Had it been that the dead tell tales, I’m very convinced that what we presuppose about life hereafter maybe far fetched from what actually it is or ought to be.
No! I was meaning to opine that what necessitates untimely death (suicide) might be entirely different from what we believe it is. We, often times, dwell on the immediate causes of suicide, forgetting or tucking to the corner, the remote causes.
Allegorically, let’s take into account the story of Chike, divinely rescued from an attempted suicide. Born into the family of four, Chike occupied the third position. His uncles and aunts were well-to-do, but his father.
Ordinarily, one would imagine that it has not all gone awry with Chike’s lofty prospects; going to school, and becoming one of the indispensable alleviators of their disdainful poverty level, having relatives (uncles and aunts) who were notably affluent.
No! That was not the case; it was ‘to your tenth oh Isreal!’ Chike frequented the homes of these wealthy relatives of his just to solicit school fees, but didn’t get any in return. They only made lines of unfulfilled pledges to him. Resorting to his immediate family, there was nothing better off either. His elderly siblings scarcely saw to their own needs let alone those of Chike.
What eventually happened to Chike? He had a burning desire; to become a better person, but totally ran out of options. On one unusual afternoon, when he saw that everyone had gone out of the house, but him, he took a thick and long rope to their backyard; just to end it. Prior to that, he had written a suicide note which read: “I ran out of options”. It was almost a concluded deal, but for his elder brother whom fate brought back home under the guise that he forgot something. He met Chike swinging to-and-fro on the rope suspended from their roof. He almost breathed his last before the accidental rescue. When his story went viral, helps started coming from far and near; friends and foes. His mean uncles and aunts all vowed to take him abroad for his studies. What a pity party!?
Arising from the above, however, what happens in/with life hereafter? If Chike had died, where would he had gone to? What could have been his testimony about his death? What would have friends and relatives believed to be the cause(s) of his death? Would they have said that he was so irresponsible to have ended his own life? Or that the boy was meant to end that way; that he’s been so predestined? It’s all uncanny, you know?
Those presuppositions, therefore, are just the immediate causes of the attempted suicide. The remote causes dwell largely with his uncles and aunts who apparently had all it takes to sponsor Chike, but remained dodgy.
PS: Those younger sisters and brothers of yours wallowing in abject poverty, but you have all it takes to help them, why not do something today? Do you prefer pity party? What about your counsins and even neighbors, can’t you help? Unfortunately, these days, people prefer typing ‘RIP’ to ‘Happy birthday’.
OVA-Onele Victor Afamuefuna 
This is a finely carved story. Whether fictitious or non-fictitious. What the author does in this story is akin to what a sculptor does, chiselling an effigy from a piece of wood. However, it’s one out of numerous tears-evoking stories average Nigerian passes through, if not prevalent in Africa as a continent.
Many destinies are lying fallow, courtesy of unfriendly relatives one gird around self and tightwad syndrome. Nobody schemes his death, untimely or timely —as mang perceived aged people’s departure.
Given the foregoing, the immediate cause of attempted suicide of Chike is the deaf ears his relatives paid to his education. Chike in this short story isn’t only the central character. Chike is here. He’s there. In every nook and cranny. Chike is every ambitious person crippled financially.
Thanks for the wonderful piece.
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Thanks so much for your wonderful response, Ben. Indeed, we have victims of the same fate lying here and there.
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This is very apt. Thank you for putting up this content, which has the capacity of reviving the already lost empathy on the part of mankind.
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You’re welcome, brother. Thanks for dropping by.
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It’s true that death is inevitable but this same death could be curtailed. You have wrote carefully from imaginative observations of our pitiable society.
This message would go a long way to encourage our brothers to always come to the aid of their relatives when need arises , it’s disheartening how many people have resolved into celebrating misfortunes to fortunes, many today are interested saying RIP so easily to a brother who died of help which could have been offered by anyone.
Pity party Indeed!
In all nothing is worth dying for, no state of mind, or depression that deserves the thought of Sucide.
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Thanks a lot for your observations, brother.
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You said a fact here sir, keep up your good work.
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Thank a lot for dropping by, dear brother.
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I’m personally blessed with this write up
More grease to your elbow Sir vik
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Thanks so much, brother.
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Nice write up, you remind me of the Nigerian movie titled “Died Reached”
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Chai!
Thanks for dropping by, sir.
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Indeed, our generation prefer RIP to happy birthday. This is also a generation whereby one would spend millions of naira in the name of giving mum or dad a befitting burial, whereas the deceased died of hunger. Keep the candle burning my scholar.
Well done!
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You just nailed it, scholar.
Thanks for dropping by.
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Nice write up from a great personnel.. I pray this touches those who are suppose to be to help to others in one way or the other… God bless you my Amiable n impeccable🙌😂
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I truly pray so as well.
Thanks so much for your observations, comrade🤝.
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