***

Mimi felt her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. That was literally. Her limbs went numb when their plane landed at Abuja. Everyone has been quiet except for her baby who cries when she feels uncomfortable.

Mimi held her baby's fragile palm and played with her as they drive away to somewhere she had no idea of. Looking at the baby, she wondered if the baby was well because she was so fragile and slim at one month and some few days.

"Maama, do you think she will put up some weight in the next few months?" Maama managed a lopsided smile and turned away, to hide her tears away from Mimi. Mimi thought Maama was just tired because of the unplanned trip so she didn't worry about Maama's silence.

The car pulled in front of a mansion where since from the gate, were people dressed in uniforms. Mimi looked at them for the second time before she hopped out of the car. They had the same green uniform her husband normally wears. The front of the mansion was beautifully adorned with flowers. By it's side, was a mosque. Mimi looked up at the building. It wasn't something new but it had been long since she saw a giant building as that. Maybe because she hardly goes out these days.

There were also a lot of men dressed in babbanriga getting in and out of the house. Was there a feast? Mimi shook her head and followed Maama and her father into the house. Mimi looked at the surrounding. Right from the gate, were beautiful natural lawns. She fell in love with the place at that instant because she was a nature lover.

Mimi browsed the spacious compound with her eyes. It was vast enough to contain fifty cars. It wasn't an exaggeration, it was just the estimate of her imagination. Mimi saw a long cornered hallways. Maama and others entered it. That means they knew the place, how comes she had never heard about it? It then clicked to her that they were with Hajiya Ajidde, perhaps it was her, that knew the place.

As they stepped in, Mimi noticed that people were giving her pitiful looks. What has she done? She casted the thought away and entered the parlour she saw Baba and Maams entered.

Upon entering, the first person she saw was Siyam, General's sister with puffy eyes. What were they doing all there, and all at a moment?

"I'm so sorry for your loss Didi." She hugged Mimi. Mimi nearly dropped her baby on the floor. Maama noticed that and collected Asnah. What was Siyam saying? Sorry for what loss? What did she lost? Her bag? Shoes? Or earring?

It was then that she realised that there was a coffin in the parlour. A green soldier's hat had been placed on top of the corpse. Mimi leveled down and yawed the white cloth away. Her hands were trembling as she clutched her eyes shut. She wasn't ready to see the deceased face. She had never seen a corpse except once at the foundation. After seeing the corpse of a young boy, it took her weeks before she fully recovered and gained back her ability to sleep at night.

She kept having nightmares and she vowed not to see a corpse again. Now, as she squatted before this, she felt something dragging her to open and see who was it. Because refusal to do so, might make her feel bad if it turned out to be someone dear to her.

It took her several seconds of courage gathering before she finally opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a pit hole on his forehead right there, at the position he had a black mark.

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un. What a nightmare! Mimi was statued. She wasn't able to move a finger. Instead, she was focused on blinking, fluttering and opening her eyes hoping that it was a dream. There was no way one would play with death. But why does he plays her around? No, she doesn't like it a bit.

Maama and Ummah turned their faces away. Afraid of how she would ready was the reason why they found it hard to announce the death of her beloved husband to her. Especially that, he died at the time when they needed each other the most. The time they will enter a new phase of parenthood. The time that will forever be memorable to them. The time many couples have been looking forward to. The mothers hid their faces away from Mimi oncemore. The sight of her would be with no doubt, breakingly heartbreaking. It might make many eyes to shed tears.

"Maama I'm dreaming, right?" She cleared the single tear that dropped from her eyes. She was trying to control her emotions at all cost. She was trying to comprehend all that was happening.

"He died as a martyr in sha Allah," Hajiya Ruqayyah, general Aliyy's grandmother held Mimi's shoulder. Mimi pursed her lips in a dramatic way. She was used to hearing those lines from the movies. She has gotten used to reading that from books. Was she in one of those moments or was it really happening to her in reality? Mimi chose the former.

"It's a movie right? I'm currently watching those kind of movies where soldiers are being shot whilst they are serving their country right?" She asked, and stood up. Mimi found the nearest coach around and sat.

All eyes turned to her.

Suddenly she was laughing. "Maama can you please switch off the television? Or rather wake me up from this slumber?" Ummah exchanged a look with Maama with tears each blinding their views.

"Mimi listen to me," Maama softly held her hands.

"He has answered the call of his lord. We all are awaiting too. It's a decreed..." Mimi got the message. She went on her knees and crawled to where General Aliyy's corpse lay.

Mimi searched for his hand and put it in hers. "May your soul rest in peace my sweetest half. I'm fulfilling the promise I took; not to cry when you die before me. But this tears, by Allah I can't stop them. I hope you understand. Although they say you're dead, I know you're hearing and seeing me right now. I know you're." Mimi brought his hand to her face and touched her cheeks.

"Can you please give me just a second, just one second so that I will tell you about our baby? Remember you promised me that we will groom her into a beautiful woman. Why didn't you tell me that the goodbye you said to me yesterday was going to last forever. I know you hear me wallahi but they said you're dead. I'm not crying I promise... I'm not..." The cry overpowered her, and it came out as a strong whimper. Mimi was shivering yet again, she held his hands.

"Mimi, the best thing to do is to take him to his final home. Do pray for him." One woman took her away from the corpse whilst his father and uncles came and took the corpse out.

Mimi watched as the fragment of her dreams was taken away... Forever and ever.

She watched as her better half, her soul mate, her pillar of strength and everything and more, was taken out.

It took her, all to remain sane and not to cry out loud. Her heart was on the verge of exploding. She hugged her self and sobbed with every thing that made her up.

She has lost her husband;

Whom she found comfort in. Whom she defined as solitude as a whole. That someone she held near, that someone she wasn't afraid to show him all her weakness. That someone she calls the coolness of her eyes. That someone she hoped to share her Jannah with. But he was gone for eternity.

That someone . . .

*****

Leek was sitting on a chair watching news on television when Sadiqu stirred on his bed. He has been improving lately and was moved out from the ICU. There were now at the amenity.

The door creaked open and Inna came in with a foodflask on her hand. From behind her was Fatimah, Maimunah, Sadi, Wali and heavily pregnant Zuwairah. Leek went to collect the flask from Inna's hand.

"No, you're also managing." She declined with a blank expression. Leek greeted her once they sat.

"Yes, he's woke up once." She replied glaring at Zuwairah whom asked about the health of Sadiqu.

"I wish him speedy recovery."

"Ameen."

"I think you should go home and take care of yourself. I will take over for three days. By then, you've had some rest." Leek didn't argue. She thanked Inna and left.

"You all should go back to your respective homes while I and Fatimah stay behind." Inna ordered around. They all wished him a speedy recovery. Fatimah followed them out to escort them until they got a cab.

On her way back, Fatimah heard a car honked at her. She ignored the horn and continued walking. From the ward to the gate, was a quite a long distance. Fatimah heard the engine of the car dying down meaning that it had been parked.

"Fatimah..." Yes, she knew that voice. She could recognize it even in an unconscious state of wellbeing. What does he want from her? Fatimah increased her pace.

"What?" She turned, ready to snap at him. Dr Muhseen smiled at her. Some way, her heart constricted in excitement.

"What?" She repeated.

"Calm down. How have you been?" He brushed his lips that were have been chapped perhaps from either sickness or hunger.

"As you can see, I'm doing just fine." She smiled sarcastically.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Partying around. I'm wearing a party gown, don't you see?" Fatimah scowled. Was he blind or moron?

"What calls for all this savage? I'm sorry. Let me take you to wherever you're going." Fatimah eyed him. His eyes were hollow, pronouncing his cheekbones. Fatimah pitied him and shook her head.

"Thanks but no thanks. I've a leg." She dismissed him and began padding away. Dr Muhseen followed her. He was not going to leave her. It has been so long since he felt his heart so alive. His heart wanted Fatimah and it has refused to give up despite all these years.

"Dr Muhseen stop following me!" Fatimah warned.

"Fati bom bom allow me to." Fatimah gasped. It just touched the memory box opening. So many of their happy moments all rushed to her brain. Fatimah has closed her eyes to relish them when the memory of that incident flushed, becoming dominant of all thoughts in her head. The incident had it way to change her mood completely. It weakened her body all at an instant. It crushed the giant walls she spent years in building. When will she overpower it once and for all?

"Ya Muhseen please and please, dan Allah dan annabi leave me alone. Is this too much to ask? Leave me alone!" She fired, tears cascading down her cheeks. Dr Muhseen directly went on his knees.

"Fatimah I'm equally begging you for Allah's sake to please stop tormenting me. My heart can't leave without you. Stop punishing me for the crimes of my father. Please and please." He was also wet with tears.

"Ya Muhseen. I mean, Dr Muhseen I'm so sorry that your heart can't leave without Fatimah. But please do leave Fatimah alone. I beg of you." Fatimah joined her hands together in a beseeching way.

Dr Muhseen stood up and held her hand. Fatimah flinched at the contact. "Fatimah, I'm dying." Fatimah snatched her hand away from his hold.

"I won't say go and die. But I'm sorry you can't get what you want here." Fatimah held her cries and began running on the busy road of the hospital. People were looking at her but that was one of the least of her worries. All she wanted was to disappear out of the world for a moment until when that surreptitious shell has come back. Until when she felt no pain when she thought of the incident.

Until when Inna has stopped disturbing her to bring forth a husband. Until when the world have stopped judging her. Until when everyone was willing to accept her just the way she was.

Fatimah ran and ran until she lost her way. She collapsed on the ground and cried with all she could. She thought she has overcame that phase in her life. She thought it won't hurt anymore. Fatimah knew that it will continue to haunt her for life; for she has been battered for eternity.

Fatimah knew she will only have some rest when she lay underneath the earthcrust. When her soul has been threaded away from her body and have been taken to Illiyyun. A place where where righteous souls are taken to.

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What's your take on this???