I always wanted to become independent and live a comfortable life without much social interaction, I wanted to have enough money to fulfill my basic needs and maybe some more to have a bit of luxury. Is that too much to ask?
Today is the day of my graduation ceremony and honestly, I don't even want to attend it. It feels like I wasted too much time on my so-called friends and their problems, in my 5 years of college life I learned more about the nature of human beings and society rather than law of land which I was supposed to learn from this bachelor's course in arts and law.
Day after tomorrow is my 23rd birthday and merely thinking about it is getting on my nerves, when I think about my life ahead all I see is blank I don't have an idea of what I'm going to with myself although my grades are great and the university is among the top 50 universities in country, the problem is this attitude of mine.
I want money but no social interaction except a beautiful girl who is faithful and caring. Is that too much to ask?
I tap my hands on the bedside table with my eyes closed and try to grab my phone, something falls and breaks like glass which makes me frown even more and I lift this body off the bed and pull my slippers after struggling to find them which also makes me feel annoyed for some reason. I remove the blinds from the window, it's still dark with a faint glow of light before sunrise, I open up the window letting the morning breeze in which somewhat eases my frown, taking a deep breath which helps emptying my mind from any kind of thoughts, I close my eyes.
I open my eyes, I see my little garden which I started 3 years ago, beautiful marigolds, roses, hibiscus, jasmine and sunflowers the scenery of these flowers under faint morning sunlight uplift my mood. I turn around and switch on the lights to find shattered glass of my phone under the table, which I was expecting. I pick it up hoping that it would still work. It showed time "5:03 AM" through its broken screen, and the touch screen won't work anymore.
Morning is the best time because most of the people are still asleep and there are less things to bother me. Nevertheless, I start my day with a frown; after brushing my teeth and freshening up I put on my gardening outfit which is basically a pair of rubber glove along with my usual T-shirt and Bermuda or sometimes lower. After checking that no one else is awake I enter the storeroom in the backyard, where I put my gardening tools and hide my cigarettes and lighter. The guava tree and the avocado plant by the shed seem to be growing well, after lighting up a cigarette I started observing my garden, sound of leaves rustling in the morning breeze felt soothing, I took another drag of my cigarette.
'creak'
I heard the Sound of someone opening the door, I went behind the storeroom and quickly put out the cigarette then rubbed some mint leaves on fingers to avoid the smell, "chhh" something pricked on my hand while picking up the mint leaves from the bushes. After burying the butt with my foot, I put on my gloves and took the watering can in my hand and started walking towards my garden.
"Your garden looks great." My sister said trying to sniff something in the air her brown hair scattered around having a bed head
"you're up early today?"
"You don't like my company?"
"Go wash your face first before trying to spy on me."
"Hehehe, don't make that face it will ruin my day" she was having that sarcastic tone and annoying smile.
I started filling the watering can from the tap and felt a burning pain in back of my hands, I removed the gloves and saw two bite marks on back my hands, feeling of nausea hit me and I started perspiring profusely,
"Bella.... come here, no bring my phone and call the emergency number" my speech became sluggish
"What are you saying?"
"I ..... think something..... bit me "
"Show me! no wait here I'll bring dad"
I felt my vision turning dark and my hands went numb
'Bam!' the watering can fell, and I felt weak in my knees and knelt down on the ground resting my back against the wall, fragrant smell of flowers filled my nose, I slumped to the side and fell into marigolds. Time was passing quickly pain was fading away, I recalled dad telling me to prepare the breakfast in case he doesn't come today as his colleague's wife, she was also his childhood friend, was admitted in maternity ward midnight, he might not be home today.
"I feel cheated, I'm not satisfied yet" I mumbled, there were too many things left to do in life I want to live leisurely after becoming independent, I don't even have a girlfriend yet. I feel like God was planning this, first my dad then that goddamn phone broke, am I going to die like this?
is it too much to ask a peaceful life from God? that he planned my end like this, wait if I think about it .... this way of dying isn't too bad, dying while breathing fresh morning breeze surrounded by fragrant and vibrant flowers, no one around to bother me. It feels kind of good, hm, I felt a tug on my pants and heard someone crying.
"Brother, I can't find dad... sob .... i dropped your phone and it broke..... don't leave me alone like mother." she seemed smaller than usual her brown eyes devoid of any Lustre like that day. It's not fair I don't want to see her like this ever again.
"it's ... not ... your fault, i bro..ke .." damn it I can't even talk properly, I tried to sit but there was no strength left,
"Come... clos..er"
"sob... what should I do ?...sob..." she made me sit leaning on her small frail body, I opened my eyes to see her and tell her that I would want her as my sister in every life and she would be alright and it's too damn painful too see her like this, but no words came out. my vision started darkening, I held her hands in mine with the last bit of my strength and smiled, then it became black. I closed my eyes and slumbered.
"Brother! Brother!"..... "Brother! ".. the voice slowly faded away.
Then I heard someone cry, it was not my sister nor someone I know of, it felt too close and weird, I know what it is, who let his baby here in my garden, at least let me die peacefully I don't want to hear no baby crying by my side when I'm trying to come to terms with myself. I opened my eyes again with a frown on my face.
"ooo! aaa! aaaaaa! aa! ooo!" what the hell what am I saying wait is that what I think it is?
I flail around and try to adjust my eyes to the sudden bright light which seems to be too bright and feel a pleasant smell which seems odd and at the same time too soothing no flowers could ever compare to this smell.
I come to a conclusion, it was my own crying sound and yes I have been REBORN!
"ooooooo! aaaa! aaaaaaaa! aa!"