Judith Onyoyibo
