I NEED YOU

I NEED YOU

I woke up with a start… something was not right, I looked around, everything seemed all right but I had this feeling that something was amiss somewhere and I could not place it. That thought made me feel uneasy.

I took my bath, got dressed and all set to go out, looked into the mirror and winked at myself. I was set to go out. I was going to dazzle them today at my presentation. I took a quick check at my laptop and slideshow pointer. Everything was in place. I had forgotten to wear a cologne so I went back into the bedroom. Soon I was all set to start the day. I opened the door and went outside.

That was when I saw it.

I realized what I had been missing. It was all clear. Everywhere was uneasily quiet and there was no one in sight.

Not a single soul.

Everything seemed to be normal except that no one could be seen.

I wanted to take a cab to my destination, but no one was present. I saw my neighbors’ cars parked along the street with their car keys in their ignition.

That was strange.

I looked around and waited for a cab but it appeared as though none was about coming. I tried calling my friends who had cars to come pick me up but there was no network. I was literally stranded.

I went into my neighbor’s room and was about knocking but it appeared as if he was expecting me because his door was open so I went in. when I entered the living room there was no one. The TV was on and on static. I was sure he left in a hurry because everywhere was scattered. So I decided to borrow his car. So I wouldn’t be late for my presentation.

I turned on the ignition and the engine came to life then I left. No one was still in sight. I drove past different petrol stations and saw that their metres were all turned on but there was no fuel attendant.

I made it to the venue of my presentation on time but alas, there was no one present.

I was scared silly. I became frantic.

Where was everyone?

I was the only human on the planet….. for a moment I thought I had been kidnapped into an alternate universe by some aliens and I was the only human in that universe. I was ALONE. I had all the resources on earth at my disposal but I was alone.

I was scared. I tried to run but it appeared as though a very strong magnetic force held me down. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t scream, I wanted to shout but couldn’t.

I woke up from the dream with a start!

You didn’t guess right…. I am not onto the subject of sleep paralysis, that would be a topic for another day.

When I got up, I sat on my bed and wondered how I would have lived my life all alone in that universe I had found myself in my dream.

I realized all the importance I felt about myself was because there were other people on earth. There cannot be a doctor without a patient, or a  leader without a follower. We all need each other.

Please when next you go out, place great value on that okada rider, or the cobbler, or the hawker in your street. Without them, your importance is nothing.

Humanity should remain at the centre stage of everything we do. We should place more value on our fellow humans and drop the air of importance many of us walk around with.

I feel heart broken when I see people disrespect those that are lower than them, like their gatemen. Or treat people with disdain.

“If I finish dealing with you, you will know who I am”…. “ I will show you my real colours”……. “who do you think you are?”……. “ Do you know who I am?”

Let’s all remember that in the end, we are nothing but skulls and bones. Let us always have this consciousness when dealing with people. That way, we would realize that without the woman in the village who wakes early in the morning to go to the farm, grind, peel and wash cassava, we wont have our well sought after eba  or akpu, and that without the women who wake early to sweep the streets or the people who make it their duty to remove the wastes, we would all be swarming in filth.

A chain is as strong as its weakest link. We truly need each other, we should regard each other as we regard ourselves.

I realized from that dream a very big lesson…. And I will never forget it…. I NEED YOU.

Thank you.