An Affair With The Dead

Sarah's day had been like any other, filled with the usual hustle and bustle of her job as a real estate columnist. She had spent the morning researching and writing, and the afternoon attending a property showcase in Victoria Island. As she sat at her desk, typing away on her laptop, she felt a sense of satisfaction with the day's accomplishments. But then, her phone rang, shattering the calm. She hesitated for a moment before answering, her mind wondering who it could be. Her family and friends knew she was busy during the day, and usually only called her in the evenings or on weekends. "Hello?" she said, her voice cautious. "Sarah, it's me, Uncle Tunde." The voice on the other end was grave and solemn, sending a shiver down her spine. Sarah's heart skipped a beat. Uncle Tunde was her father's brother, and she had always been close to him. He was like a second father to her and Nneoma, and she respected him deeply. But she knew that he wouldn't call her during the day unless something was seriously wrong. "Uncle, what's going on?" she asked, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Sarah's anxiety grew. She could hear the sound of breathing, heavy and labored, and she knew that her uncle was struggling to find the words. "It's about your sister, Nneoma," he finally said, his voice cracking. "She's...she's passed away." Sarah felt like she had been punched in the gut. Nneoma was her only sister, and they had been close despite their differences. They had grown up together in their family home in Enugu, sharing secrets and dreams. They had argued and fought, but they had always been there for each other. "What happened?" Sarah demanded, her voice shaking. There was another pause, and Sarah could feel her uncle's pain and grief through the phone. "It was a car accident," he finally said. "She was driving home from work last night and...and it happened." Sarah felt a wave of grief wash over her. She had always been the strong one, the one who kept it together, but now she felt like she was falling apart. She couldn't believe that her sister was gone. It didn't seem real. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. As she sat there, frozen in shock, her mind began to wander. She thought about the last time she had seen Nneoma, at their cousin's wedding in Abuja. They had argued about something stupid, and Nneoma had stormed off in a huff. Sarah had never gotten the chance to apologize, to make things right. Now it was too late. Sarah's thoughts were interrupted by her uncle's voice, gentle and soothing. "Sarah, I know this is hard, but I need you to be strong. Your parents are devastated, and they need you now more than ever." Sarah took a deep breath and nodded, even though she knew her uncle couldn't see her. "I'll be there tomorrow," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, Sarah. I'll see you then." The call ended, and Sarah sat there, staring blankly at her laptop screen. She couldn't believe that her sister was gone. It didn't seem real. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. As the reality of the situation began to sink in, Sarah felt a wave of grief wash over her. She had always been the strong one, the one who kept it together, but now she felt like she was falling apart. She couldn't believe that her sister was gone. It didn't seem real. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. She thought about all the things she wished she had done differently. She wished she had spent more time with Nneoma, been more supportive, been a better sister. She wished she had told Nneoma how much she loved her, how much she appreciated her. Now it was too late. As the tears began to flow, Sarah realized that she was not alone. Her colleagues were around her, asking her what was wrong, offering her support and condolences. She nodded, grateful for their kindness, but she couldn't speak. She couldn't put into words the pain and grief she was feeling. She packed up her things and headed home, her mind reeling with thoughts of her sister. She couldn't believe that Nneoma was gone. It didn't seem real. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. As she walked out of the office building, Sarah felt a sense of numbness wash over her. She couldn't believe that her sister was gone. It didn't seem real. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. She hailed a taxi and headed home, her mind reeling with thoughts of her sister. She couldn't stop thinking about the last time they had spoken, the last time they had argued. She wished she could go back in time and make things right, but she knew she couldn't. As she arrived at her apartment, Sarah felt a sense of emptiness. She knew she had to pack her bags and head to Enugu for the funeral, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She felt like she was in a state of limbo, unable to move forward. She spent the rest of the day in a daze, unable to eat or sleep. She kept thinking about her sister, about the good times and the bad. She thought about their childhood, about their parents, about their family. As the sun began to set, Sarah realized she had to make a decision. She couldn't stay in Lagos, not now. She had to go to Enugu, to be with her family, to say goodbye to her sister. With a heavy heart, Sarah packed her bags and headed to the airport. She knew the journey ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. She was ready to say goodbye to her sister, to lay her to rest. As she boarded the plane, Sarah felt a sense of sadness wash over her. She knew she would never see her sister again, never talk to her again. But she also knew that she had to be strong, for her family, for herself. The flight to Enugu was short, but it felt like an eternity. Sarah couldn't stop thinking about her sister, about the funeral, about the days ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face it. As the plane landed, Sarah felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was finally here, finally home. She knew the journey ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. She hailed a taxi and headed to her family's house, her heart heavy with grief. She knew she would never see her sister again, never talk to her again. But she also knew that she had to be strong, for her family, for herself. As she arrived at the house, Sarah saw her family gathered in the living room. They were all crying, all mourning the loss of her sister. Sarah felt a sense of sadness wash over her, but she also felt a sense of strength. She knew she had to be strong, for her family, for herself. "Sarah, my daughter," her mother said, as she hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here. We need you now more than ever." Sarah nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She knew she had to be strong, for her family, for herself. She knew she had to face the days ahead, no matter how difficult they might be. And so, with a heavy heart and a sense of determination, Sarah began the journey ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face it. She was ready to say goodbye to her sister, to lay her to rest. She was ready to be strong, for her family, for herself.