I did not think much about the wristwatch when I first saw it there.
It was inside one glass tray at the mechanic workshop near my street. You know those places where random items just sit there… bolts, broken radios, old phones, things nobody is claiming again, the watch was there, It looked worn out, the leather strap had cracksz the glass had one tiny scratch across it.
Something about the watch just pulled my attention.
"How much for this watch?" I asked the mechanic.
He looked up from the engine he was actually working on and shrugged.
"If you want the watch just take it, the person forgot the watch here since many years."
Forgot? Since years?
I picked up the watch, the e watch was heavier than it looked, when I turned the watch over I noticed something engraved at the back.
To Ade... Time will always bring you back to me.
I do not know why, chills just ran through my body.
I took the watch home.
At first it was curiosity, I cleaned the watch changed the battery and the watch started working the ticking sound was calm and steady almost soothing, I even started wearing the watch even though I normally prefer my phone for time.
Then one evening something strange happened.
I was sitting outside with my neighbor, Musa just talking stuff when Musa suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Where did you see this watch?" Musa asked.
"The mechanic shop down the road. Why did you ask?" I replied.
Musas face changed immediately.
"I know that watch " Musa said.
Now I was confused.
"How do you know that watch?" I asked.
Musa leaned back staring at the watch like he was seeing a ghost.
"There was one man that used to live around here years, His name was Ade, Quiet guy, friendly. Always wearing that watch, everybody knew Ade because of that watch " Musa said.
My chest tightened.
"So what happened to Ade?" I asked.
Musa sighed.
"It was a love story."
Of course, It had to be a love story.
Musa continued.
"Ade was supposed to marry one lady. Fine woman, They were serious.. Something happened, nobody knew the story, one day the lady just left the area, packed her things, disappeared. After that Ade changed, Completely, he stopped talking to people, stopped coming, It was like somebody removed his spirit " Musa said.
I swallowed.
". The watch?" I asked.
"That watch was the gift the lady gave Ade before she left " Musa said.
Silence just sat between us.
Then Musa added quietly
"One day Ade too disappeared, Nobody saw Ade again."
That night I could not sleep well.
The engraving kept replaying in my head.
Time will always bring you back, to me.
A days later something even stranger happened.
I went to buy food at a buka two streets away, While I was waiting for my order one older woman sitting there suddenly stared at my wrist.
Her spoon dropped.
"Where did you get this watch?" the woman asked sharply.
At this point I was already used to the question.
"Mechanic shop " I said.
The woman's eyes became watery immediately.
"That watch belonged to my brother " the woman said.
My heart nearly stopped.
"Ade?" I asked slowly.
The woman nodded.
"Yes… Ade."
We moved outside so the woman could talk properly.
The woman told me the story.
The lady did not leave because she stopped loving Ade, the lady left because her family forced her into another marriage, different tribe, family pressure, money issues… all those things life throws at people.
Ade never recovered from it.
"He kept saying she would come back one day " the woman said softly. "He believed time would return her to him."
"Did she come back?" I asked.
The woman shook her head.
"No.. Ade waited until the day he died."
That sentence hit me harder than I expected.
The woman looked at the watch again.
"This was the thing Ade wore before he passed, we thought the watch was lost."
I did not even think twice.
I removed the watch, handed the watch to the woman.
The woman hesitated.
"Are you sure?" the woman asked.
I nodded.
"The watch belongs with his family " I said.
The woman held the watch carefully like it was something sacred.
As I walked home that day one thought stayed in my mind.
Objects really do have pasts.
Sometimes… they carry pieces of peoples hearts inside them.
Thanks For Reading
Image Credit: Meta AI
