Personal Narrative
It was precisely noon on Sunday that I remember receiving her call. Cooper had not called for about a week, and that was raising a lot of my tension. As soon as I touched on the accept tab, she ended it. I could not remember the last time that had happened since our entire friendship. Sunday is always a busy day for me. After spending 4 hours of worship, it is as if the mind had auto programmed that swimming is the next activity. I had already prepared to change into my swimming costume when I felt a vibration on my left knee. It was surprising that I remembered to carry on my phone on that day. Since the loss of my 17th birthday phone gift, I endeavored not to carry any valuables into the swimming pool. The vibration was irritating, and the car had not started. I decided to open my handbag to switch it off completely. Lo!
“You seem to be busy, not for my time. Let it be so! If you don’t mind, let my father speak to me.” She wrote it. I could not believe that Cooper could type that to me. I knew her to be the best friend and neighbor. After all, didn’t we go to the same school and class? Was I not nurtured in her home after the divorce of my parents? Well, I tried to call back. As if believing in inadequate network coverage, I called the second time in vain. My mood grew dull, and I restless. At least for the time, I was close to her, I never came across such in Cooper. Going to the swimming pool would be meaningless with my restless heart.
I still remember canceling my swimming appointment for the first time since I became the best in the national swimming team. By 7 pm, I felt giving up on the callbacks as they bore no results. No sooner had I entered my dark and fishy-smelling bedroom than I felt the vibration. It was Cooper calling. I couldn’t hear her but the crackling sound that resembled utensils in the kitchen sink. My temper had already picked up, but I tried to be different on that day. Even my Dad knows how cruel my heart turns to be when I am in anger. The fishy smell of my bedroom scared away from my sleep. The last time I experienced such a fragrance was in winter when I discovered a dead lizard in my wardrobe. Anything could have found its way into my room being away for two weeks. How can I deny that when the entire compound is bushy?
The crooking sounds of frogs used to mark the beginning of winter were no way to be heard on that day. I was now adapting to live without Cooper after two weeks of not seeing each other. The national swimming festivals held at Washington DC took one week. Besides, we had camped for one week before proceeding for the competition. During camping week, we could chat and talk as we used to be. However, on the second day of the competitions, Cooper resorted to sending texts with no call. It was unusual. Upon my intervention on her changing habit, she replied, “My Phone is getting some technical hitches, will get back soon.” With the immense trust in her, I believed in the statement. Nevertheless, her frequent posts on social media could not be seen anymore.
For about one week, Mr. Bleka, Cooper’s father, had not been seen in his home. One of my DadDad’s things about Pety, our house girl, was her great concern and observant character. On my arrival from Washington, she narrated all I could miss while away. However, Cooper’s whereabouts remained a mystery for the first in her interaction with Cooper. Pety and I ruled out Cooper’s possibilities of being kidnapped anywhere as her phone had been active, although no call ever became successful for one week.
As I lay on my bed, preparing for my evening devotion, a sound emanated from a distance, it was unusual. It was when the police forced into our compound to resolve the conflict between my father and mother that I heard that. It was my first time to sweat profusely in winter. By the time I woke up, the gate was already surrounded by the police. Had my father not been round, I would probably be on the ground fainted, the fear grew to its maximum that a bee enough to knock me down. My eyes caught up with three muscular, scaring police dogs as the best name I can too. Besides, the land cruiser stood two armed police officers. At the front, two police officers towed the sniffer dogs as they followed towards the periphery of our bushy compound. Everybody was astonished at this moment. Five minutes of the patrol was not over when everyone ran behind the house. By then, most of my neighbors had approached curiously to follow up on the police siren. The faster movement of the armed police towards the scene accelerated my fear. As I rushed with fear, my eyes caught up with a white wrapping, carried towards the gate. Pety had already fainted at the scene, and my father was escorted to the land cruiser.
It was until two days later that I came back into my conscious, not in my room, but in a hospital bed, surrounded by my friends from the swimming team. I did not elucidate that circumstance until my admission. But all I remember was the wailing by one of my neighbors, “Who did this to Cooper.” My life has never been the same since that day. One year down the line, I am still under severe depression. I quit swimming as it reminds me of the last moments with Cooper. My perception of life completely changed. I believe that justice prevails one day!