Good day, my Hive Naija Family ❤️
How's the week going on your end? I hope it’s moving smoothly but even if it's not, just take a moment to find one or two things in your life right now to be grateful for. As long as there’s life, there’s still so much to achieve.
Now let’s dive into this week’s prompt one that’s pulling me back to an unforgettable moment in my life, a moment that happened exactly 24 years ago. As I begin to write this, I can already feel the emotions rising. June 2nd, 2001 that day will forever remain etched in my heart and in the hearts of my entire family.
Let me take you on that journey
"Grab a seat and a glass of water it’s going to be a story of both love and loss. In my family, we are five in number , three boys and two girls. Back then, only my younger brother, my mum, my dad, and I lived together. The others were away in boarding school.
Financially, my father wasn’t wealthy, but he worked hard as a taxi driver and valued education greatly. Despite only completing primary school (he often reminded us he stopped at elementary six), he was highly intelligent. He made a promise that all his children would go to the university, no matter what. Sadly, fate had other plans, and he didn't live to see that promise fulfilled.
My father was the first son in an extended polygamous family. My grandfather had three wives. The first wife my grandmother had four children (three boys and one girl), while the second and third wives had three and four boys respectively. Our family was known for having many boys so many that people in the village jokingly called us the military family.
Some months before June 2001, my grandfather (my father’s father) became very sick. Being the responsible son he was, my father brought him from the village to our city, Enugu, to care for him. For six long months, my father spent so much on his treatment and thankfully, he recovered. Afterwards, my dad insisted that Grandpa wouldn't return to the village anytime soon. He believed people were envious of him back home and felt it was safer to keep him with us.
We were happy with that decision I personally loved my grandfather deeply. Every day after school, my younger brother and I would sit with him as he told us stories: tales of World War II, the Biafran War, village legends every day came with new gist. He made our home lively, and we hardly ever went out because we always looked forward to his storytelling.
But then came June 2nd, 2001 a day that shattered everything.
On Friday, June 1st, my brother and I had just returned from school, excited that the weekend was here. Little did we know what was waiting for us.
Early Saturday morning, we woke up to the sound of our mother crying bitterly. Our father was pacing the house, shaking his head. I rushed to him and asked, Daddy, who beat Mummy?
He looked at me, eyes full of sorrow, and said;Your Grandpa is gone.
Just like that. No signs of sickness. No warnings. He had died in his sleep. My brother and I broke down in tears. The entire neighborhood came to console us. We thought that was the end of our sorrow. But we were wrong.
According to our family tradition, titled elders must not be taken to the mortuary. So, my dad made arrangements to take his father’s body back to the village immediately for burial. He traveled with some neighbors and our grandfather’s corpse, intending to return the same day to take my mum, my brother, and me to the village.
But fate struck again.
On his way back to the city, my father had a fatal accident. He died on the spot. The most painful part? Eyewitnesses said no one had the courage to rush him to the hospital. They all just stood there and watched him die.
Two deaths. In just 24 hours. Two great men lost from our family
June 2nd, 2001 a date that changed our lives forever. Even now, writing this brings tears to my eyes. The memories are still so vivid, like a film replaying in my mind. But through it all, I can confidently say God has been faithful. We’ve come a long way, and we’re still standing.
Thank you so much for reading this. And yes, all the photos used are mine.
Much love ❤️
