Hamza is one of those male friends that many would pray to have. He is humble, nice, caring and sacrificial. In fact, he is a quintessence of rare virtues. Writing this, I just recall a day I misplaced my last cash in school. I searched for it to no avail not until Hamza came to my rescue by offering me two thousand naira to spend before I sort myself.
On several other occasions, he had rendered help to people in my presence I couldn’t even consider helping. To Hamza, life is to be spent loving and helping others. He goes as far as deliberately putting smiles on people’s face. He would always say that the reason why God blesses men is for them to become genuine source of blessings to others.
But I was baffled when he wrote “DEATH! GRASP ME WITH YOUR COLD HANDS” on his WhatsApp status early this morning. Immediately I saw this attention commanding post, I dialed his number, but it didn’t connect. Just then, I sensed something was seriously wrong.
Without even bothering to take my bath and dress the Boss Lady way, I hurriedly put on a white T-shirt and a black skirt I had put on the day before. Lucky enough I got a bike and immediately headed for Hamza’s apartment at 3rd Barack. It took me about 15minutes of knocking, crying and pleading before he opened his door.
My dear friend was about to ingest poison. The same rat poison I got for him few days back. He called me a few days ago to inquire if I would go to the market so I could help him get a very active poison. I thought there were rats in his room he wanted to get rid of. Unknowing to me, Hamza was the rat he sent me to get the poison for. I should have asked what he wanted to use the poison for but how would I have sensed that the happy looking guy of yesterday was contemplating suicide.
Streams of Questions flooded my heart.
#Why would he want to kill himself?
#Why would this guy who has put smiles on the face of many wants to take his own life??
#Was death the only escape route??
#How come no one knew about this attempt??
My mind had thoughts racing through it. Questions filled my heart yet I couldn’t provide one sincere answer to these questions. Hamza’s voice interrupted my thoughts. With tears in his eyes, he muttered under his breath
. “Omoh, am tired of li….fe” ” I love, and I get hate in return.
When I need people to be there for me, they are either too busy or just feel all is well with me. Omoh, even you, when I needed you most, you were nowhere to be found”. “I was confused, I got frustrated about my life and the way things were going,
As he said those words, I couldn’t help but cry like a baby, I wept with guilt and heaviness in my heart. Hamza would always call but I barely called him. Whenever he notices you are unhappy, this guy would do everything within his power to make sure you are happy. As for me, when he is moody I just assume he is having a mood swing.
How would a man take his own life? No matter how hard it may seem, life is a priceless gift that should not be taken for granted: it is meant to be loved, appreciated and cared for.
I gathered little courage and spoke up “Hamza, I know I wronged you. I ought to have been more sensitive to your need. I should have at least text you to know how you were faring. I should have shown little interest in your personal affairs and I should have shown you more love. I’m so sorry for everything”
“This isn’t about you being sorry or not but about the decision I’ve made.
Life no longer makes sense to me. The whole essence of my existence has been thwarted. I just want to go to a land where immortal exist. A world free of pains and worries, a place without battle for fame and recognition”.
“No, dear. This is about us. All of us. The smiles you put on our faces, the hope you gave us, the strength your presence infuses in many. No, I disagree, you won’t go away from us simply because we weren’t there for you. Even if you would go to the land beyond but not like this empty handed of impacts. Void of good testimonies. Hamza, you will stay here with us and we will succeed together by God’s Grace”. After saying those words, I noticed he became calm and after some minutes, he spoke up.
“Omoh, you won’t understand, where do I start from now? ”
“It is simple, start from here because there is hope for a tree that if its been cut, it will sprout again, and the tender branches would bear much fruits. You can still make it to the top if you want to”
“hmmmmmm” he said.
I nodded my head in affirmation.
I am so glad I was able to restore his hope through the help of God. Hamza got restored back to his place of Glory and Dominion.
That is the extent to which Love can work wonders. See, even those who give out love need love. Show someone love.
Hamza could be your neighbor, friend, close associate, relative or even the stranger next door. Hamza could be anyone. Show someone genuine and intentional love every day.
Food for Thought: “What if I didn’t see his WhatsApp status on time or had gone to his place late?? I leave you with this. Show people little LOVE and CARE, it will go a long way.
©Heiress Omoh
# Fiction
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