[How should I break the news to her?]

I was scouring through my drawers searching intensely for my national id card. I felt something scruffy beneath, I dipped my hand further and pulled out a black envelope. I peered at it, I didn't know I kept it there. I unfolded the envelope and therein a picture, I flipped it over. It was the picture I and my Late brother had taken during a graduation ceremony; before my passing out from secondary school.

Memories snuck into my head. I heard a scream. The screaming became intense as I dropped down on the tiled floor, and lay on my back, my hands wrapped around my ear to subsidize the intensity of the scream. Tears trickled down my cheek. I peered at the picture, flashes of how the incident occurred replayed like a movie.

It was on 24th Monday 2014, a cozy morning. My mother and I were scrubbing the tiles of the sitting room.

When my brother came out of the room, dressed on a white uniform, tucked in ethically. A brown sandal to march and of course, his red school backpack strapped firmly to his back. "Mommy, I'm going to school!" He said adjusting his backpack

She squeezed the already soaked rag, dropped it on the floor and gave him a strange look.

" Which school? I thought your school is on midterm break?"

" No, we're excluded, SS3 students are to attend tutorials In Preparation for the upcoming WAEC."

She was still not convinced, she smelled theatrics but had to let go

He strode towards me, slouched and whispered. " it's a lie, i'm going to my crush's place at the Market. You know there na?" He smacked my head "Beside Amina's mother kerosine kiosk."

I shook my head in dismay as he shut the door behind me.

Hours later, my mother and I were outside cracking melons when we heard cries. People were running helter-skelter towards one direction leading to the tarmac. Then a woman came crying, her wrapper nearly fell off. My mother dropped her bowl of melon and rubbed her palm on her rappers.

"Your wrapper!" My mother alerted her.

The woman adjusted the wrapper, flung it around her waist and knotted it ethically.

"What happened?" My mother was still rubbing her hands on her wrapper.

"Its fire, its explosion,"

"Explosion! Where?,"

"At the market!"

"What happened?"

"A kerosine tank exploded in the middle of the market, see plenty people as dey rust like meat!"

"Nawa o, how manage?"

"Only God in heaven knows…all this fake kerosene way dey mix with chemical…."

"That's Nigeria,"

'I hope your children are safe? Where is Okaraga?" The woman asked.

"Oh, mtcheew he is safe. He went to school this morning, long before this incident."

Cold ran through my spine, as I staggered into the house. I dropped on the tiled floor, took out my phone, hands shivering. I finally suppressed the fear and dialed his number.

I felt my heart stop for a second as his number was not reachable - his phone was switched off. I quickly dialed the number of Mrs Aliyah's daughter, Amina, who happened to be a kerosine attendant next to where he intended going. Her number was also switched off.

I didn't want to disclose the secret so fast. Because my mother was hypertensive. Any shock could claim her life.

I ran into my room, locked it ,and dove on my bed. I cried my eyeballs out.

I could hear my mother's voice sympathizing, and praying for the hapless souls.

How should I break the news to her?

Mustystrange

Wat if he lied to u as he lied to ur mum...give him till daybreak.

donbachi:
Wat if he lied to u as he lied to ur mum...give him till daybreak.

really! he said he was going to see his crush. could that have been a lie?

Mustystrange98:
really! he said he was going to see his crush. could that have been a lie?

Yes

donbachi:
Yes

hmmm,find it hard to believe