My Father sits on his rocking chair staring in the distance as tears well up in his eyes.
I have never seen him this way.
Something must be wrong.
I march into the house only to be greeted by an air of mourning. My mother and sister are wailing uncontrollably as our neighbors console them.
"Take heart Mama James." One of them said pitifully.
Take heart? What happened?

"You happened."
* * *
I stood at the bus stop waiting for a bus heading to Victoria Island as a tall, dark skinned man came to stand close to me. The interview tension building up in my chest did not make me see how suspicious he looked. I noticed my shoe lace was a bit loose even though I had dressed to perfection that morning.
"I need to nail this job interview." I said to myself.
I felt someone tug the bag hanging on my shoulder as I bent to tie my shoe lace. The tall man was seen running away with my bag which contained my credentials and laptop.
This couldn't be happening to me, not after a year of being without a job. I ran after him as fast as my legs could carry me.
A red car drove swiftly behind me but I failed to see it as I ran across the road.
The last thing I remembered was the voices of passers-by screaming.
* * *
"I don't understand." I reply the young man standing close to me.
He is dressed in an all white ensemble.
Who is he? What is he doing here?
"I'm here to lead you to the afterlife." He answers.
How did he hear my thoughts? I wonder in bewilderment.
"Afterlife?" I ask,
"Yes, because you are dead." He mouths the word 'dead' in slow motion.
Dead? I don't believe it.
I run to my mother, "Mama, your James is here." I cry as I try to wipe the tears off her face but my hands went right through. I look at my hands and body. Blood stains surround my stomach area. I am still wearing the suit I borrowed from Tunde, my friend.
Now I remember, the accident.
I haven't gotten a job yet, bought a car or even gotten married.

"It is time." The man in white says, disrupting my thoughts.
* * *
"Don't you have an interview today?" Mama yelled as she yanks the cover cloth off my body, waking me up.
"Interview!" I scream.
© Conteh Sama