My lips and body continued to vibrate endlessly for about 10 minutes. I tried to control and get myself together, but it wasn't working.
“Akon, what is it?" my mother asked frantically, searching the entire room as if there was something she needed to find. Still, my tongue was tied and I could barely say a word. My silk nightwear was drenched in sweat, and she immediately had to turn on the fan to get me some air. As she turned it on, my body began to quake even more that I didn't realise when I screamed
Source
“Turn it off?” I yelled at the top of my voice. My mother's eyes widened as I turned even more dramatic with my actions. A loud thud was heard on the floor, and the next moment, she began to roll all over the floor of my small room
“ Oh! My daughter, don't leave me ooo! Don't let my enemies laugh at me.”
She started wailing uncontrollably.
I knew who the enemies were. No other than my late father's brothers who would not let us have our peace. They always had something to complain about. If it wasn't about the land my father left, it would be about the several houses my father had built, which they wanted to take possession of, but my mom had sworn not to surrender. Typically, these nightmares I had were masterminded by them, she thought.
Nightmares had become a norm for me. Most times, I would get so busy at night just to make sure I didn't have my eyes closed. The moment I did, doom would be waiting to receive me on the other side. Fear had become my companion. Whenever the nightmares came, the day would be a complete ruin.
It got so bad that I stopped sleeping in my well furnished and cozy one bedroom apartment. Since I rented the house, I had turned down every invitation by mother and friends to spend the night at their place.
Here I was, too afraid to stay there, thinking that if I spent the night at our family house, whatever it was that was after me would respect my mother's midnight marathon prayers and intercessions. Well, I thought wrongly. My first night in our family house gave me an experience even scarier than that which I had at my apartment. I had just moved from frying pan to fire. I had stopped going out to places. Each time I wanted to, it felt like something bad was waiting for me.
My appointment at the American Embassy was for 10:00am. I had put everything in place the night before so I could get there in time, everything but my nightmares. After my ordeal that morning, I tried to sleep a bit, only to be shaken vigorously by my mom.
“ Isn't today your appointment, my mom asked”
I opened my eyes trying to make out what time or day it was. I picked my phone to look at the time.
No way!
I jumped out of the bed and quickly rushed for the bathroom.
On my way to the embassy, I began to sweat on my palm. I didn't even know what to expect anymore. Everything about my life wasn't going in order, so somehow, I wasn't expecting so much from this meeting. Flashes from the dream kept coming, and when it did, it have me a headache. As I got to the entrance, there was a large crowd trying to gain access. This was a clear indication that the day would not go well. I found a corner to wait awhile in case luck shines on me.
“ Leave my clothes na!” a sturdy looking boy ordered another, whose hands were firmly pressed on his waist. Before we knew it, the young man whose trouser was being held pushed the other vigorously, and a fight erupted. The officials didn't waste time in sending everyone home that day, and my day ended prematurely.
Source
I had boarded a flight en route to the UK. There was an emotional display by my mother as she gave me her farewell hug.
“ Don't forget to call me o,” She said sobbing
“Mama, I'll be fine, and I'll call you”
I had to free myself from her grip and roll my box.
We had barely got half way into the journey when a turbulence began. It felt like the plane was shaking. Everyone on board became very worried and began to blast prayers. I sat there unbothered about the entire turbulence. The elderly lady beside me looked at me strangely. Who sat this unbothered when the plane was bound to crash? She began to shout even more as the plane shook violently, and soon we crashed.
I immediately jerked with a loud shout, and woke up. This was another horrid dream.The horrible dreams didn't wait for the night this time. They came in the day. As I woke up to realise it was just 5:30 pm, my mother walked in.
“I've finished packing your bags o. Everything is set”
I looked at her in disbelief. Set for what? I thought.
“ I'm not travelling anymore” I said
“ Eh, what did you say? Have your father's people come for you?” She shouted and started wailing in her usual manner.
I had said my piece, and my mind was made up. How was I supposed to leave with fear consuming my entire being?
Dreams of a plane crash had lingered for an entire week, and I was too afraid to think of a journey. My mother saw I was serious. She got her phone and called her pastor. I needed to be delivered from everything that was after me.
