As the emotions subsided and numbness set reality began to creep up on her. Mum was gone and they were alone. Another unfamiliar face disrupted her chain of thought as woman clad in a multicolored zambia and red dhuku screamed upon seeing her face. She then frantically threw her arms around her neck before calling out loud incoherent phrases straight into her ear. This had become an all too familiar act. She had been instructed nanambuya to sit in the corner with her brother and it was there that every mourner passed 'kuzobata maoko'.
Although sitting quietly in the corner of a room filled with people Owen and Faith instinctively felt alone. Owen, now 10 years old, gripped her arm and rested his body on her shoulder. She felt the warmth of his skinny torso and once again, uncontrollably, tears began to flow down her cheeks.
"Zvino todii?"were there two words that kept coming to mind. Like a bad song on repeat where you aren't the DJ. These were the same words that her mother had yelled over and over and over again the day they had received news that baba had died on the spot in a car accident,
What shall we do now?
Mamas death had been so sudden. Faith never knew that complaints of chest pains could escalate and draw the life out of such a strong, vibrant, caring, loving and beautiful woman within hours. Ingawani I got sick and my leg swelled to the size of a tree trunk and for months I was in pain but I am still here?
Zvino todii?
She was a girl aged 17 and her world had suddenly changed.
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This piece was inspired by two children I met a few months ago. It is mostly what I imagined and the feelings that crept into my heart while I was speaking to them and when I thought about them afterwards.
Their story and reality was sad to say the least and I am not one to say I understand death and grief and all the issues that surround it but after encountering those two children one thing that stuck was that bold question...Zvino todii/What shall we do now? I wondered about how they were taking care of themselves and if at that time their tomorrow had been a question (When I met them they were living alone and upon asking what they did for food and school fees the response was that their uncles sometimes help them out.)
I began to think a bit more about that question and realized how applicable it can be in all scenarios. When you are faced with challenges and obstacles, when you find yourself in undesirable situations or even just where you are at in your life right now (be it a good place or a bad place) it is always a standing question.
What shall we do now?
What's next for your life, your career or your relationships? Life and time are an ever ticking process. Yes we have junctions and landmark moments as our days progress but as long as you are among the living the game never stops. So if its an obstacle you are dealing with, be it a heartbreak or failure chakakosha ndechekuti hauite stuck ipapo (Whats important is that you don't get stuck there).
Soo in conclusion whatever you are facing right now; be it that you recently graduated from University or got a new job or the love of your life just broke up with you or you may have even lost a loved one a good question to ask yourself is: "So what shall I do now?"
xoxo
Chido Dziva Chikwari
In the spirit of moving forward.
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