A RARE ACT.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon, I had just managed to survive the ordeal at the market and happy that I was on my way to board a bus back home.

I stood under the scorching sun with the heavy polyethylene plastic bag which made no effort to show it was heavy, I was famished, so hungry that it would have been possible for me to finish a trailer load of food and still request for more. My legs were begging me to find somewhere to sit, they too I bet were hungry, I didn't want to move as I felt my position was the most advantaged to get a seat when the time arrived to scramble for a space in the bus, the others too hung around, taking a "stance" they all felt would get them seats in the bus. We were all earnestly praying for a bus to come soon.

I had just turned to my right to see if my prayers had reached the third heavens when I saw it. obviously, I wasn't the only one who saw it, the others too had seen it as well, much earlier than I did, I guess... the scattered sounds of their feet said it all as they took to their heels; EVERYONE but me, it was already too late for my feet to respond. At that point, I didn't think the memory would register but the incident is still as fresh as a new day in my mind, getting newer by the wake of each dawn.

I could see it coming at great speed just like an angry dog whose fetters had just been let loose aiming specifically for me or more accurately, it came like a released bullet, as if I had offended it, it's horns blaring non-stop as if it wanted to show that it wasn't a party to the act....

The road on the other hand made no attempts to hold it, they merely looked on, they were already used to it. The red lorry had lost it's brake and

was eager to destroy all and everything on it's path, everything including ME....

I knew I couldn't escape being crushed and I think the people knew it too, the "Oh my God." was really loud it hurt my eardrums, it was as loud as a music could get with earphones on.

I think my brain heard it as the hairs on my hands stood up in response.

The bag I had once complained of being heavy felt rather light; so light that I didn't even notice it when it fell.

As sweats poured on; my heart beating louder than a stereo, the only thoughts in my head were flashes of dreams yet unaccomplished, seeing I would never get the chance to attempt any, let alone fulfil all, I saw the faces of loved one; my tears couldn't be held at bay....

It felt like it was all happening too slow, in slow motions, like my legs still had all the opportunity in the world to move and yet they didn't. Again, it felt like it was happening way too fast, as if those same legs knew that they wouldn't be able to make it even if they tried. In the end, it felt like fate had already concluded my story.

I knew it too; knowing there was nothing left for me to do, I closed my eyes bidding my maker to accept me.

When my eyes finally opened, I was hoping to see "white lights" just like in the movies. Instead, I felt claustrophobic, the crowd had swarmed around me, I was honestly gasping for fresh air. As they gazed at me; most of the faces wore pity on them, some others concern while some others had silent prayers, they looked to see if I was alright.

As they helped me up; I realized I was bleeding, I wondered where I was bleeding from as I could feel no pain, that was when I realised that it wasn't my blood but another's.

"Whose then?" I was yet to complete that thought when I saw him; a man not more than fifty, his pale lips showed that he had left this world.

How did this happen? I could have sworn I was the only one the lorry was coming for.

I didn't need to ask, the eyes on me and whispers around told me all I needed to know.

"The man had saved my life," giving up his for mine; something on him caught my eyes, it was his fingers, he had a ring on one of them, he was a married man.

I didn't know what to feel. Was I supposed to be grateful, happy and thankful to God for sparing my life or to mourn at the loss of a family?

"How can one incident bring both feelings?" I still wonder.

Till date, I don't know if what he did was stupid, depriving a home of a father, a brother and a husband or an act of bravery jumping in to save me when it would have been the easiest thing to just standby, watch like the others; and probably tell the gruesome story afterwards, all I know is that a life had been lost for MINE.

As the crowd held me to make sure I wasn't going to yield to the shock, urging me to walk on, I couldn't help but look back and mouth a " thank you" to the man who I will forever be indebted to.

Looking at him; I knew that, there lay a tale I will carry and tell as long as I breathe, about a man who had acted on impulse and saved a life that wasn't more important than his, a stranger I didn't even get the opportunity of knowing his first name.