21/09/2024
The only reason I didn't learn about my mother's death on social media was because the week she died was one of the busiest week of my life. That was the week we were recording our mentorship course.
I would come back from work and go straight to bed without visiting Facebook and replying WhatsApp messages due to tiredness 😪. I only read messages from my immediate family. The one message I tried to open was from my cousin who sent me a crying emoji. With a stressed brain, I replied "She will be fine" and slept off immediately. I didn't even reason why she sent me a crying emoji.🤔
My mother had the previous day before her death, requested that I come see her. I told her that I will come as soon as I get permission from the office. But, I didn't ask for permission until we were done recording the courses.
The following day which was 21st September 2023, I came back from and slept off immediately due to exhaustion 😩. I usually have breaks in between my sleep every 4 hours. But this day, I slept from 8pm to 4 a.m and woke up to multiple missed calls from my siblings 😲. I thought 4 a.m. was too early to call back, so I waited till day break to call. As I returned the called, everyone was just saying "When are you coming?", Have they not given you permission?"
I started to think that her condition has gotten worse and couldn't concentrate at work. I never in my wildest imagination imagined that my mother died. On the contrary, the news of her demise has spread and people were uploading her pictures on their status and profiles. Note that none of my siblings shared the news on their Facebook and WhatsApp. They uploaded her picture without captions that denotes that she died, which was normal because they often posted her on their statuses.
Immediately after we were done recording, I requested for permission and was granted. I left Abuja to go see my mother and spend some days with her only for me to learn that she kicked the bucket 7 days earlier.
There was a surge of emotions that early morning. I was heartbroken.
I felt stupid 🤦♀️ because I couldn't decode. I asked my brother, my elder sister, my niece and my nephew about her condition and they were all giving me excuses. It's either they say "ask my mummy, I am not in the hospital", or they will say, "Sorry, I am just seeing your message, when are you leaving Abuja?" One of my sisters even called me and asked me, "have you checked on mum, when are you going to see her?" All our conversations swiftly switched to "when are you going? When are you coming". Well🤷♂️, for the best reasons, my family decided to keep it away from me until I joined them.
I felt worthless because she was yet to enjoy the fruit of the labour she laboured for me. I was pained that she didn't get to witness me get married as that was her utmost desire. I counted lots and lots of reasons for her to continue living. Sadly, death is a respecter of no one. I have no choice than to accept the will of God for her.
Today makes it exactly one year she took her last breath on earth.
Mmo, I believe in the resurrection of the saints. We shall meet to part no more.
