A strange kind of way. Hivenaija prompt #48.

Pleasant greetings everyone!

Life can be quite funny sometimes. Giving one more than what was bargained for. I have come to realize that whatever we cannot explain or give logical reasoning to, we term it to be strange and indeed they are because they beat the functioning ability of the brain and mind combined.

After living on the planet for over three decades and accruing lots of experiences, I can say that there's nothing I would ever consider strange. From violence, traumas, betrayals, near death experiences and unscripted deaths, all combined has made me to view life in a clearly different way than the average human but today, I received quite a shock and I dare say that I felt what I heard was strange.

The story

This afternoon at about 3pm, a parent who cane to pick up her kids from school was looking dull. Being attentive, I walked up to her, exchanged pleasantries and asked her what was responsible for the somber look. She began to narrate about the death of her kid sister whom she claimed was not sick at all.

According to her narration, her sister attended church service on Sunday 26th of May with her family, made up of husband and four young kids. Atter returning home, she prepared the family's lunch of the usual rice and stew, then she also went the extra mile to prepare zobo drink to distribute to the families in their estate as a token for children's day.

When she was done preparing the zobo drink and putting them in bottles, she pleaded with her hubby to assist her in refrigerating the drink once electric power supply was restored to which he responded in the affirmative. She stood up, left the kitchen area with an agenda to take a nap and that was how she never stood up again since Sunday till now.

The husband went to the bedroom to wake her up so that she could begin the distribution of the zobo drinks before night fell. He called her pet name but got no response. After series of repeated callings, he then walked up to the bed to tap her and that was when he noticed something strange as she was not breathing. In shock and fright combined, he managed to send for their family doctor who later confirmed his wife dead. The husband lost consciousness when he heard the doctors report. He had to be revived and stabilized before the doctor left their home.

After listening to the narration of this parent about her sister's death, I felt weak in the knees. The deceased woman was no stranger to me as she often accompanies her big sister to pick up her kids. I began to ask questions like

"Was she sick?"

"Was she pregnant?"

"Did she use a wrong medication?"

A big no was the answer I received to all the questions I asked. This death though not uncommon was strange to me because the deceased was a beautiful, young, vibrant and jovial woman whom I saw on a Friday at her shop, before the Sunday that she kicked the bucket. Her facial image has refused to leave my medulla oblongata as I pondered on what might have led to her death all in hopes of coming to a logical conclusion. How can someone as fit as a fiddle, take a nap and then die, without any bodily complaints. To be sincere, my thoughts inclined to spiritual forces attack.

As at Monday, her body had already been transported to the East as per traditions and by July, when the kids are on holiday, the funeral arrangements would be held in the village. I'm still dazed even as I write this post.

My heart broke for the children's welfare and general upbringing cos it is not easy to lose a mom.

Thank you all for reading...shalom

Images are mine.