Thanks to @galenkp for yet another #weekend-engagement. Truth is, this is a tough one for me. However, as much as I do not like to talk about death, it is inevitable. 


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/omosefe/23vsHwnXu1ChZ5idxQEftUWiLAFMdYVSjpdcFr8Sr9eR52Csbqts6e3ppgCVUmgKMj3qz.png)
[Source](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1422544834386-d121ef7c6ea8?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1451&q=80)

-----
1️⃣ 250 minutes
You have only 250 minutes to live, (4.1 hours) and have the chance to speak to three people. Who do you call or see and why? What do you say and how do you feel the conversations would end?
---

If I had only 250 minutes left to live, I'd only speak to my mum, my dad, and my best friend.

250 minutes…4.1 hours…the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. 

**MUM & DAD**

I'd call my mother and request that she carry me on her lap and rock me in her favorite chair, just like she did when I was a baby.

First and foremost, I would apologize to my mother and father for waiting until I had only 250 minutes left to tell them.

Knowing my family, notifying them sooner would send them into a deep hole of sadness, and everyone would throw a pity party.


There’s also the fact that neither of us has really recovered from the loss of my only sister a few years ago, so telling them sooner would be nearly difficult. 

I'd ask my mum to sing me a lullaby in our native tongue, just like she did when I was a baby. I'd recall her singing being terrible, yet it would be the most beautiful voice at the time, soothing like Tylenol to my headache.


I would smile gently at the feel of dad’s palm patting my head gently. Even while silently praying for a miracle, the pain in his voice would be audible.

>Mum, Dad, you know I love you right? Do you realize how much I adore you?

>I want you to know that I now see it clearly now, and I understand that you simply meant the best for me every time you reprimanded me.

I'd go on to tell them how much they meant to me and how fortunate I was to be born into the family. My parents were always quite proud of me, and I was as proud of them. This time, however, I would tell them how proud they made me.

Recount as many of the beautiful memories we shared. Let them know that I’ve never taken them for granted. I'd finally admit to my dad that he had the most beautiful handwriting I had seen. 

I'd tell my mum how scared I was, not because of the limited time I had left, but because I knew it would break her. I’d seen it happen with my sister.



Through my tears, I would smile and say to my mum; 

**>‘On the outside, you appear to be tough, like a hard guy, but on the inside, you're just a softie'.** 

>*writing this piece has me all teared up for real.*

>**The truth is, there’s no understanding of how precious life is until we are faced with death. How could I possibly tell the three people I loved most in the world in 250 minutes how grateful I was that I got to do life with them? 
Heck, 24 hours wouldn’t suffice.**

Then, I would express my gratitude to my father for being such an epitome of strength, an avid lover of God, humble, and incredibly kind.  **I'd thank him for being a gorgeous black man with the perfect set of teeth who passed on his good genes down to me.**

As a foodie, I'd definitely ask my mother for a serving of my favorite soup with lots of beef for the road (Banga soup- a native Nigerian soup). Knowing my mum, she would have some in the freezer because it's the family’s favourite.


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/omosefe/23wWwEfkRkvu56ZNmizTj92jwue6cPqNvkRww7v3yCscn8uguFRXwiz2WqYpUEMsMyNMi.png)
[Source](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1580869318757-a6c605b061ed?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=387&q=80)



I'd urge my father to hold me in his arms when she lays me down to fetch my soup. I would cling to him as if he were life itself, feeling every inch of his face because, if there’s truly life after death, I want to remember him even in eternity. 

So, remember that I wouldn’t want you to cry so much when you think of me. You can cry a little here and there though, hehe, there’s no forgetting me in a hurry, just don’t hurt yourself.

I would comfort them by assuring them that I wasn’t in pain and I would find my sister, so we could always watch over them from Heaven. 


I'd beg them to be strong, cheerful, and fearless, and not to give up or let my departure be the reason they turned against themselves. Tell them that it was not their fault that I had to leave so early.

I'd tell my dad to quit bothering my mum so much and tell my mother to stop being such a big baby, haha, and maybe they'd laugh at this point.

Finally, I'd give them all of my financial information, including my bank accounts, passwords, investments, contact information for those who owe me money.

If I'm going to die without spending my money, surely my reasons for working so hard should reap the benefits of their labor, even if I'm not there to see it.


**BEST FRIEND**

*My best friend resides in the United Kingdom, therefore this would most likely be a text or voice note.*


Jam Jam. I couldn't have asked for a more amazing best friend. God sent me a gift in the form of you. Continue to be the incredible and wonderful young man you have always been. Don't forget to check in on my folks from time to time.

Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of love. Thank you for always being so mindful of me.

If we ever get to share our life stories in Heaven, I'll tell them that you made my life beautiful.I loved you then,  I love you even more.

Farewell, my friend.



**What do you say and how do you feel the conversations would end?**

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/omosefe/23tbKEgGqrFsSJoKDuUSCuUkznRekTQWi4L3D9NRfBZmspRhF8PGj2YMUF2V87HnfEfUv.png)
[Source](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1497281559858-4ae63e694d04?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=870&q=80)


It all ends in tears, with my mother singing a gospel song in our dialect with her awful singing voice😁.

Knowing my dad, he'd keep silent, trying to seem tough, but his facial expressions would reveal that he was crumbling.

(Plus, my mother would have certainly contacted every family member she could think of.


Most importantly, I would be in the arms of my loved ones, wrapped in kisses and warmth as we wait on the inevitable.


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/omosefe/242YC95RzYT1ZdaGLV7ZUMPVYbn19untGFMjZPbgLLTayk1gjHUUekHUGZG2wAVDA78fW.png)
[Source](https://images.unsplash.com/reserve/Af0sF2OS5S5gatqrKzVP_Silhoutte.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=870&q=80)