One of Life's Many Mysteries...

  They had met on campus and started off. They got married two years after graduation. He had a well paying job in a multinational construction firm and an official residence. His job as a building consultant meant he was seldom at home, always hopping on the next available flight. From building sites in Abuja to Port Harcourt and often to Ghana and Liberia, he was always on the move. He was one of the brightest in the firm and the bosses needed him to be everywhere at once. He made cool money but not yet enough to start his own construction firm. “I’ll always be next to you after I set up my firm” he always assured her.  She seldom complained of being neglected but he knew she wasn’t quite as happy as she used to be. She wanted kids but he wasn’t just ready to be a father yet. “Just two more years and I’ll always be with you. We’ll have kids and live the life we planned” he had always told her. He knew he should be closer to her but he had much work to do.  He needed just a little more time.

  They spoke on phone the night before. He promised to be in Lagos the next morning. He didn’t tell her he had just been promoted and would be permanently based in Lagos from the next month. He had plans for the weekend- they would go to the cinema and at night take her to dinner. They had not gone for one in a year and half. He would inform her of his promotion at the dinner. On Sunday evening they would take a stroll and walk hand-in-hand, like they used to on university campus.

  He arrived at the airport and took a cab to his official residence. The guard opened the gate and he stepped in. He was quite comfortable but he had yet to savour it. He had a good wife, a beautiful home and a good but tasking job. He walked into the living room. “She must still be in bed” he thought,” I have to make it up to her. She has gone through quite a lot for my sake”. The idea of fitting snugly beside her in bed thrilled him. He walked gingerly to their bedroom, albeit one he rarely slept in.

  The bedroom door was closed but unlocked. He walked towards the bedside. There she was, in bed. Her round face had an angelic look. Her lips slightly parted in a half smile. She must have slept off happy with the thought of him coming home for the weekend. There was something quite unusual in the way she looked.  He moved closer and touched her face. It was cold. He moved his hand to her wrist. There was no pulse. He let out a cry but it was no louder than a whisper. Tears strolled down his face. He held her hand and wept uncontrollably. His jewel was gone. The one person he treasured most in the world was gone. 

   Now he spends every moment of his life wishing he had done things differently. He regrets never taking time off to be with her, to take her out or even send her a mail telling her how much she meant to him but he never had the time when he still had her. He had neglected the most important person in his life pursuing a career.  Now that she’s gone, everything seems immaterial. In his mind, he prays for just a day to have her back- so he could do all he never did and express how much he appreciated her, but he knew it would never happen. A regret he has to live with for the rest of his life.

   One of the many mysteries of life is death. Inevitable it is but when it will come, no one knows. Many young lives have been cut short and with them dreams and unfulfilled ambitions. Many times we live like we will never die. We take risks and dare the consequences, disregarding the knowledge that we live but for a while. We forget to tell our loved ones how much we love them and mean to us, forgetting that any of us could be gone the next minute. We leave so much undone, in the hope of getting them later. In the end all we get are regrets and thoughts of what could have been done if only we knew. If only we knew, maybe we would have done things better. Maybe we would have treated people better.... maybe, but we fail to ask why we never did when we could, when we had the chance to make all the difference.

  This is for anyone who has ever lost a loved one: family member, friend, colleague or anyone close. May God be with you and strengthen you.

  In remembrance of Opeyemi Phillip Odedele (13^th October  1985 - 28^th August 2006). We miss you.