by Baraka Jepchumba (This story has been slightly edited.)

No state is permanent in life!  There are trials and tribulations and confusion is sometimes everywhere.  We are living in a competive world and a cut-throat race.

I can vividly remember the fateful day as if it were yesterday.  This has always stressed my mind and I wonder why the Deity let me come to this world of hardships and disgust when he knew I would undergo bitter challenges.

That fateful morning I had come from the land of slumber as the flickering rays of the sun colored the eastern horizon a yellow orange.  I quickly woke, dashed to the frog’s kingdom, dressed in my best clothes and padded to the dining table.  I met a aroma that caught my happy nose and I hurried to eat a cup of porridge and slice of bread. That morning we were to go and visit my loving mother in the hospital.

We walked to the Matatus station and fortunately one of the small buses stopped and we boarded.  We arrived at the hospital and found my mother crawling in great agony.  She was coughing out spectrum with blood, complaining of chest pain and shivering and sweating and she was so thin, becoming thinner as the days passed.

Shortly after, my breadwinner took me one evening to see her and I knew it was a chance to bid her goodbye.  No sooner had I reached the ward that she began weeping distractedly and said, “My daughter, my time has come for me to leave you behind with your father.  The Almighty has mentioned my name and I must say bye, my little angel.”

Those are the words she told me.  She turned to my father and said, “My better half husband.  This is my last moment sharing with you.  My time has come.  Humbly take keen of my words.  My daughter is behold in your hands.  Please take great care of her.  Let her ways be smart.  Bye till we meet again.”

I felt my mountain erupt and my dream of being loved gone.  A learned friend broke down with the news of my mother’s death but encouraged me to have faith.  She said my mother had always remained strong and believed in the end I would make it.

After the burial, I moved swiftly to the graveyard and whispered, “My loving mother, rest in peace.  I particularly kiss you good bye until we me again.  Amen.”

My DDO father disappeared to date.  I have never known of his whereabouts.  Maybe in the streets?  I cannot tell.  He just left when I was on the brink of failing into abject poverty.  No one tells these stories.  Nobody talks!