On nights when the power went out in the street in Surulere, the environment becomes a quiet place with no buzzing fans and no television noise, just darkness and above it is a wide endless blanket of stars.
Ten year old Simi loved those nights, she will say with joy “Mummy, NEPA has taken light again!” she would shout not with anger like others but with excitement while dragging a small mat outside. Her mother would shake her head, smiling “Only you sees darkness as celebration, my child”.
Simi's grandmother had once told her that “If you wish upon a star with all your heart, heaven will hear you”. Since that day, Simi never looked at the night sky the same way again.
Simi had one wish, just one, she wanted her father back not because he was gone forever. No, he is alive somewhere in Port Harcourt working on an oil site. He used to visit every month, bringing suya, stories and laughter that filled their small sitting room but now, things had changed.
Months passed, he stopped visiting, his calls became fewer and money comes late. Her mother’s smiles became thin, looking stretched like cloth that had been washed too many times.
One night, Simi overheard a conversation.
“He says the company is owing them”, her mother told a neighbor. “He is struggling even feeding himself is hard”. Simi did not fully understand but she understood one thing that her father was far away and something was wrong.
That night under the silent sky, she lay on her mat and stared upward. The stars blinked back at her, she pointed at the brightest one she could find.
“I wish my daddy should come home” she whispered, “Even if it is just for one day please". She closed her eyes tightly as if that would push her words faster into the sky.
Days passed and nothing happened, her father did not come but Simi did not give up. Every night the sky was clear, she went outside. Sometimes alone, sometimes with her little brother who would fall asleep halfway through her star conversations like
“I wish Daddy will call today.”
“I wish he will not be hungry.”
“I wish he will remember us.”
Her wishes changed shape but they all carried the same heart.
However one evening, something unusual happened. As she stared at the sky, a sharp streak of light cut across it, a shooting star.
Simi screamed so loudly that her brother woke up “I saw it! I saw it!” she cried, jumping to her feet. Her heart beat fast, this had to mean something. It had to.
Quickly she squeezed her eyes shut.
“I wish Daddy will come home tomorrow, not next week but tomorrow"
She opened her eyes slowly almost afraid of the silence that followed while the sky returned to normal, as if nothing had happened, still she smiled “Tomorrow,” she whispered to herself.
The next day felt longer than any day Simi had ever lived. She waited, morning passed with no call, afternoon dragged with no sign and by evening her hope began to melt like ice under the sun.
She sat quietly in the corner while her mother prepared dinner. “Mummy do stars really hear us?”she said softly, her mother paused, then turned.
“What kind of question is that?”
Simi hesitated and said “If I wish… very hard… will it come true?”
Her mother looked at her for a long moment, then sighed gently.
“My child, sometimes wishes don’t come the way we expect but that does not mean they are not heard”. Simi nodded but her heart felt heavy.
That night, she did not go outside, she stayed on her bed staring at the ceiling.
For the first time, she thought about giving up thinking maybe her wish was too big or maybe stars only listened to small wishes like new dresses or sweet biscuits.
Tears slipped quietly down her cheeks but suddenly, she heard Knock Knock Knock at the door, they all froze because it was late and it's too late for visitors.
Her mother wiped her hands quickly and moved toward the door cautiously
“Who is it?” she called
A familiar voice answered
“Na me… open the door”
Simi sat up so fast her head spun because she knew that voice.
The door opened and there he was.
Her father looking thinner, tired but smiling.
“Daddy!” Simi screamed, running into his arms before he could even step inside.
He lifted her up laughing weakly “Ah-ah, you don grow o!”
Her mother stood there, surprised “You didn’t tell us you were coming”
He answered gently. “I managed to get transport money and I just felt I needed to come home”
Simi pulled back and stared at him, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Daddy… you came today.”
“Yes now,” he said, brushing her hair. “Is that not good?”
She nodded slowly, her heart racing with excitement.
Later that night, after everyone had eaten and laughter had returned to the house, Simi stepped outside alone. The sky was clear again and the stars blinked quietly, as they always did.
She looked up at the brightest one and said “Thank you". A soft breeze passed, brushing against her face like a gentle reply. Simi smiled because her one wish has come true.
Note: All pictures were generated on Meta AI
