ANGEL OF DEATH

As the casket aisled down to the six feet underwater, Nyokabi’s life began to race through her mind. Thoughts of how life would have turned out differently if she had she been an ardent follower and activist in the Christian Union (or so she thought). At least the weekly Bible studies and keshas would have kept her away from the blissful night life in Nairobi. As a matter of fact, she recalled that Sunday afternoon when her mother invited women from their local church for prayer. The prayers were fiery and emotional as they drove the satanic spirit of ‘wasichana wa Nairobi’ away from God’s child. The demons were sent out to the pigs just like Jesus had done.

The lively nature of campus life thrilled her and she immediately forgot how she had earlier vowed to be either in class or sleeping. She would soon learn that there was no one to survey her daily routines and no one really cared whether you made entry to lecture halls or not. Rita, her newly found friend made strides to remove her rustiness element of ‘ushamba’and help her catch up with life. Daytime had now become sleep time and night was now the new day. She was now a common sight at Beetles.

Her networking skills were now better and her league was now focused to the Big so. Her taste for finer things mounted up and with her updated physical vitae, she knew it wouldn’t be long before she caught her bait.

Pete was an ambitious man. From the moment he graduated he knew he was set for a good life with all the good things life could offer. With funds flowing, he knew nothing could be a barrier to his targets. He had an eye for perfection and knew when perfect things passed by him. On that uneventful night as he drove his exhausted spirit away from the noisy town, he spotted Nyokabi strolling aimlessly with no particular destination. His offer to give her a ride was generously accepted.

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The chit chat got them talking and getting to know each other. As Nyokabi talked of her dreams, Pete smiled and convinced her that she was simply wasting beauty away for brains. So it was that, Nyokabi quit studies quietly and become first lady Pete. Her first 40 days were honeymoon. She was accorded charismatic love and showers of gifts.

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When she saw Rita again, 3 years were down the drain. Rita had turned to become an influential member of the state. Hers was a story of a streetwise person. Her networks had been based on getting to know who and who to upscale her career ladder. Nyokabi couldn’t help but wonder how deviated she had turned her world. She had now become an easy target for insults, mockery, and public humiliation and was now a committed member of domestic violence. Her bright apple face had now turned dull and sullen. That was the last day she ever saw the light of the day.

She arrived home only to meet the angel of death. He stood there arms across the chest demanding to know the ‘he- goat’ she was out with. Her endless defenses and claims that she was with her girlfriend were met with rains of slaps and boxing. “What did you lack here that made you make a step out of the compound? I warned you…..You thought you could disobey me and get away with it. Your friends are the house, the cat and the dog. What part of that statement didn’t you understand?” As he spoke he beat Nyokabi to the floor and even the screaming and wails couldn’t save her. The workers had heard such noises before and even though they felt for her, they could do nothing about it. They feared for their daily bread.

As she bled profusely and tears cascaded gently, she hoped for a miracle. Pete went to the laundry room. When he came back, he was much calmer and Nyokabi thought that her prayer had been answered. What she felt next was the worst pain that would lead her to death. Her body came into contact with a hot iron box and she was ironed through as she felt the smell of roasted meat. She took a last look at her body melting, another glance at Pete. She then saw her innocent self running to her mother for help. She called her, patted her, held her arm tightly but her mother sat motionless on her chair. She watched as Pete dragged her body into the car. She saw how mercilessly the body was dragged into the dirty sewers of Nairobi. She watched her body being moved involuntary by the raging waters.

She went and sat near her mother’s chair and smiled. She was now at peace that her miracle was answered. That’s when she breathed her very last.

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*Liz Nzembi*