The air smells like liquid iron. If metal, burnt metal had a scent that's what it would be.

"Wululululu" The atmosphere is festive.

"Odangamu" Serves you Right"

Someone throws more liquid. The fires leap up in excitement. Today is as good as any day to die. The mangoes are done.

Habiba raised her hand onto my chest in the morning again. When she and I spent the entire day yesterday playing fantasy football. Eating crispy cassava sticks and playing with our bodies.

Today is as good as any day.

"Wait , waiiiit", a woman  calls out. I cannot see anymore. The fire is chewing at my eyeballs. Somebody isn't cheering. "Wait you fools" an orange turban walks as close as is comfortable near me.

"Arrrrhhhgh", the guttural sound leaves my burnt lips before the pain sears through my entire spine. Fire has reached my scalp. My hands are still tightly bound behind my back.

When they see her crying, the women stop cheering. Like suddenly I am human. I can be their son, who was just too hungry. I could be their brother who was stuck between two rocks. I could be their husband who had no food to feed the kids.

"Aaahhh, she is the accomplice, throw her in the furnace too", old Bob, my mother's boyfriend commands.

All he loves about my mother is land and she knows it too. He is standing on four motor tyres piled on top of each other. He doesn't seem a bit moved that his girlfriend is sobbing her lungs out, seeing as his step son is ablaze.

"Mato, maaato my boy," Mama wails. Holding her hands to her dirty turban and pulling it off her head. "Mato my boy", she cries out.

I look at the rising sun, my last glimpse at the morning smile. The beginning of this day, is the end of my life.

Habiba weeps in silence. Tears make pale rivers on her foundation-clad face. She is too made up for his farewell. Almost like she knew he would never be able to put any food money in her hand again.

*Odangamu is a luganda phrase for Dare do it again.

***

Katusiime Jeresi is an Ugandan writer and poet, with a passion for storytelling. Her writing has been featured in various publications, including Mukana Press's Old Love Skin, the African Writers Magazine, Taxi Cab Magazine, and JBW Studios. More of her projects and literary endeavors can be found @jeresi_ish  on X.