When our parents hear we are dead….

It is often said that even the darkest clouds do pass. But when our parents hear we are dead, dark clouds feel permanent. Let me go back to the beginning.

Life in University is a mixture of sunshine and rain, Laughter and teardrops, pleasures and pain- Low tides and high tides. There are good times that are so memorable that if you missed them, you’ll live a thousand and one days regretting. There are times you wish you did not make it to Campus, the reason being the uncertainty of events in a campus that can bring you down any minute.

Over the recent past, we’ve heard and seen with our very eyes university students perishing in accidents, stabbing and suicide. It’s so painful to learn that this has been going on for a very long time and it doesn’t seem like it will end soon. Losing a friend, a roommate is so heartbreaking having known them for some time, but we tend to forget once they’re long gone en buried deep down in the world of no return.

But then do we ask ourselves for a second how the parents and the close relatives of the deceased get the news of the demise of one of their own? I spent the better part of my years back in the village when I was growing up, and I understand how my mama cried and tortured herself whenever she received news of a relative who had joined the other world. It hurt her so much, it made her weak, she cried and cried no amount of comfort could relieve the pain she was going through at that moment.

Whenever our parents receive the sad news of the passing of one of their own, it breaks them so much, it hurts them in bits. They know their son/daughter is still alive, they take it as a prank. They ask themselves a million questions. What hurts them the most is that on that night of your demise they called you and you assured them you’re doing well in school busy studying in your room.

The news confuses them more when they learn that you met your death far away from school. They lack words. They decide to lock themselves inside and sob uncontrollably. And finally when the dean gives them an official call from school is when it dawns on them that indeed you’re no more and they need to inform other family members and relatives who by then might have seen some images familiar circulating on social media but were not keen to realize it was you.

They get the surprise of their lives, but all they got is to comfort your mummy, daddy and siblings who spend sleepless nights thinking about you and the sweet memories you shared. For them you still remain in their hearts, you remain their hero despite the controllable circumstances of your death, they have no reason to curse you they forgive you and promise never to forget you.

We; your friends, take it to social media share our fond memories but with time we move on. It’s sad, let’s avoid what we can, let’s live a life which our parents and family will be proud of. Let’s die a natural death. Let our parents have the honour of attending our graduation. Let’s give them a decent sendoff instead of them seeing us off at a tender age. Let’s be responsible comrades. Let us die old in our warm bed when God shall call us.

Rest in power, comrades.

By W. Nyamasege.