The Life And Times of John Kaiza

The lilies at the edge of the picket fence surrounding the cemetery were waving in the chilly morning breeze - as though they too were saying goodbye. From a bird’s eye view, one would think that there was a black smudge in the neatly manicured grass inside the cemetery. Jerome stood beside his mother and clamped her with his arms trying to support her. She fought her tears, but from behind her shades, they dripped. From time to time she choked on her muffled cry, breaking the eerie silence. Cassie stared on blankly. She had been in a trance of disbelief for the past nine days. She held herself tightly behind Jerome. “It’ll be alright mother…” He muttered in her ears, “…all will be well, I promise!” telling her - and himself. One of his uncles put his hand over his shoulder. Jerome slowly looked back at him and he nodded. Jerome nodded back. He had not cried. He had not slept. How could he? At twenty five, he still could not fully comprehend what had just happened. No life experience h...

Everything he has been doing this evening has been deliberate. The moment was nigh. Tonight the stars might just align perfectly for him. Everything he has been doing this evening has been for this moment. He has been searching for the right knife because today, he might just reach out to heaven and cut himself a slice. The moon is barely visible. Thick clouds bully it. The sky dons a rather unappealing purple. But, Mother Nature and her sometimes-over-glorified may as well raise hell and still would not be able to stop what is about to happen. Tonight is the night! Earlier he had rushed home from work to prepare dinner. His pad was in a bit of a mess, so he hurriedly put it in order after he placed some chicken wings in the oven. He had hidden some of his dirty laundry and rugs in the storage room. His apartment has a great view of the city’s skyline. At night, lights from downtown Nairobi make his view just a little bit more breathtaking. When it comes to women serenading women, his ...