Omari was lying on the hospital bed where he was receiving treatment. Earlier he had met with an accident which had left him in a coma. Doctors could not confirm whether he could wake up and make a full recovery.
Omari was into his third week of comatose when he had a dream. He was at the foot of a hill and he heard his father calling his name. He looked up and saw his father at the hill top, stretching his arm, offering his hand. His father was signalling to him to climb up and reach for his hand.
Omari was so elated to see his father, who had died ten years ago.
“Come up, my child,” said his father.
“Wait for me Dad. I’m coming up,” replied Omari.
Omari made an incredible effort to climb up the steep slope of the hill. He was almost there and his father persuaded him to grab his hand. When he almost touched his father’s hand, he slipped and slid down the hill.
At the precise moment, Omari opened his eyes and looked around. Then, his sister who was at his bedside, shouted, “Doctor, Doctor! Come! He has opened his eyes!”
The doctor rushed in and began to attend to Omari. “He has woken up from his coma,” the doctor said.
Omari looked around as though he was looking for someone. “Is Dad here?”
“Dad?” questioned his sister. “Of course he’s not. Why?”
“Dad was asking me to follow him and I almost reached him when I fell down.”
Omari’s sister went silent and after a few seconds, she said “ Luckily, you did not reach his hand. If you had, you would not have woken up. You would have joined Dad then.”

© autumnB