Anchor

10:40 am (Moscow Time)

Boma had just finished her last exams and was calling her uncle on FaceTime to let him know. She knew he would be on his toes during the entire time. "I am officially a graduate" she squealed in delight when Uncle Charles picked her call. The delight on Uncle Charles' face was out of this world, he told Boma " I am going to host a party this night, my brother and your mother must be hosting a party in heaven, while I keep it raining down here. "Boma, you have made me and the whole family proud. My daughter, your light can never be extinguished. I know you would do greater exploits. By the way like I earlier told you I have already paid for my flight ticket, we are working to see if Uncle Nath can also get his visa. Speak to your mum." He made a little space for his wife Cordelia so she could be in the center. Cordelia could be heard telling him to shift more but Charles obviously wasn't having it. "Boma you can see what I have to put up with everyday with your uncle, she laughed. He has been speaking to you but he doesn't even want me to have my own time with you. I am so proud of you my baby, as I speak aunty Iye is preparing Asun and good goat meat pepper soup. Your uncle isn't leaving any stone unturned. It's a serious party" Wow, you guys are throwing a full blown party over there, Boma said. This isn't even the main party, Charles said, this is just a little get together. It's not easy for one's daughter to graduate as a first class student. I believe you did great and I hope fervently that the CGPA will remain perfect! Smile for me my Boms! He said. Boma plastered a huge smile on her face "Uncle, I will talk to you later, I want to catch up with my friends" she said and they bade each other farewell. Boma hurried off to visit Olga in the hospital. Olga was Boma's tutor and mentor. Boma learnt the skill of knife throwing and also shooting from Olga. Olga just had a mastectomy and was just recovering. The mastectomy was a preventive one as Olga had a high risk of getting breast cancer. Upon her doctor's recommendation Olga decided to do a total mastectomy. She also had an immediate breast reconstruction. When Boma arrived Olga's ward, she noticed that Olga's brother Dmitry and his family were in her ward. She exchanged pleasantries with them all and dropped her flowers. A doctor entered and from his conversation, Boma learnt that Olga would be monitored intensively for 6-8 weeks. After spending some time with Olga and her family she promised to return the next day. That night, Boma had a very terrible nightmare, she hadn't dreamt this dream in a while and it came with a terrible headache. She managed to make her way to the cabinet in the toilet to get some aspirin and water. She was back in bed in a jiffy but after a futile attempt to get some more sleep, she decided to do some yoga exercise. For more than three weeks, Boma was constantly going to the hospital to see Olga. By the end of the third week, Olga was discharged from the hospital. On getting home, Olga's housekeeper Ms. Stephanie was down with the flu so she decided to stay behind to help Olga. That evening Olga asked that they stay outside in the garden as she'd been indoors for so long. She craved the cool night breeze. After a short while in the garden, Olga fell sleep and Boma used the blanket to cover her for warmth. The garden reminded Boma of her home back in Nigeria, her parents' garden was bigger and had a different outlook but the smell of the flowers and plants made it feel like home to her. She wished her parents were still alive. Unfortunately, they were no more. She heaved and muttered "Very Soon".