Mother's Death

 

Broken to pieces

It was around 9 AM, when a route 100 coaster bus dropped off Katumo and her older brother at church bus stop on Backroad, Lae. Both of them carried their cargo bags and headed toward their house, which was 2 kilometers away from the bus stop on Kunai street, along the Busu River. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the mango trees that stood in line beside the road, their fruits swaying like people dancing and swaying. The street was lined with cement and corrugated houses, with a few made from plastic and cartons.  The place smelt like dust, and the soil was very hard due to the heat of the sun. It was so quiet that she could hear cries coming from their home in the distance.  

Her heart was beating very fast, and tears were streaming down her face as she was unable to talk to anyone when they arrived at the house. Katumo, without talking to anyone, ran quickly up the stairs to the living room and dropped down to the floor. Suddenly, a loud shout and cry came from her. She could not control herself and shouted,” mother! Mother!”  repeatedly without stopping. She slept on the spot where her mother had been when she passed away, weeping and crying for her mother. Her hands and leg muscles were so tight that she punched the wall and the floor. She rolled from one end of the small wooden floor to the other, shouting and crying continuously without stopping.

A sunflower

There were many mixed thoughts that came to her mind. “What is happening? was it true? It had only been two months since she left for school, so how could this happen?” she thought to herself while weeping and crying. She questioned God about why he had taken her mother’s life too soon. She was thinking of withdrawing from school and staying home because of her mother.

She reminisced about the struggles that her mother went through to ensure she attended school without absenteeism from primary to secondary level. The bus fare and lunch money that her mother gave her every morning when she got ready for school. How her mother used to wake up early in the morning and prepare breakfast. She thought about everything her mother used to do while weeping and crying. The pillow she lay on was soaked with tears and saliva. “Why is this happening to me?” She though repeatedly.

  Katumo did not stop crying and weeping for her mother. While crying, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Suddenly, she felt a soft, gentle hand on her head and turned to see her elder sister Naomi, who rubbed her head and started to cry. Her elder sister’s face was very pale, her eyelids were swollen, and her eyes were red as blood. She put her right hand under Katumo’s left armpit from behind and then let out a loud cry.

 They both cried with deep pain in their hearts. With an unsteady voice, Naomi told Katumo what had actually happened while she was at school. She explained how their mother had struggled for her life and the pain she had felt before she passed away.

 After hearing all the things Naomi has said, Katumo cried and wept extremely loud. Naomi rubbed her fore head and asked her to stop crying. Naomi said, “crying like this won’t change anything. Our mother has already left us and there is nothing we can do about it.” Naomi pulled a cloth out of her bilum and wiped away Katumo’s tears.

Naomi wiped her tears and told her to stop because if she had continued, she might have gotten a headache. Katumo sat quietly for a moment with head down. Maybe it had been a dream, or was it a joke that her family had created? she thought, as a few drops of tears sprinkled down her cheeks.

She released a sigh of relief and put her finger to her eyes, wiping away her tears slowly. Her body shook gently from the emotions that had overwhelmed her. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. The weight of her feelings lingered, but she knew that with time, she would heal.

                                      The sky view

 Katumo wiped her face with a wet cloth that Naomi had given her. Then, she took a sip from a glass of water to soothe her throat after the weeping and mourning. As she drank, she felt a bit of relief wash over her, allowing her to gather her thoughts and find some strength amidst the sadness.

As darkness approached, the sky turned gray, and children were crying softly and playing in the dim light, while her family talked quietly. The air was filled with sadness, and the sounds of low voices mixed with occasional sobs, reminding everyone of their loss. As it got darker, the light bulbs flickered on, illuminating the faces of those gathered and providing a small comfort in their time of mourning.

Katumo got up and went inside her mother’s room, where she sat down on the edge of the bed. The room felt heavy with memories, and she tried to think about what had actually happened and the reasons for her mother’s passing.

Questions swirled in her mind: Why did this have to happen? What would life be without her mother’s comforting presence? As she gazed at the familiar surroundings, she wondered what might happen next and how she would find the strength to move forward without a woman who had always supported her.

 Katumo had many conflicting thoughts battling in her mind about her mother’s death. However, a few moments later, she reminded herself that everything happens for a reason and according to God’s plan. She realized that they could not change what was meant to be, even if it was painful. As she held onto that thought, she began to feel a sense of relief and refreshment wash over her, finding comfort in the belief that her mother’s passing was by God’s plan.