That day, I returned from school with my examination results. I was coming with joy and happiness written all over my face, hoping to get the smile I've always loved from you. Grandma, I was shocked to hear that you've passed on. My examination result fell off my hands as I rushed to the room to ascertain your death. I saw your corpse lying motionless on the floor and I thought it was some kind of prank therefore I moved closer to you and touched your body. It was as cold as a dog's nose.
"Jesus!"I exclaimed. I still couldn't believe the whole story. I've seen this times without number on the television, a situation whereby someone would die in a movie and still act another movie. "Maybe grandma is trying to act like those people" I thought. I told the people around your corpse to leave that I want to talk to you. "she's dead". Radeke, your friend's daughter spoke silently. I didn't listen to her. All I wanted was privacy. I wanted to be with you and talk to you. They all left reluctantly. Then, I moved closer to you and knelt. "Grandma, I know you are trying to play pranks on me. Now that I've caught you comma I think it's high time you stood on your feet and tell people you are not dead." Grandma, you didn't move. I asked myself, "could this be true?" " is grandma truly dead?" I kicked you and realised that your body is not only cold but as hard as a Rock. "grandma is actually dead",I concluded.
"Ha!"I screamed, "Grandma, why?" Radeke and others burst into the room, they pulled me up from the floor and made me sit on one of the chairs in the living room. "But, why did you leave her here all alone?" Baba Olulana, one of our neighbors said. "No, she was the one that requested for privacy", Radeke replied. "Whether or not she requested for privacy, let's take her out of the room", Aunty Salewa, your only daughter said. They dragged me out of that room and took me to another room.
"Omolewa", Radeke called, but I didn't answer her. I was lost in thought already. "Now that grandma has gone, what will be my fate?", I thought. Radeke called me again and I answered. "You see my dear, you have to stop crying over spilt milk, grandma is dead already. If you cry from today till tomorrow, your tears won't wake the dead", I looked at her and moved backwards. She moved near me again. "Omolewa", she said,"I know my words may hurt you, but it's the bitter truth. Grandma is gone and you're still a child. You have to pull your minds together, you can't go with Grandma". I was surprised at her last statement and asked, "why can't I go with grandma?"
"because grandma is old. It is only old people that die". I knew this wasn't true, therefore I said, "No. Faderera is my classmate and she died some months ago. Or, is she old?".
Radeke could not talk. Baba Olulana moved closer to me and said, " you see, my daughter, this world is a mystery. Anybody can die. What matters most is that you should stop crying because your tears can't raise the dead." Baba's words touched my heart. I was somehow pacified but can't stop asking myself several questions.
Grandma, seven years with you was great. I lived like a princess, eating whatever I like at the appropriate time. I knew I would miss your moonlight stories. I still remember the story you told me about how greedy tortoise broke his shell. I also remember the story you told me about how the leopard got its spots. How can I forget your tender care, grandma? You made my world lovely. No one can be compared to you in my life. You are a great woman.
But why couldn't you wait? You ought to have waited, waited to eat the fruit of your labour, to see if I don't take care of you too. Grandma, if you weren't in a hurry to leave, I wouldn't find myself in a mess. Destiny cannot be changed, what is written is written. I had to follow Aunty Salewa, your daughter to Lagos after your death. At aunty Salewa's place, I cursed the day I was born.
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