Last Moments Of A Thief

As I lay on my bed, eyes staring upwards into the semi-darkness, gradually getting accustomed to the semi-darkness,

I could make out a faint silhouette of my old, rickety chair, the only piece of furniture in this shack called a room.

I groped for my torchlight beside my mattress and pointed it in the direction of the clock. It was 6 am; the new day had begun.

I could hear the faint rustle of leaves as the birds chirped to signal the resumption of a daily routine of nest building.

I could hear my neighbors stirring to activity in preparation for a new day.

I rose lazily, picked up my old bristly toothbrush, rubbed some salt on the well-worn bristles, went outside to brush my teeth.

I came in afterward, picked up my iron bucket, went to the water tap that served the whole compound, fetched some water with which I took my bath.

threw my threadbare shirt over my back, slipped into my worn-out trousers, slipped my feet into sandals that had seen better days I stood at my doorsteps, looked ahead, not looking at anything in particular.

I just stared into space; the tears welled up in my eyes because all I could see around me was wretchedness.

The future looked bleak, all I could see was poverty all around me.

I had nothing to look forward to flicked the tears away with my bony wrists and trudged out with no destination in mind, I approached the market place.

“Phil’, I turned as I heard my name.

I saw my friend, John, running toward me.

There was this look he had on his face, the look of a man who had just struck gold.

He took me aside and led me into a secluded place.

Looking sneakily from left to right to see if anyone else was there.

Seeing none, he reached into his underpants and brought out something. “Oh my God!”

I screamed below my breath. “A gun!” He hushed me.”

“I want you to accompany me somewhere”, he said.

I obliged. We trudged along until we arrived at a neighborhood.

We approached a house in that neighborhood.

John signaled for me to wait outside for him. He went in. One minute, two minutes, 5 minutes, “Thief! Thief! Thief!”

I heard the screams coming from inside the house. I saw John spring out with the speed of a bullet from the house.

What the, He whistled past me before I could say a word.

I was in a daze, transfixed to the spot. Before I could gather my wits together,

I saw the mob advancing toward me with machetes, wielding big sticks and clubs.

I could see the anger, I could see the hatred in their eyes, I could feel it seeping through their pores.

I could see that they were hungry for blood. I tried to run but it was too late. The angry crowd had closed in on me.

Blows descended on me. I could feel sticks, machetes, and clubs punding on my head, neck chest, Ewwww! my legs, I 1ooked around for a way to escape, I saw none.

I could feel my blood flowing freely down my face, into my mouth, all over my body.

I was in so much pain.”Burn him”, I heard a voice say.

Out of nowhere, vehicle tires appeared, they were put around my writhing body. ”Petrol please”,

I heard another voice ask. I felt a cold liquid poured all over me, I could see someone strike a match in that split second, my whole life flashed before me;

I could see my mother on her deathbed, asking me to stay off bad friends.

“Bad friends corrupt good manners, my son”, I could hear her saying.

I could see myself as a child, playing happily with not a care in the world Suddenly, the air smelled fresher, the grass looked greener,

I became very aware of my surroundings and alas, I knew I wanted to live. tried to spring up and run but it was too late was enveloped by flames,

I tried to free myself but I was too weak to help myself.

The heat was unbearable. The flames leaped and licked at me with increasing ferocity, searing my flesh.

In that instant, I knew the end had come.

I felt a numbness creep up on me even in the intense heat.

Gradually, the noises were fading, my eyes dimmed as a very heavy sleep took me over then all I could see was darkness, darkness, darkness.