I Just Hope You Find Peace

“Are you still mourning her? Is that why you called me for a drink by this time of the day?” Christian asked K when he arrived K’s place. K was seated on the floor already drinking. K was not someone to withstand alcohol. Judging from the two empty bottles, Christian could tell K was already drunk.

“No! I can never mourn my darling! Who mourns the living? I am drinking because that man is dead”. K said to Christian. Christian face palms himself. Why is it so hard for K to accept Lanre’s death even when he was the one who had witnessed it? Christian could not understand. He wonders if K was the only one who was attached to Lanre that he did not want to believe she is dead. It made him feel like he loved her less. The way K acts.

“Which man?”. Christian asked K skipping the part where he said he can’t mourn the living. He knew it would be meaningless trying to remind K that Lanre is dead.

“Your beloved uncle, His Excellency, Governor Johnson Adewale Adekunle”. K said calling out his father’s name in full. Christian looked at K questioningly not believing him. If the governor was dead, then it would have been on the news by now. Lagos would be on a standstill by now. But there was no such thing.

“Kehinde, I hope this is not madness? I hope you are not running mad?” Christian asked K. K smirked. He told Christian if he was confused he could ask for clarity on the matter rather than making assumptions.

“It was just a simple question”. Christian said. He rubbed his palm on his head.

“Omo, guy! Make I no lie, you de fear me (I would not lie, you scare me)”. Christian said yet again to K. K shook his head. He tried to stand up but landed right back on the floor where he was seated.

Christian offered to help K stand on his feet but K refused. He mumbled something like he does not need anybody’s help anymore.

“You are his favourite nephew from what I have realised. You should bury him on my behalf. I’m going out of the country”. K said to Christian. He tapped him on his chest. Then he gambled his way upstairs straight to his room. He was drunk, therefore the difficulty walking on his own.

Christian just watched K as he walked up the stairs. He feared he would lose control of his legs and fall, but he didn’t fall. It was a relief.

“I just hope you find peace one day and that you get to move on. I never knew you loved her this much”. Christian said. He didn’t get to say it to K’s hearing. He doubts if he did, K would even hear him. To him, K was losing it. He contemplated staying behind, but curiosity led him out of K’s house. He had to go see the Governor. He needed to know if it was the truth.

But then, when he got to the Governor’s resident, everyone was restricted from entering the house. It was an order that no one goes in, not even him.