Hello everyone! I’m back again with another story but not horror this time. This story has two different endings in my head but I want you all to create yours. Just a little advice, please don’t forget to “Live” your life for you and stay healthy. Share, subscribe and comment. Enjoy!
– Ayokunle
“You needn’t die happy when your time comes, but you must die satisfied, for you have lived your life from the beginning to the end . . .”
—Stephen King, The Dark Tower
Everyone has that constant pressure to succeed. Everyone has that constant voice either external or internal bugging you to be the best. I don’t believe anyone actually wants to remain mediocre. Search yourself, search deep down. I do not think anyone actually wants to be below average.
I had always been a hard worker, a perfectionist. I never thought I was born ordinary. Society called it pride when I was younger but when I became a teenager, it was confidence. My parents always pushed me to be the best in whatever I did and I never faltered. My childhood was a triangle of summer lessons, watching educative cartoons and a never ending competition between I and my 4 sisters on who was the best daughter and it made my parents happy.
My hands started shaking and I didn’t even know when the phone I was holding dropped.
“Are they here yet?” I whispered to Lara. She nodded her head. She held my hands tight and I could see the tears in her eyes.
” They will come soon Ally” she reassured. I zoned out again. I had lived all my life for my parents. Always trying to get all the awards and rub in my sisters faces. I remember the day I didn’t make the track and field team in high school and my twin sister did. My parents got her one of the latest phones that year but got me nothing. That was the Last time my twin ever got more than I did. The next year, I made sure I ran 2km every morning.
“They aren’t coming Lara” my voice cracked. “I am probably their biggest disappointment”the tears gathered but I smiled. I was lying down on the hospital bed and I had finally come to terms that i was going to die. It was after I slumped while giving a presentation at the office that I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It’s been 2 years in and out of the hospital, in and out of the country but It was too far spread. I couldn’t even look at myself anymore. I was basically a shadow of the once lively Allison that got all the awards she could get her hands on. I had lost my hair, my cheekbones were very pronounced and I was depressed.
At 29,i was the Co CEO of an advertisement firm that had multiple branches all over Nigeria. I was listed in the Forbes under 30 richest Africans. I worked 9 to 9 every day even Sundays and I had no time for personal relationships. Lara was once my employee but gradually became the sister I wish I had.
In the last month, I had been on hospice care. Doctors had done their best, they left the rest to God. Lara stayed with me through out all my pain and suffering but my parents were too cowardly to see their dying daughter. My sisters came just once and called when they could.
My money meant nothing now and my name meant nothing now. They couldn’t save me from the end. I seeked God alot during these last 2 months and I found him. It was hard to accept my fate at first but I was glad I was going to a place where I was loved and not used.
” Please take me outside” my breathing had become difficult but I wanted to walk around and hear the Aboki sell suya or Àsun one last time. I would miss Nigeria: the heat, the owambe’s and the noise.
Lara and the nurse held me together once we were outside. I breathed in and out and allowed them to let me walk alone. I walked to the Àsun joint and asked for one plate. It would soon be time. I could feel it. I started getting cold and quickly went to sit on a bench. I had dropped a letter for my family and my book would be released as soon as I was gone. All my money and assets would be given to charity. I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore and it almost felt like I slumped but soon it became dark until I heard a voice
“Allison”.
