Tears welled in my eyes as I watched the Sunset dip lower beyond the horizon, a blazing orb in the deep orange Sky, the fleeting colours of dusk was gradually fading, lovingly reminding me that the end of one journey is the beginning of the next. I gazed longingly at one of the most beautiful gifts Nature had given, a tear or two trickled down, tracing the contours of my face but I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand, I didn't want to torture myself more than I already had, I was twelve now, and a big girl.
The moment of truth came when long hours of studying and burning the midnight oil were rewarded with an admission into the secondary school of my choice, It was one of the most prestigious Catholic secondary schools in my state. Grandma had beamed with pride and many wondered how a damsel from the village made the top list, how she managed to achieve such a feat. I became 'celebrity' overnight. I made it.
But on this day, I felt no excitement, no sense of pride nor fulfilment, the tears I cried were supposed to be that of Joy, but no, I felt so dejected and miserable. Why was I feeling like this? I guess I was already missing everyone, Mom, Dad, my siblings even if I wasn't living with them. I was missing Grandma so much, this woman who had given me her all, this woman that had loved me so unconditionally, how would I be able to live in the school without her?" Maybe I should have sought for admission into the community secondary school like every one else, why did I always love to do grand things? I wasn't so proud of myself right now, I didn't know how I would be able to cope in boarding school without my loved ones. I looked around one more time, I would miss my Sunset so much, the warmth, the colours and how it gently disappears into the calm night.
Grandma stood behind me as I drank in the beauty around me, it was my last evening in the village and I could see Grandma's eyes glistening with tears that mirrored my own. It broke my heart to see her like this, I flew into her arms, releasing all the pent-up emotions in a loud wail. She held me like a baby, comforting me with her words.
"Chi, there's beauty beyond this Sunset", she hadn't called me that name for a long time, I was "Nnem" (mother) to her because I was believed to be her mother's reincarnate. "Beyond this village, there's beauty out there too, you are going to S-u-k-u (school) so that you can be educated like the white man and speak big Oyibo (English) like him too. Supiri supiri supiri supiri.... hehehehe. This is Grandma tongue twisting, trying to mimic the accent of the European Reverend Sister who was also the principal of my new school. A smile peeked through the teardrops.
"You will make me proud as you always have, won't you?
I nodded, my heart too heavy to move my lips, I looked around one more time at the place I had come to love so much, a place that held those cherished memories of childhood, my home sweet home. I thought of the new life awaiting me, away from home, it would be overwhelming.
Night came too quickly, like it was in a secret conspiracy with the next morning, to quickly send me away from my Land and from my people. As we sat outside, watching the stars and the Moon, listening to the shrilly cry of the crickets and the night owls, Grandma reeled out more pieces of advice, more than my little brain could remember; How I must work hard and bring more laurels home, how I must respect constituted authorities, how I must be careful with friends..... The more she spoke, the more reality dawned on me, that I was actually leaving...
She gently wiped away my tears with the edge of her wrapper because even in the semi-dark, she knew I was crying. She understood!
"See no matter where you go, this village, will always be your home, and I will make sure your father brings me to visit you often, so you won't be alone". She spoke to me reassuringly.
These words comforted me a little but I tossed and turned all night, memories, memories and more memories flooding my troubled thoughts; Grandma's tales by moonlight, playing and swimming in the village stream, the tranquil, the simplicity of country life*...... How I would miss all that!
The next morning, Dad arrived to take me to the City. Grandma hugged me tightly as we cried some more. Dad tried to control the situation, children and adults in the neighbourhood all came out to say their goodbyes to their own and bid me farewell in my journey beyond the Sunset. It was a very emotional sight with everyone embracing me and wishing me the best of luck..
With my luggage put away in the back seat of the car, I climbed into the front, beside Dad, with a heavy heart. As Dad gently eased the car unto the road, I cast one last look at Grandma and the place I had called home for five years.
The pain of leaving was more than I could bear, but Grandma's words were like a beacon in the darkest night. Though the journey ahead would be challenging, I had Grandma's resilience and wisdom. I was ready to take on the future, hoping to experience the beauty spoken about, beyond the beautiful Sunset.
Edited with Canva.
I am 
