Bhayanaka

I watched her. From a distance. Praying silently for her brother who passed away a year ago. Her shoulder-length hair was plaited in a neat French braid. After 5 minutes she arranges the white lilies on his tomb and starts walking towards me. Despite knowing her for 2 years, I could never understand what she was thinking. She never reveals her thoughts to anyone. She comes and sits near me; her face covered in silence. 

After a couple of minutes, she turns towards me and asks gently " what is death, Jess? And please don't say any generic or philosophical answers. I just want your thoughts on it"

I take a long look at her. Femi was never the type to ask questions. She hates when I become philosophical. She was the kind that believed in enjoying the present but seeing her now, I know she expects an answer from me.

"Death is a painful truth. It is beautiful as we get to be freed from this life's existence, but it can be painful also due to subjective reasons. I think of it more on the beautiful aspect" I replied.

Femi continues to observe me silently. Though it felt so unusual I didn't say anything. I kept on looking at the hues of green that was nearby. It took around 2 minutes I think when Femi put something in my hand.

"You know Jess, Febin has never just been a brother for me. He was my strength and pillar. He is a good guy. Sorry was," she takes a look at her brother's tomb. "He was really attached to this ring; it was his favorite."

I had a feel of the ring. The shine of that sil

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ver steel started making my heart beat faster.

"You know Jess, as we became older, he started changing. He was still nice to me, but he was different, and I could sense that. He put on this mask and I couldn't see through it. None of us could. Maybe that's why he is over there. Freed from life's existence."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked her, highly aware of my beating heart going faster each second.

She smiles at me. A haunted smile and puts a lily by my side. Taking her bag, she stands up, glances at the nearby hues of green, and then faces me.

"Death is beautiful. Do you know why Jess? Because it tells you the truth. In my case, I needed 6 months to figure it out. I know you have your reasons. But as a sister whose brother was brutally murdered, I think I deserve to punish you. But I can only give you this. Fear. Fear of being caught. You will have to just live in that fear forever and that ring won't let you be in peace."

My face clearly told her what my mind was shouting at me. 'Why didn't you tell this to anyone else Femi?'

She smiles again. That same haunted smile. And after one whole minute of observing me, she starts speaking again, " like I said Jess, I know you have your reasons, and I, I have mine. People change. Needs change. Just like how my brother changed. Yet I genuinely hope your fear doesn't make you too uncomfortable. Because you should not be freed quickly. From this life's existence."

With that, she left. Gifting me my death. Fear for a lifetime.