The Day My Mum Passed Away
I grew up in a small village in South Sudan and began school at the age of six in 2007 at St. Bakhita Girls Primary School, where I completed my primary education. I was a gifted child with talents in dancing, singing, and creativity, and I was deeply loved by my family, especially my mum. She worked hard to support me by brewing alcohol to earn income, while my father farmed and sold produce.
My childhood was happy and peaceful. I never imagined a life without my parents, as I grew up surrounded by their love and care.
On my birthday, my mum became seriously ill and was admitted to the hospital. Everything changed. I could not eat or smile, and I stayed by her side for a week until she recovered. Life returned to normal, but later that same year she fell sick again. Her condition worsened, and we traveled to Kenya for further treatment. As the eldest child, I stayed with her while my father cared for my younger siblings.
One morning, I heard my mum call my name and ask for hot tea. She was sitting up in bed, smiling. I was overwhelmed with joy, hugging her as I laughed and cried. We called my father to share the good news, and the next day we returned to South Sudan. I went back to school and studied hard during this happy time.
But happiness did not last. One night I dreamed that my mum was lost in a river. The next morning, my father appeared at my school, and I was called to the principal’s office. My mum had fallen ill again, and I was asked to take her back to the hospital for more treatment, and I prayed daily for her recovery.
On the sixth day, at 5:40 p.m., my mum called me in a weak voice. She held my hands and asked me to take care of my siblings. Those were her last words. Tears rolled down my cheeks and she passed away in my arms.
Daylight then was dark and full of sorrow. When my mum’s life ended it felt like the end of my life, too. A child without a mum faces only difficulty in life. Life became more challenging but I managed slowly.
I will never forget this painful moment in my life.
Scholar update: Written during high school in 2019, Agnes graduated from university in Juba, South Sudan, earlier this month (2025) with a law degree—an achievement that represents far more than academic success, but the rare and hard-won rise of a woman’s voice in South Sudan.
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