The Last Moment

The Last Moment

Written by Isaac Odugbemi

While he stood on the open grass

At the backyard of the old uncompleted bungalow

In front of him is a water bucket, a sponge and a soap

The sky is dark but full of stars

The water is frozen

There is cold

It's 5:30am on the dot

He has not taken his bath

The dark naked body begins to shake 

Are you still there?! cried the wife from inside

I am fine! He lied 

No kerosine, no gas, no firewood, no light

To boil the bath water

At 6:00am he is still standing

Staring at the water

On the other side is a thief trying to jump over the fence with a nylon bag

Ehhh! He screamed

The hens strolling by without attention

The thief climbs up again and drops 

There is a loud call for prayer

At 6:30am the noise of women talking and walking can be heard

The noise of a motorcycle so near

The day has broken

The walkers staring and ignoring the bare figure

At 7:00am his wife came out with her baby

The baby held up on one hand

Enjoying the watery milk from the mother's left breast

There is silence

Are you fine? Ask the wife the third time

There is total silence

She walked up to him

Touched his body, no response

Touched his arm, so cold

The water still in the old bucket

Looked into his face, eyes shut

He drops down like a mango fruit

Goodbye world

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