I am tired and breathing profusely from climbing the staircase.
The tiny unfit me walks in what seems like a hallway, but its just the unfinished, confusing balcony of a rental 'serene' apartment near my place.
I walk in and all I want is a pat on the back for making it so far.
But instead, I am sent downstairs to get bread and milk for the guest..Mind you, I am the guest.
The obedient niece goes down again and does as told...
Before long, my phone rings,
'Please pitia market and buy maembe, the coastal sweet kind, buy 2 and make sure they are ripe and eka pilipili'...as I am about to hang up she continues 'before nisahau buy that new yoghurt ya wild berries, I like it and juwa its your cash you using since umelipwa, thanks' and she hangs up.
I did buy all that.I loved my aunt and she knows how I look with my birthsuit, she is(was)my second mum since birth.
Wanja as we all called her was the displinarian to all of us.
She loved us big and beat us with the same magnitude.
She was the comedian and the one I could tell absolutely anything as I grew older.
When I was moving out from the comfort of my mums, she helped in choosing and buying things for my house..
She would boast of how hardworking and annoying I was.
She was calm but wild.
Sweet and crazy.
She was so many things and had so much positivity.
Fast forward, a week later,I get a call that she's at the hospital awaiting a detailed report for a severe headache.
I was calm as I thought its something that can be cured and therefore I went back my business only to be called the following morning to be informed of her demise.
I cannot explain how I felt. For a moment my brain froze.
Losing someone is something I can't explain, there is so much emotions involved..
People grieve differently especially my family.My mum and I did not see each other cause I didnt know how to react to her younger sisters death and so I locked my self in my house, became OCD and did the unthinkable.
I went only for the burial, came back and went back to work like everything was okay.
I never for once had a discussion about her death, I didn't want to know or revive the pain.
I have questions, anger, frustration of why she went so soon.But I am at peace for she is in a better place.
I can not put myself in the shoes of a grieving person but I can encourage them.
It is important to grieve but also surround yourself with love.
The Munyua's family miss her. I will live to remember that those two maembes and yoghurt conversation would be the last.
Dear aunt Wanja, Thank you for being loving, for living your life raising us and showing us the way.For being a mother to all of us.Your sarcastic way of correcting us always worked.I miss your jokes, laughter, crazy and roaring voice when we doing something wrong. Your sense of style was incredible.
I love and miss you but your memories remain.Can't wait to share them with my kids and laugh about it.
You were a blessing to us all.
Love, Imelda (or Rosie as you called me)
29|12|2018 You went to be with the Lord.
Credits: pictures from shutterstock.com
edited by Eunice Maina
