FLASHFICTION

By James-Ibe Chinaza Davina

HELLBOUND

The Heart rate monitor began beeping irregularly, and my sight was getting distorted, my feet were cold and the tip of my fingers were a mixture of purple and blotchy blue. I knew I was dying, my life didn’t flash before my eyes, at least I didn’t get to watch something as horrid as it was – my life.

I knew My Mother would rush to get a priest to pray for my soul before I died, I also knew it would be Father  Bernard, and I wanted my breathe to expire before he arrived. It seemed as if Death was feeling guilty for trying to steal me from the punishment I deserved, it kept drawing me back and forth languidly, toying with my existence.

Father Bernard walked in with Mama who was immediately relieved that I wasn’t dead yet. 

‘Father, here’s my son, the doctors say he has only a few hours left. There’s nothing else we can do. Please bless his soul; I cannot bear to not meet my only child in the afterlife.’ She wiped off a few tears with the sleeve of her favorite chiffon dress.

‘Mama’ I said, trying to keep my eyes open and focused on her, ‘Could. You. Please. Leave us. Alone?’

‘o-kay, If that’s what you want. I don’t know when you’ll leave Alfonso…I love you and God bless your soul.’  

I knew she would sit at the foot of the door and weep till her voice was hoarse and I wanted to ask God to comfort her, But Father Bernard’s presence reminded me that I was the last person who should ask a favor from God, a filthy criminal that I was. 

‘Let us pray Alfonso, In the name of the Father, the…’

‘I killed your sister Father, I also made sure she didn’t die a virgin. I’m not sorry for these awful things I did, and I will not let you pray for my soul. I won’t ask for forgiveness because I don’t deserve it. I’m sorry I’m dying this way- being let off easy.’ 

I could literally see Father Bernard pass through the five stages of grief in between his sign of the cross.

‘…Son and the Holy Spirit, A-a-men.’ 

His voice was convulsive like there was a Tremor in his throat and he tried so hard to fight back his tears, and the flickering anger mixed with the pleasant memories of his younger sister.

‘I’ll pray for you Alfonso, not for your soul. I want you to live a little longer to feel the graveness of what you have done, to know that the human life is sacred. Close your eyes.’ 

‘But father….’

‘Close. Your. Eyes! Close it or I’ll help you out!... I’m sorry for yelling, now let us pray; Lord Jesus, the only begotten son of the Almighty, look down with mercy upon this young mister, intercede for him to Your Father, do not let his soul perish in disbelief. Please grant him more time to realize and regret. Give him enough time to be saved, For I know you would leave the ninety-nine in the fold to search for the hundredth, the lost and the faithless. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen…. Say Amen Alfonso…’

Silence. Just a drawn out beep. 

‘Alfonso?’ ‘Alfonso!’

(Alfonso is Dead, POV changes)

Father Bernard would never tell me what my son did. But he also didn’t know that I was listening at the door right till Alfonso’s last breath, my heart in crumbs like his favorite chocolate waffles when he was a kid. 

I knew things started going wrong when I sent him to a boarding school. His change was swift, like a light bulb switch, off and on, good to bitter, bitter to bad. But I chose never to notice, After all I was dealing with a lot as a single abused wife. Can I even call that an excuse for letting my son perish?

His heart failed him, his soul might do so too. 

The only Good news is, I just might meet him in hell.

                                                                                

James-Ibe Chinaza Davina, aged 18, a 100 level student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, who wants to look at the world in a way it has never been viewed before.