Fare thee well, my sister : An ode to the Duchess

Today I woke up and looked at my mobile phone, went straight to WhatsApp and looked at the group I created barely three weeks ago. The name of the group, ‘Duchess’ Baby shower 12th March’. Duchess, as we used to call her, was a nickname we gave to Christine, my sister-in-law.

Yes, she was our Duke’s Duchess. My brother Edward who baptised himself ‘Duke’ made sure our Duchess always had a smile on her face. That is why when Duchess conceived, both of them were all smiles as they waited for their bundle of joy. Like any other woman, Christine’s dream was to one day be a proud mother!

I remember her calling me when she was barely three weeks expectant just to break the news to me and we both did the happy dance. “Beryl, I am going to be a mother”, she whispered on the other end of the line and waited for my reaction.

I was silent for seconds as I looked for the correct words to express my joy. When I finally regained myself, I found myself responding with a song. “Nikikutazama, moyo wayoyoma, kipenzi cha roho....Ndakhuyanza!”

That was the song my brother played as he proposed to her two years ago on her birthday which falls on Christmas Day! This happened during our family gathering at my aunt’s place in Kisumu. Late in the night, as we sat around a bonfire making fun of each other, Eddy walked from the house, a cake in his hands followed by three of my cousins, they call themselves ‘Brotherhood’.

They walked towards us singing and dancing to the famous Swahili love song and we joined in as Christine thought we were celebrating her birthday as we always did every year.

Before she knew it, Eddie was on his knees proposing. Now, to cut the long story short, these two lovebirds wanted so much to live happily ever after, just like Cinderella. So when they learnt they were expecting their first child, they could not hide their joy.

The more reason we created a WhatsApp group to surprise Christine with a Baby Shower which was to happen today. Unfortunately, instead, we are seated under this scorching sun listening to speeches as we give her the final sendoff.

Today, we send her back to our maker, as if that is not enough, sadly, together with her baby Reign. Reign came to this world and lived just for three days. A day later, Christine joined him. All in the name of birth-related complications.

Bringing forth life should never be as risky as it is in today’s world. Why does it have to be a matter of life and death when all it should be giving us is perfect happiness? The number of days we camped outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hoping to go back home with baby Reign and Christine cannot be forgotten. If tears could bring back life, I am sure they both would have risen immediately they died because for sure we have cried our eyes sore.

I would never wish this feeling to anyone, not even an enemy. That’s why I will faithfully participate in the First Lady Half Marathon for as long as it exists. Yes, I have never dedicated myself to any marathon because I sure know how slow I am, but this one I must run even if I find myself alone on the track, I will soldier on to the finish line.

Today I will delete this WhatsApp group because we no longer have a baby shower. Instead, we ushered our Duchess together with Baby Reign to heaven. Dear God, open the flood gates of heaven and receive them. We mourn our Duchess!

Christine, we love you even in death. We cry, not because you are gone, but because we will miss you. That smile, that unique voice that only Eddy tapped into! Go yee in peace our love. Sleep in perfect peace. Our Christmases will never be the same again! The Itindis are missing you already Mama Reign. Baba Reign misses you too.