They say grandparents like telling stories to their grandchildren; they say that's the one thing that makes grandparents unique "how true." Often I would sit and question those sayings. I thought it was just a rumor that is being tagged to grandparents. I didn't know its true nature till my grandmother came to live with us.
Grandma's health was a call for concern, so Mum asked her to come live with us, so she could take care of her. Grandma came to the house that day and looked all great, though her hands were wrinkled and worn. Her voice shook whenever she tried to speak, but then she didn't let that stop her from telling me stories.
I knew she loved my siblings and me, but the one thing I noticed the most was the extra love she had for me; I was like her handbag; wherever grandma was, that was where I would always be "always". Whenever Mum shouted at me in the house for doing something wrong, Grandma would always be sad. I can vividly remember how she would come to call me into her room, hold me tight in her arms "often carry me on her lap" with her hands petting my back gently and singing some old songs that I couldn't interpret to my understanding, then I would go to mum and be like "mummy please interpret this song for me" and luckily mum would.
Grandma likes telling stories, whenever I come back home from school, after settling down for a while, I would go to Grandma and she would tell me amazing stories of my mother's childhood and her teenage love story of how she met my grandfather, such stories often make me blush as I listen with suspense waiting for her to utter the next line of words.
Grandma made home feel complete with her nice, soothing voice that echoes in my head in her absence. The words she uttered always come out as a warm blanket to me whenever I'm freezing in the cold.
I loved spending time with Grandma because she always listened and knew how to make me feel better whenever I was sad. What I loved the most was when she cautioned Mum not to lay her hands on me; that moment became the happiest in my lifetime.
I can still remember that moment like it happened yesterday; I was engaging her in a conversation when it happened when she fell on the ground with her whole body vibrating and was taken to the hospital immediately. I wanted to join, but Mum said I couldn't.
When Mum came back the following day, she assured me that Grandma was going to be fine and would be coming home soon, that I would get to see her and tell her how much I'd missed her. Every day that passes by, I would say a word of prayer for my grandma; sound health is all I desire for her.
I kept hoping on Mum's assurance till one fateful day when I got home from school, entered the house, and saw a lot of people sitting in our sitting room, family members I hadn't seen for long, and a few strange faces. The first question that came to my mind was, "Who is getting married?" When I was walking into my room, I noticed the faces weren't smiling; they all kept their face serious like they were on a battlefield.
Got into my room and saw my big sis crying and rolling on the ground, I ran to her and tried to ask what had happened when she broke the news "Grandma is dead" Immediately I rebuked the statement and tried to caution her not to make such statements when mum walked in with tears rolling down her eyes like river.
"Mum, where is grandma?" I asked with my voice shaking.
"Your grandma is no more" mum replied as the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
At that moment, words failed me; I didn't know what to do, if I was to sit or roll myself on the floor and cry like my sister. I stood there in shock with my legs glued to the ground when suddenly a cold breeze blew my skin, and goosebumps started developing on my skin.
I stood for some minutes without knowing the next steps to take with my uniform on, Grandma was the best, and I'd forever cherish every moment spent with her; she showed me true love with no symptoms of condition on it. As the days went on, I began to appreciate the little time, though worthwhile, that I spent with her; if I were to ask for more and it would be granted: "I would surely ask for more".
Every time spent with grandma was a gift that I would appreciate and feel grateful for the rest of my life; it isn't all about the time but the love grandma showed me, the words of wisdom she taught me to utter often, and lastly the value we shared.
It was all about the memories we had together and I'm gonna treasure those memories and guide them with jealousy for the rest of my life.
Thanks for reading 🧡