My phone beeped twice at 02:00 am on Valentine’s night and as it was an unusual time for promotional messages, I checked it to see who was texting in the middle of the night. The text read like this ” David ( Not his real name) has passed away this night at past midnight. Please be informed”.
My first reaction was total shock as I knew from what my mother had told me a few weeks back that *David* had been admitted in hospital due to liver problems. I didn’t think it was that serious to be honest. I thought after a while he would recover and maybe I would pay him a visit at his place as I had never been there.
When it was first discovered that he had liver complications, I got to discuss with my mother, who thought that maybe it was bad juju. I replied by saying that there was a virus called herpatitis which attacked organs. And maybe that’s what *David* had, and we both dismissed the issue and went on with our lives.
*David’s mother and my mother are sisters. *David* was sent to school by my mother as his mother couldn’t afford to give him an education. So he practically grew up with us. He was two years younger than me. He has left two kids behind from two different women and a string of girlfriends.
Yesterday morning the first thing I did was call my mother and tell her about the news, my shock and disbelief etc. etc. And I touched again on the subject of herpes. She told me he had HIV she had seen the sores on his body when she went to see him at the hospital. So he had died from complications resulting from HIV. To think how many relations I have lost to this desease especially on my mothers side, I think the number reaches 50 and above.
I sat outside my door chewing on this and suddenly I found myself weeping. Not everyone who has died of this desease had a certain kind of lifestyle. To some people the infection came from their spouses and as they didn’t get regular check-ups by the time it was diagnosed it was too late.
I wept for myself, I wept for them that died, I wept for their kids and I wept for their infected partners. I haven’t always lived a holy existence. I have strayed from the path more times than I dare to admit. It is only by the grace of God that I’m still alive and I’m still healthy. Isn’t this just one more reason to bless the Lord for His love, His mercy and protection? I am so humbled and thankful for all he has done for me. I feel tears stinging my eyes again as I am writing this.
Till next time guys…be blessed đź’•
Here and there 