59 Hereafter

Ego was pulled out of her thought by a panic cry from one of her maids; who shouted "He is alive oh! Ndubisi is alive! He came back from the land of the dead!" Shocked, surprised and excited; Ego hurried to where he previously lay dead to meet Ndubisi sitting upright, looking around like someone new to the environment. She couldn't believe her eyes, he is really back, Ndu is alive once more. How is that even possible? She was about to touch just to be certain she wasn't seeing things when she heard from behind "Don't touch him till we are certain what just happened. This man is dead and is supposed to remain that way. This has never happened; no one guilty has drunk from the calabash lived to tell the tale. Why is your case different? Did you stage what just happened too?" he asked Ndubisi who was gently rubbing his left eyes and as such didn't reply the dibia.

"Bia, I'm talking to you young man!"Okemmiri yelled.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't stage anything" he responded still not focused.

"Then how is it possible you are still in the land of the living?"

"I have been offered a second chance at life by the gods"

"How do you mean offered a second chance at life? Why would a person like you be offered that?" Okemmiri inquired now running out of patience.

"It is clear to me I don't deserve to be here; I'm the last person that merits a second shot at life but here we are. What do you want me to do?"

"Well, you can start by telling us how you cheated death?" Okemmiri asked impolitely.

After a deep breath, Ndubisi began narrating his romance with death. "After I drank from the calabash, I lost control of my body and something took over; like I was possessed by a spirit. I felt my mouth moving, making speeches but can't remember a single word I said. Moments after, I began having various waves of unspeakable measures of pain in my stomach.

It felt like someone was pulling my intestines and when I could take the hurting no more I fell sideways hitting my head against the cold ground while a warm substance streamed out my open mouth. I began sinking into unconsciousness, feeling very cold, relaxed no need to struggle any further for air, no cause for alarm, no pain of any kind, totally at peace. Everything grew dark around the edges until there was only blackness.

Then I felt something coming right out of my body like someone slowly pulling a plant out of the wet earth till I was out of myself, feeling weightless, floating in a vertical position with my arms outstretched and my head resting on my left shoulder in the air like a feather been toss by a soft wind.

Most of my senses were now a hundred times better; I could see everyone and hear everything. It was like been born to a brand new world, not as an infant but as a knowledgeable, and understanding being. I looked down at myself and immediately knew I was dead. I looked around to discover that I was not being mourned by anyone instead my death was celebrated. I felt pained. I went over to Ego, wanting to alert her and apologize for all the wrong I had caused her but my hands past through her like I was merely a shadow or the reflection of sunlight. Baffled, I took a look at my palm, it was translucent; I could dimly see through it. I screamed her name but she also couldn't hear me.

Pulled by a strange force, I found myself in a small boat with a strange ferryman in front. I couldn't see his face; he never turned back or said anything. The boat was moving gently as the ferryman was paddling gracefully. The river stretched to as far as the eyes can see on all sides; no trees or plants beside or beneath it. It had no life in it, no insects or birds flying or singing, no fishes or any other form of life beneath. It was really quiet and eerie. There seem to be no current or breeze blowing as I felt none. It was obvious I was crossing over to the land of the dead but I seemed not to be bothered by it. It felt like returning home to my family after a long journey.

Next, I went through a past-life review. Important events of my life were played in fast flashes right in front of me. I didn't quite understand the significance of all the events that were shown to me, but I'm sure they were of some importance. I saw when I was just given birth to; I could feel the joy and happiness my parents felt just holding me in their hands. I saw the day I told my father I wasn't interested in running the family business; I experienced the hurt and disappointment it caused him.

I relived the moment I accidentally killed the wrestling champion of Umudibia; I was filled with remorse and self-reproach wishing I could go back and just let things slide. I also lived over the pleasant moments I spent with Ego; it brought me great pleasure and filled my heart with joy which wearied away when I remembered I will never set my eyes on her again, will never experience her uncommon love again. I knew this was already enough punishment.