SISTER MARY
EPISODE 20
“hey wetin?” one of the bandits shouted at the guy who shot Jboy, while i shivered as i looked on speechlessly. I really was scared they were equally going to shoot Mary and I because the shots fired on Jboy was very surprising to me, but as i watched the other two bandits, it seemed they were equally as surprised as i was. It clearly showed in their behaviour. Of course they had their faces covered but their body language displayed their confusion. Mary and i simply stood not knowing what to do.
The guy who fired the shots made to drag Jboy’s body out of the vehicle but his colleague who asked the first question stopped him.
“you don mess up the car already, make we shift jor. Time no dey” he commanded, turned and jumped into the sienna car they came with. The two other bandits joined him without uttering a word and they instantly zoomed off, disappearing and leaving us all alone with my lifeless friend. I quickly rushed to check on him but unfortunately he was as unconscious as a dead lizard, while blood gushed out from his chest. It was a terrible scene to behold.
Some good samaritans quickly came forward and helped us in taking him to a private hospital nearby. Unfortunately the nurses on duty confirmed him dead, but i choose not to believe them until the doctor showed up few minutes later and confirmed the news to us.
I couldn’t believe Jboy was gone for real. The only friend i had, gone so suddenly. I never believed life could be so short and surprising. I never believed a strong man like him can just so suddenly disappear. I cried ceaselessly.
“where do i go from here?” i wondered, feeling very bitter and responsible over the whole event.
“only if he had waited for me at his house” i reasoned.
“how do i continue living without him?, how do i face his family. How did he just go so suddenly, without living anything behind? Not even a child or at least a wife” i reasoned with tears.
I sat down in front of the hospital reception and went through my life. I wasn’t any better than him but he was taken away while my life was spared.
Why why why?
SISTER MARY ’ – Episode 21
The task of meeting Jboy’s family, burial arrangement and everyother thing was squarely on me. I just couldn’t find where to begin, how to start or which way to go about it all. I was so lost and empty.
Mary wanted to lend me a supporting hand. She promised to help me with everything, but i simply refused to oblige her, instead asked her to give me a little time.
I pleaded with her to stay away from me for the meantime which greatly surprised her. She couldn’t believe her ears as i made the passionate plea just a day after Jboy’s unfortunate death.
“no you can’t be making such a request right now. You need me. We need each other. We need to help each other out of this trauma” she protested seriously, failing to realise that the trauma itself increased my disdain towards her. In a way i blamed her for my friend’s death because if she hadn’t been in my apartment that fateful day nor delayed us with her toilet perhaps Jboy wouldn’t have been attacked.
“well i have no choice than to honour your request, if it will make you better” she finally agreed when she saw how serious i was, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief before walking away. I felt her anguish but i just couldn’t do anything about it.
I summoned up courage and called Chioma soon after. It really was my first time of calling her after she unceremoniously left me at the restaurant hours before Jboy’s death.
I quietly revealed the news to her. She instantly screamed with shock.
“oh bloody hell!, and you are just telling me about it after how many hours huh?. I’m coming over” she cried and hung up while i hopefully waited for her.
Learning that she was coming sort of lightened up my spirit. Till today i really can’t describe the kind of love i felt and still feel for her.
Thirty minutes later she showed up at my apartment with tears in her eyes. She instantly hugged me, crying seriously.
“i can’t believe Jboy is gone. He was such a wonderful friend. I could have lost you too. Karma is now on you guys.It’s a pity Jboy paid with his life. You have to seek peace with God urgently” she cried, sending more fear into my troubled heart.
“do you?, do you believe in karma?, does it exist?” i stammered.
“of course the evil that men do often comes back to them. You see i wasn’t wrong condenming what you did to that lady. You have to seek peace with God my dear” she summarized seriously, while i nervously made the sign of the cross.
“could she be right?” i asked myself over and over.
Believe me, It really wasn’t easy meeting Jboy’s parents who were so alarmed and bitter over their son’s death. I had to play a role i have never played in my life.
I tried to best to console them especially his mother who cried uncontrollably. I made promises too hard for me to handle. I promised to foot the mortuary bills and arrange for his funeral without thinking deep on the effect it will have on the little money i had left. I guess i was overcome with grief that very moment to think properly.
However the pain of losing their son never stopped them from asking prying questions, they virtually asked every necessary question to the extent of asking if he was engaged to anyone. I answered all the questions with great intelligence, making sure my answers were accurate and less upsetting. We really had a long discussion before they headed home, leaving me with the huge task of organising my friend’s burial just like i promised.
Seriously i never believed i would be the one burying Jboy In just a short length of strong friendship. Well that was his fate, such a bad one. He never got to enjoy life like he wanted.
Yea i was so depressed over the whole thing, but as a young guy i stood strong like a warrior while on the inside i shook like a frightened school girl.
Seeking peace with God was such a good idea but i just wasn’t ready because i was yet to find a way to wrap things up with Mary. I couldn’t go asking God to forgive and take me back while still nursing a deadly feeling for another person.
If as Chioma said, ‘karma was the force behind it all. Then i could be the next. so be it”
It really wasn’t as if i was ready to sacrifice my life so easily but who am i to fight karma or any dark force coming for me. The only solution i could think of was speeding up my plans for Mary and when it’s all over seek peace with God if i wasn’t dead by then….. So were the things in my mind as i drove over to Mary’s house for the discussion i promised her the previous day.
Oh and i forgot to add that I sincerely wouldn’t want anyone not even an enemy to be in my position.
