I almost killed someone the day my wife gave Saby Wipes birth. My wife had just delivered, and the nurses asked for something that we completely forgot to buy in the list, and I decided to rush to the market to get it. If only I knew what awaited me.
The Collision That Started It All
As I drove into the market, searching for where to get it, a wheelbarrow pusher with a huge load that covered his face, and could barely see where he was going, ran straight into my car, and scratched it.
I was about to roll down and say, “Are you not seeing?” when he suddenly dropped his wheelbarrow. I thought he wanted to apologize, but instead he looked at me and shouted, “Waka!” spreading his five fingers at me.
The Provocation: Insults and Dares
He rained insults the more:
- “Shege ya! Your mama, your papa!”
- “So because of this pure water you’re carrying, you want to hit me. You think it is to look fine and carry this pure water…”
- “If you’re a man, come down and touch me!.. If your papa born you well, come down and touch me,” he said as he kept hitting his chest with his two palms.
I was shocked. He looked so tattered and hungry, yet he was daring me. Anger rose inside me. My hand was already on the car door, ready to come out and put him in his place. But then I paused.
The Decision to Pause
That very moment, I remembered my family at the hospital. I won’t throw my strength to the dog. Victor Firdance, you will reserve it and use it to carry your handsome child.
If there’s any gift I should give myself and my new baby, it is to control my emotions. So I swallowed the anger, stayed in the car, as I waited a car to make a turn, before I will drive.
The Shocking Turn of Events
Not even five minutes later, the same boy carried his load and left. He didn’t take up to three steps when suddenly, his leg hit a stone. He staggered, somersaulted, he was trying to hold the barrow so that the goods will not pour, but it over powered him, and because he was not maintaining a balance, he fell straight into a gutter.
People screamed, “Eeehhhh!!!”
They thought it was just a normal fall, that he would stand up and continue. But two minutes passed, and he didn’t move. They rushed and pulled him out, only to notice he wasn’t moving again. They checked his pulse.
He wasn’t breathing. He was gone.
The Life-Saving Power of Emotional Control
I was still in the market when the news spread: the boy had died. My body shook! I thought to myself, what if I had fought him? What if I had slapped him? And something eventually happened to him, everyone would have said I killed him.
And the same day I had my son would have been the same day I ended up in prison, that’s if Agbero boys will let me stay alive before the police would come. God truly saved me that day.
Truth is, Not everyone you see outside is healthy. Some are already carrying death around the corner. Don’t let their noise drag you into trouble.
The Takeaway: Why Silence is the Best Defense. Control your emotions. One moment of anger can destroy a lifetime of joy. Sometimes, the best answer to provocation is silence.
This emotional story was originally written by @blaq_spac on X and is published here with her consent. At Snehtv, we aim to spotlight powerful voices and stories that resonate deeply with readers.
