That feeling of losing a loved one is the worst I've ever had. I was just five when I lost my Dad, that was the worst moment of my life but I had to dance in the storm and that's why I'm still living and growing better today.
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When I was a kid, I lived with my parents alone in our hometown. Since I was the last child, my older siblings had traveled to the city in search of greener pastures so I had to stay back with my parents. But later on, a need came up that my mom had to leave Dad and me for an urgent visit to my sister who had delivered a baby boy. She had to leave to assist my sister since that was her first delivery and she is not experienced in childcare.
I lived the happiest days of my life with Dad, he was my best storyteller. My dad was able to convince me that I could kill a lion with my bare hands. Most of his stories, I now feel were not real, he might have probably lied to make me feel he was a strong man, lol.
But we lacked one thing, we both didn't know how to cook so we relented to eating fast foods for days before one of my aunts visited us to help us make a pot of stew and soup which lasted us for days since the fridge was in perfect condition.
Dad was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. He was an alcoholic but was striving to change the habit but he was already addicted. He had surgery the first time but still couldn't kill that urge to drink. It was never his fault, that's how destiny decided to move him through.
Months later, Dad fell sick again and was taken to hospital again. But by this time, Mom was back already and was there to assist. That was my first time seeing a seriously sick person. I knew what death meant but I never knew Dad would ever die. I never believed I could miss Dad.
I waited at the foyer where I was given a seat. Even though I insisted on going in to see Mom and Dad to know how he was feeling, I was advised to stay outside.
When the doctor noticed Dad would die, he told Mom to go home and get me food even when I was never hungry. When Mom left, I was sitting outside and I saw how some nurses pushed someone lying on a stretcher with their face covered. I thought those were the surgery apparatus that would be used to carry out the operation on Dad but I didn't know that was him after he kicked the bucket.
Later when Mom returned and and handed over a plastic food to me, she rushed into the hospital room where Dad was admitted when he was still alive. Later on, I saw the doctor and nurses lead Mom in the same direction the stretcher was pushed to. A few seconds later, I heard Mom crying with a loud voice, I dropped the plastic food and ran past the nurses that were trying to stop me and barged into the room. That was the first time I saw a lifeless man in my life.
Dad was gone, I was almost as dead as Dad as I lost all my nerves. I felt like I'd lost everything in this life. Dad was all the world to me. Throughout this period, I wasn't myself.
His death and the anxiety following it gave me emotional damages that affected my academic life. But I had to dance in the storm.
My uncles and other relatives visited us and consoled me. They advised me to never let my Dad's death pull me down but rather, I should look at his achievements and try to be a better man.
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I'm who I am today because I was able to dance in the storm, face the challenges and come out victorious. I didn't let the bad moments of my life weigh me down, I wasn't overshadowed with the grief, sorrow and pain from Dad's bereavement.
I now believe in myself than ever, Dad's stories still ring in my head every day and they make me remember he was a hero and I have to be better than he was. This alone motivates me to face my challenges no matter how difficult they may seem.
If I were able to dance in such a storm at that age, then nothing is bigger than me as I grow older.
Thanks for reading. This is my entry for the #inleo initiative in the #hivereachout community, initiative #17.
To know more about the #inleo initiative in the #hivereachout community, click HERE
I would love to invite @marynn, @fashtioluwa and @kingsleyy to this initiative.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
So sorry dear friend for the death of your father. Dancing through that storm was the best thing for you at that time and am glad you did.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for stopping by friend.
That's life for everyone, the storm will always come, we are left to face them and conquer.
thank God for the advice your uncle gave and how you summoned courage to adhere to.It is well.Thank
Thanks boss for stopping by.
I had a courage of a man even as a kid then.
So sorry about the loss of your dad. Sometimes life can give us least of what we expect
Thanks boss.
That's life for you my brother.