Our streets in Aba city Nigeria used to be a very terrible place during the rainy season, the bad roads, floods and muds.
It was a rainy season in my town, a time where the skies opened up and pour water relentlessly, turning our roads into rivers and muds, for this I always declared this season my worse. The roads in our neighborhood was particularly bad, riddled with potholes and barely passable even on the best day. But when it really rained, the streets would transform into waterways.
On one such day, around 12:00 noon, the rain started pouring heavily. I was the only one at home with my two year old sister, Precious. My mom had instructed me to bring her to the stall so we can have our lunch in the afternoon, this was a routine we followed almost everyday, my mom used to cook food in the afternoon in her stall. But that day the rain kept us housebound, it showed no sign of stopping and by 2:30 pm the street were already flooded. My little sis also started crying out of hunger, she was really hungry as we barely had any food in the morning.
"Precious, please, try to be patient," I pleaded, my heart aching as I watched her tears. But she couldn't understand, and her cries grew louder. I knew we couldn't wait any longer. The rain was already much reduced, it was only drizzling a little but the flood was much outside.
Since she couldn't stop crying, I decided to carry her on my back, I wrapped her in a cloth and carried her on my back, securing her with an extra piece of fabric and I was about to go out.
The water on the road was already above my knees and almost to my waist level but I kept pulling and was determined to get there.
The water was cold and murky, but I carefully navigated the road. Each step I took was a struggle but I focused on getting to my mom's stall. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and she held me so tightly. Her cries had reduced to whimpers.
We were almost close the stall when disaster struck. I didn't see the stone hidden beneath the water and my foot slammed in to it causing me to loose my balance and fall. I was completely submerged in the dirty floodwater.
At that terrifying moment, all I could think of was my sister, my little brain acted instinctively, I quickly untied the wrapper, carried my sister and raised my hands very high, keeping her head above the water as I went under. Water filled my mouth and nose, but I fought to get up, using every breathing space I got to scream for help.
"Help! Somebody help us!" I yelled, my voice hoarse with great panic.
And just then, a kind woman, a market vendor I had seen before heard my cries, she rushed into the water without hesitation and grabbed my sister, lifting her up to safety. Then immediately I got up too, employing a little hand from her strong arms.
I was completely drenched and shaking but I was thankful my sister was safe, she clung to the woman, trembling with fear and cold.
I was so thankful to the woman, I couldn't stop thanking her, I even began to shed tears mixing with the rain on my face.
"Thank you, ma. Thank you so much," I repeated, my voice breaking. "I don't know what I would have done if something happened to her."
The woman concern was getting to know why I would risk my life and my sister's like that by entering the flood even when it was still drizzling, she asked me never to do such a thing again, she even sounded like she was scolding me but I didn't mind the voice, I just kept saying, "Yes ma, Ok ma, Thank you ma!"
"Let's get you to your mother." She said!
As we reached my mother's stall, I saw the worry etched on her face turn to shock and then relief. She rushed to us, wrapping her arms around my sister.
"Chineke nnam eh! What happened?" she cried, her eyes wide with fear.
I explained everything to her with my shaky voice as I recounted our ordeal. My mom held her daughter so tight.
"Chukwu Ekele diri gi, nothing happened to my daughter! But you should have waited till the water dries up a little na, I was very worried about you guys."
At this point I kept mute because I didn't know what else to explain to her to understand that I had to do what I did, if not for that stone we could have gotten there successfully.
"I was so close," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "I was so close to losing my sister." I couldn't have forgiven myself if such a thing happened.
I learnt a big lesson that day. That day taught me the true meaning of being close-knit. Our community, despite its struggles and hardships, always came together in times of need. Looking at my sister at that time, seeing her safe and sound in my mother's arms gave me an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This was a harrowing experience but it has brought us closer to each other.
And for that, I was eternally grateful. 🌺
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