THE DAY OF INFAMY

“Let’s take a photo right here,” she said, intently, pointing at an attractive waterfall where another couple had just taken enough of their own memoirs, and was now happily chatting away holding hands in crystal lucid bliss. I obliged, not that I had an option, but this was one of those structured people, who are easy to say no to, but who will significantly ensure they get back at you for your refusal to adhere to their simple wishes. “This one looks really nice!” She said as she browsed through the selfies. “Maybe we should switch poses, this looks so 2014,” I uttered, with a grin running across my face. She giggled, then waved at a young boy who was desperately trying to fish down the river, “Hey, could please help take photos for us? I’ll give you a shilling!” The young boy obstinately threw his fishing rod to the ground, then came up and held the camera. “Do you know how to use one of this?” I asked him, while passing him the camera, he nodded as he took it, and a few flashes later and we thought we had had enough. As we left, I gave him a 5 shillings coin, before he ran away, quite excited, typical of a boy his age. “Hey! You left your rod!” I shouted, but he was long gone.

So we walked, down the river, quite meekly, as a long silence ensued. I looked at her, always in high spirits despite how much she was going through. Her scalp was bald, but not even that would take away the beauty she beheld. Her stride was ever full of awe, as she sprung you could basically tell all about her. I thought, of how simple memories are bestowed in photos and what have you, but there was something quite different about our relationship, whose memories would forever be etched in my mind, quite indelible.

She must have noticed my gaze, as she smiled and uttered, “Your mind must be elsewhere.” I looked away, quite embarrassed, shyly. I sighed, “You said you wanted to talk to me,” I said, as I struggled to maintain eye contact. She didn’t speak back, and as if in total disregard of my inquiry, she pointed at a nearby shade, “Maybe we should go and chill over there?”

We had been walking a long while now. The sun was hot, blazing hot, and sparkled the waters of the magnificent watercourse. I obliged, I was quite tired anyway. As we sat, she offered packed snacks, but I opted to light a cigarette instead, something I often did anytime I felt tensed. Yes, I was tensed. I had a gut feeling that everything was not right. Then again, silence overwhelmed the company, as she nibbled the hotdogs and mandazi from her lunchbox. I watched the birds chirp as if in ventriloquism, the serenity accorded to our silence was overpowering. Then she begun to speak, and I wished she hadn’t.

“I need you to take care of Waridi for me.” She said. I felt my bowels almost rapture. I looked at her, shocked, but she still was smiling as if this was just anything normal.” I don’t understand what you are talking about,” I barely managed to say. “I thought they said it was six months, why are you telling me this now?” I was now evidently getting strained. My voice shook as I spoke. My heart was beating as if it had a new course of duty. My entire body trembled, and my eyes sunk, low, almost busting into instant tears.

“Will you take care of my Waridi?” She asked again. Her smile was now faded, she was ever more serious now, and she gazed at me as if trying to read the answers from my face. “I just need you to promise me that she will be in safe custody.” She continued to look at me, waiting for whatever that came out of my mouth. I thought I was being quite dedecorous, quite contrary from my otherwise decorous character. It was however the shock that was eating me up. I mustered some pizzazz, stood up and looked her straight in the eye, “The doctors said nothing will happen until after six months. Besides, they say if they can cut off the right leg they might as well save your life.”

Roles changed. I ranted for a long while, while she just stared at me. This was quite labyrinthal, I kept saying, while she seemed to just listen and contemplate. It beat me, why my ‘emblem of hope’ as I always called her was giving up on life so soon. I had seen her struggle through her entire malady, and even when the doctors wrote her off, she remained positive. I was devastated by the news, and she had been the one asking me to remain strong, just for her. I couldn’t believe that she had suddenly lost all her sanguineness.

I lit another cigarette. “You need to go slow on those or they will diagnose you too with cancer.” I was not sure whether she was being genuinely concerned, or whether she was just altering the conversation. “I don’t want you too to leave Waridi this soon.” She was smiling, again. I looked away, as a myriad of thoughts raced my mind. “She said she wanted a guitar for her new year.” She continued to speak. “I saw some nice ones for girls her age on eBay the other day, quite nice ones, pink ones, blue ones...” She paused, and drifted into deep thought.  “That girl will one day be a very good musician. Let her know mommy will always be so proud of her.” She said, struggling. She was now sobbing uncontrollably. The love for her daughter had forever been apparent. I held her, tight and tried my best to comfort her. I wiped her tears and let her hold a napkin. Then she said the last words I ever heard from her, “Go home to Waridi, she needs you more.”

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I picked the paper on 1^st January, as I watched Waridi open her present. She was elated, and she hugged me amidst hasty intent to explore her new gift. “That is mommy’s gift to you Waridi!” I said. “She said she will come back before you big concert, and that she will be forever proud of you!” I said, struggling not to come to tears.

“Mommy said she has gone to be with God. Don’t be sad uncle!” She said, clearly aware of my broken heart, and off she went, playing her guitar.

I wish she knew how much I loved her, and how much I was going to miss her. The memories of the day before drifted through my mind, as I sat there in deep thought. Yet another day spent together that I would never forget, despite how much I wished I would. The day I learnt that the stars of hope never really go out, they forever shine through those we leave behind. Maybe one day I’ll show Waridi how a special woman her mommy was, and I flipped through the daily, I came across the story somewhere in the middle pages, “MIDDLE AGED WOMAN DROWNS MYSTERIOUSLY IN RIVER UHAI.”

Sigh! The day of infamy...