Yes I have!

In 2008, I experienced a tragic loss when my uncle's wife, who was like a mother to me, passed away. On that fateful day, I was scheduled to join them at the farm. As a young person or youth there is a common practice in African homes during vacation to help clear our parents' farms, upon that I was not with them on the farm that day . However, upon arriving, I found the farm deserted except for some food under our tent. Unsure if it was meant for me, I called out, and to my surprise, my uncle's wife answered. She mentioned the food was for me, so I began eating.

Suddenly, a man arrived who is my uncle’s friend, aware of my uncle's wife's labour pains earlier that day, because she was pregnant and was due to deliver in that month. When I mentioned my uncle's wife had provided the food, he panicked but didn't reveal the severity of the situation. He left without informing me of her condition. Oblivious to the unfolding tragedy, I continued waiting, expecting her arrival, when the man was there, she did not respond to my call.

When she finally answered after the man had left, her voice seemed normal, reassuring me to proceed ahead while she caught up. Unbeknownst to me, she had already passed away. The news hit me like a thunderbolt when I reached town, contradicting the reassurances I'd received moments earlier. Confusion engulfed me as I grappled with the sudden loss and the conflicting messages I'd received, I didn’t believe it, so I decided to go back to the farm to prove everyone wrong, but never hear from her again or meet her since that day.

To this day, I remain haunted by the unanswered questions and the surreal nature of that day. I wonder if anyone else has experienced such profound confusion and loss. It's a story of grief, disbelief, and the lingering impact of uncertainty on my life and no one has ever believed me.