17/10/2022
LONELY DAYS (CHAPTER ONE CONTINUATION)
She was the last human being Ajumobi saw when his eyes were finally closing up to death. What a great parting honour! Her husband gave her that last-minute parting stare - quickly, penetrating, and meaningful... There was an expression of hurt and disappointment in Ajumobi's dying black eyes. Yaremi got the message. And with all her heart she tried to communicate to Ajumobi, not only sorrow and solidarity, but also deep apology for all the wrongs she probably had committed. Something told her she must have offended her husband deeply, to be shout at and be wounded with such strange, reproachful glare. She was just ready now to beg, ready to atone and ready to apologise! The painfully finality of Ajumobi's last minutes on Earth rang in Yaremi's head, splitting her brain with remembered images.
She stumbled as she stepped out into the sun to pick her head-tie which had fallen due to prolonged wailing. She was scanned by mourners in all directions. All eyes followed every footstep she took with hostile closeness. And all ears listened, ready to catch her every word in a set-trap. These, obviously, were not people merely sitting in silent sympathy in the presence of death, but people who were fully bent in humiliating her and destroying her reputation.