He looked cuter than ever, almost like he grew every day. He was just two months old, yet it felt he was five. He looked very much like his father , i wished more than anything his father were here to see he won the bet. When I still carried young Jamil in my womb, we had a bet on who he would look like. He however didn’t live long enough to boast how he always won like he always did watching Jamil sleep was everything I needed. It reminded me of flowers in florist shops; calm Serene. It was in one of those I had first met his father.

It was Friday, few minutes past one; my eyes kept stalking the clock. I had to be at the bank before its closing time by 4PM. I had procrastinated the visit all week, and i needed the money i urgently had to it use on Saturday, since i lost my ATM card, i had to go make the withdrawal, and this was the perfect time. My Jamil was fast asleep i prayed silently he wouldn’t wake up until i got back. The bank was a 20-minute walk from the house just as i went to check Jamil once more, there was the sound of heavy thunder rumbling and the rain came without warning: cats and dogs and torrents without remorse. It would not be much of a big deal, since i had an umbrella, i thought.

I sat down and waited for the rain to calm down, but reality didn't share my plans. It was now 3.15PM the bank would close in 45 minutes, but the rain showed no sign of doing the same. I had to go in the rain I just had to, I stood mustering courage it was now while Jamil still slept or never. I turned to Jamil once more and stared at him I just couldn't help it.

A noisy wind forced the window open, forcing me to turn away from him and something broke at my feet. It was the framed picture of I and Jamil; I freaked out. The type of cold feeling that make crystallized icicles in your bloodstream. I swiftly closed the window and packed the pieces. The rain finally abridged. This was it! I grabbed my umbrella and made for the door. I took a step out and the rain returned even heavier than before, like a harbinger of something ominous. I definitely wasn’t going back inside. Resolute and resolved, I made my way through the flooded street to the bank.

Thanks to my perfect acting skills, after sharing the story of my sleeping baby in the house, I didn’t have to stand on the queue, I was attended to immediately. I came out of the bank and gazed at the road and felt bewildered. I had to look around to affirm it was the same road I passed moments ago. It was flooded then, but not like this; the water swallowed packed vehicles. My mind raced rapidly. I didn’t know what to do. I had to get home to my baby. I had to get home by every means! I decided to walk in the flood. I put in one leg and the water current push me in just when a hand began pulling me out.

“Madam, what’s wrong with you? Are you suicidal?”  

 “No! No!” I cried, "My baby is home alone and my flat is by the road, with this flood turning into a sea, it might get to my house. “I could see they could all felt my worries, but no one could do anything to help, even a car was useless in this case. Nothing.

“Madam, all we can do is wait for the water current to reduce"  I checked my pocket for my phone to see if I could reach my neighbor, she wasn’t home when I left earlier; she might have been back before the flood. My phone wasn’t in my jeans. It probably might have fallen when I fell into the water. I jumped right into the rainwater I couldn’t stand the mental torture anymore. The rain seemed to stop but the water was still very much alive. The water pushed me from one spot to another, I had my face pushed against a car window and felt my nose shift. I still pushed forward I somehow began to feel control of myself the waves reduced I hit my left leg against an object in the water and fell right in it water as I struggled up a paper got stuck to my face I took it off only to stare right into the picture of I and Jamil!

“Oh lord!” I screamed, I began pushing even harder through the water, urine flowed freely down my jeans. People began filling the streets, looking at the wreck the flood had caused. I shrieked as I got to my avenue, my door was wide open with almost all my furniture outside. I ran to Jamil’s room, he wasn’t there. His bed was turned over. I felt like I had gone insane as I ran out screaming Just when I saw my neighbor carrying Jamil towards me. Seeing them, I paused I felt dead with happiness and relief, ran towards her to take my baby, my sweet Jamil my jam jam

“He was dead before I got to him, I couldn’t let the water take him”, she cried. I felt the earth rotating speedily at an oblique angle as I passed out.

“Yeah. That was how he died, and I remarried years later and had you. I saw it fit to name you Jamil as well. I know you two are connected. Sorry I am telling you this now, didn’t think you were old enough to hear any of this before now. The framed picture you have in your hand was safely hidden. I don't know how you found it. That's the picture I found in the flood that day and the only picture I have of Jamil.”

“It’s okay, mum.”