This type of contest topics brings some memories to play. Those moments that happen to be life changing for us. I was just a teenager who has just left secondary school. I had just celebrated my 16th birthday and dad gave me a bottle of sun for that celebration which I drank with him and the other members of the family.
In my family birthdays are not a big deal hence we don’t celebrate our birthdays. Hence, It was quite surprising that a got that bottle of wine from dad. Little did I know it would be my last birthday with him. Maybe he knew he was going to leave.
Those periods he was withdrawn and had been battling with some sicknesses and brain tumour in particular. He had gone in for a procedure, which was successful only to have a relapse one month after my birthday. He had low BP too.
That period was a long one for mum. I didn’t even know how she managed and soon we were roped into all the drama. Dad’s health became critical and we had to rush him to the hospital.
The hospital in the city were we reside rejected him and had to refer us to another hospital in another city. The tedious journey from one city to the other was so heart breaking and we were even attacked by armed robbers who fired bullets on the bus taking us to the hospital. It’s like the cold hands of death couldn’t wait to take him so soon but wanted to take more with him.
We escaped the robbers and on getting to the hospital dad was admitted. We had stayed just four days I’m in the hospital and dad died. He died in the midnight under mum’s watch. I had just retired for the night to rest after a long day of watching dad, only to wake up in the morning to the news that dad was no more.
Our worlds came tumbling down. Everything came to a stand still. I was just sixteen and my elder brother was eighteen. We had to start facing the harsh realities of life with dad’s demise. It was a turning point in my life and every one else.
Dad’s demise wasn’t easy on me but I used it wisely. Anytime I see his picture, it reminds me of that life changing moment. I had to grow up fast. I had to be a support system for mum. We all had to grow up. My elder brother had to drop out of school because of that to do something to fetch extra money for the family.
We sold our only land to help set him up. I had to be strong. My school was delayed too. I look back and still wish dad hadn’t died. Just some months back I was reminiscing on all that had happened to me and somehow I feel that my life would have been a lot better if dad was alive.
In all am better and stronger. Life has a way of throwing things at us but how we navigate through it all determines whether we win or lose. I won and am still winning.
Thank you @drhira for this contest topic and I ask @ngozi99, @missyle and @imohmotch to join the contest.
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