Nkechi Macaulay

BEAUTY IN DEATH Mummy, why is this happening now? Why is life treating us this way? I just finished school. I don’t have a job yet. I haven't married or had kids. Why is this happening now?" Emily cried out in anguish. "My daughter, I have lived my life. Go live yours," her mother, Sarah, replied softly. "I went to school, got a job, married, had children, and ran a business. I have lived my life. Go live yours." These were Sarah's words as she lay dying of cancer. It all began one day when my mom discovered a lump on her left breast. For six months, she didn't take it seriously because it was painless. Then, one day, she showed the growing lump to me, I screamed in shock. "Mom, how long has this lump been there?" she asked. "Six months," Sarah replied. I I was horrified. "Didn't you know that a painless lump is not something to joke with I quizzed her ? I questioned my father, too, "Did you ever notice this lump? We need to go to the hospital." At the hospital, they performed a biopsy on the lump, and it took a month to get the results. By then, the lump had turned into a sore. I feared the worst, and when the results came back, they confirmed my fears. It was aggressive cancer that had spread throughout her breast. The news shook the family to its core. The doctors recommended a complete mastectomy, but my mom was disturbed by the thought of losing her breast. She opted for alternative treatments and reached out to a man who claimed to have a cure. He gave her herbs and charged a lot of money, but the pain did not subside. Eventually, She agreed to the surgery. Despite the growing lump, she continued her work as a teacher and managed her poultry farm. When the day of the surgery arrived, She was scheduled for a complete mastectomy. However, after the surgery, I noticed that part of my mother’s breast was still intact. When I asked the doctor why, he explained that She had requested to leave a part of her breast because she could not bear the thought of having it completely removed. This decision marked the beginning of an arduous battle. My mom underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and took various medications. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she became too weak to work. She grew thinner and weaker, retreating into her own world as the cancer spread. The family was heartbroken, watching her suffering intensify. She experienced sharpness of breath, broken bones, and other severe symptoms. I felt helpless and prayed constantly for her r recovery. Despite all efforts, her condition worsened. One day, She insisted that I return to my job, reassuring me that she could manage on her own. A few weeks later, I received a call that my mother was critically ill. Terrified, I took a night bus from Bauchi to Lagos, my mind filled with anxiety. During the journey, I fell asleep and dreamed of my mother, who appeared still sick but radiant, saying, "I am free. I no longer have cancer. I have been healed. I am free." II woke with a profound sense of peace. When I arrived in Lagos, she learned that my mother had passed away. Despite my grief, I found solace in the dream. I felt that her my mother had reached out to reassure me, to let me know she was at peace. For the first time, I saw beauty in death. My mother was free from pain, and I felt a deep sense of relief knowing that She was no longer suffering. This experience changed my perspective, teaching me to find hope and peace even in the face of loss.