When All Hope Was Lost; He Saved The Day.

Death or "kicking the bucket" –as I like to call it– comes for everyone. Most times, we wonder why the good people or animals kick the bucket while the bad breeds are still running around, unharmed. I realised at a very young age that death is inevitable and we shouldn't be afraid of it, as it will still come when the time is due. Emphasis on the "due" because I've seen people go through very drastic accidents and come out without any scratch and I've also seen people die from very minor incidents.

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I was a science student in highschool but I disliked the subject physics. The first teacher who taught me physics made me dislike the subject because of his method of teaching. This dislike soon came to an end when I met Mr. Umoh Umoh in senior secondary two(SS2). Mr. Umoh Umoh was a gem and because of the red beads he always wore on his hands I assumed he was royalty. He was one of those teachers who knew his onions and he was always ready to guide and encourage students who were open and ready to learn.

In such a short time, Mr Umoh Umoh became like family to me. I would go to him whenever I needed advice or help of any form and with open arms, he would welcome me.
For the first time in my life, I started looking forward to physics lectures and to add to that, I sat in front of class for physics lectures! It was really an amazing change and it wouldn't have been possible without Mr. Umoh Umoh.

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Our mock preparatory exams were drawing nigh and by this time, I was very confident that I was going to ace the exams because Mr. Umoh Umoh had put physics into my bloodstream, hypothetically. The Friday prior to our physics exams on Tuesday was the last time I saw the man.

On Tuesday, I had this plan in my mind; "after writing physics exams, go to Mr. Umoh Umoh's office, gist with him and thank him for his unwavering guidance and support".

All science students were all smiles as the exams commenced. Thirty minutes into the exams, I saw an ambulance drive into school and three men alighted. I was wondering who was sick.

Few minutes later, I saw teachers coming out from the staff lounge. Some of them in dark shades and some of them with paper towels–wiping their eyes. I didn't read meaning to it because most of these teachers usually wore such sullen looks.

After my very exciting and easy physics exams, I stuck around for a few minutes to discuss with some friends how their physics exams were. As we were discussing, another friend of ours walked up to the circle and said and I quote;

"Mr. Umoh Umoh is dead". She said this with a very serious face. Honestly, I found that news very hilarious and so I laughed; we all laughed except her.

"How is he dead? I saw the man on Friday and he wished me luck during my exams. What do you mean by he's dead?".

She told us to look around. Teachers wearing sullen looks and pale faces, the ambulance, the tears and the change of the environment. I didn't believe this and so I went to ask another teacher by myself. The teacher confirmed this news and I totally broke down.

How? Why? What did he do to deserve this?!. I was so devastated and the question of "how did he die?" Came up.

The news that his younger brother who lives close to us told my mom was that, he was riding home on a bike, the bike swayed a bit, he fell off the bike and his head collided with the coltar but He was rushed to the hospital. At the hospital, he lost a lot of blood and he died that night.

Writing other subjects during exams was a very hard task to do because I was still very traumatised. The only thing that kept me going was the thought "Mr. Umoh wouldn't want me to fail and so, let me do this to honour him". For months, the school compound was filled with so much sorrow and tears. I can't remember for how long I cried but it was such a painful experience. Imagine your teacher dying a day before his exams are written?.

It was after his death that I found out that he was a distant relative of mine. I see why we had a good connection from the start.

After writing this article, I feel a bit off because of the many memories that keep flashing. In the little time I spent with him, one thing I know is that, Mr. Umoh Umoh left a mark in my heart, one that can't easily be forgotten.

This is my response the first week's prompt of the collaboration between #dreemport and Hive Memorial Forest community. You can find more information here.

^{I could not use Mr. Umoh's personal pictures for confidential reasons}

With love, wongi ✨