I first saw her coming from afar and didn't pay much attention to her, she was just one of the many faces I see on the streets everyday. But on second look, I just felt something was amiss, the heaviness in her gait, the weariness in her posture, her downcast eyes, her faltering steps, all spoke volumes and pointed to the fact that her story held immeasurable pain and agony. I could immediately detect an akin spirit when I see one, because I was going through some inner struggles too.
As she drew closer to me, I greeted her. A pungent odour like I have not known for a long time filled the air, it clung to her like a cloak, signifying neglect and perhaps loneliness. My heart went out to her in empathy.
She slowly looked up attempting to smile as she answered my greetings. Her English was good, very good so my interest was piqued. I started a conversation with her as we walked along together, every of her step, an immense effort.I knew she had a huge story and whatever pain there is/was, she was not holding up well, she was caving in to grief. But then who would blame her?
She freely offered the information I needed, with a little prod from me ;
"Mama, I hope you are feeling alright, if you are not, let your husband or your children take you to the hospital", I advised.
"I don't have any, I mean no husband, no children", she whispered softly, her voice trembling, ... That same foreign accent, that same control of the English Language in very few words.
Oops! I didn't know what next to say, I didn't want to sound too inquisitive but her next words stopped me.
"My husband died a long time ago and my only daughter died five years ago. I have no one to call my own", there was pain etched in every syllable as she folded her hands behind her, a habit she had formed to support her weak frame. It was her pain but it seared through me like hot iron, at her unimaginable loss.
"What happened Mama, was she sick?" I whimpered . I was a sympathetic listener and she wanted to unburden her whole heart to me, so I listened.
She and her husband had a beautiful baby girl, Nora. She was the only one, no other came after her but they were content. They were both teachers and they instilled in their little girl a love for learning and a strong foundation of knowledge which made her excel.
Then on her thirteenth birthday, her husband went to get some gifts for Nora and never returned. There was no trace of him anywhere until a week later, when his mutilated corpse was found by the roadside with some body parts missing. A victim of ritualism.
She was devastated and wanted to commit suicide but again she was reminded that Nora needed her now than ever. So she threw her life into making sure Daddy's Princess had the best of everything, she was brilliant, she was well behaved, she was destined for big things.
Then Alice, that's the name of the old woman, started coughing so seriously so I bought water for her from the roadside vendor.
Immediately after graduation from the university, she continued, she married Jimmy, a man who resided in the United States Of America. Soon after, she joined her husband with a promise that she was coming back for her.
"Mommy, you will live with me in the US, I will send for you once I'm settled in and you will live with me forever, I promise", she said amidst tears and goodbyes. At the airport, mother and daughter had wept themselves sore, they had been inseparable and now they were being separated by a distance of thousands of miles across the Oceans, but it was for good. That was all that mattered.
A year later, Nora was blessed with a bouncing baby girl, she was overjoyed at becoming a grandmother. All preparations were made for her to journey across the miles to be by her daughter's side. Her cup of happiness overflowed as she held Nora and then the baby in her arms.
She lived with her daughter in the US for a total of eight years.
Then Nora was diagnosed with Cancer, a very deadly and rare kind. She was there by her side as her daughter fought tough with death but eventually she succumbed.
"The cold hands of death snatched away the one thing that mattered to me. It took away just this one thing..... Then she started sobbing, I was sobbing too. It was a very agonizing moment.
"Without pity, death took her, she was in pains through out the two year ordeal, death did not have pity on my 'Nora'. It should have taken me instead ", By this time, we were both wailing uncontrollably, on the street. Until an elderly man, whom she confirmed as her brother, came and took her away.
My own pain paled at such tragedy and pain. I am homeless right now but then I have my children. My situation is incredibly challenging but the bond I share with them remains a source of strength through these difficult times. When life throws curveballs, it teaches us to develop inner strength because Life itself is the most unpredictable.
I utter a silent prayer for this old woman to find a reasonable level of peace and strength within her, if for nothing else but for her granddaughter ( I sincerely hope she is still alive, I didn't even get an opportunity to ask this one but one day soon, I know we shall meet again). I sincerely hope we meet again.
The End.
Photos are mine.
Thank you for stopping by my neighbourhood.