Simi was born in a small Africa community, her parents had her in their fifties which was a common thing in their small town because they were uncivilized. They depended on nature for everything, they never wanted to be part of the noisy and polluted world.
Her parents were among the founder of the small town, it was a community filled with people of the same beliefs. They believe the world will be destroyed by technology someday so they choose not to have anything doing with technology. They grew their food and ate fresh, they were healthy and their farm tools were their only access to technology.
They weren't completely disconnected from the world, there are times they go to the nearby cities to sell their produce when they have an excess harvest of perishable items. The money they make is used to buy food items, clothes, and other things.
Little Simi grew up among her siblings who were male, she is beautiful, strong, and intelligent. Everyone admired her from birth and she grew to be an adorable girl.
She picked up so much interest in art while growing and at 12, her parent discourage and stop her from carving on tree backs which didn't make her happy. Simi would run off into the woods to hang out with nature whenever she is been scolded for carving, she finds so much comfort in nature.
Simi ran off as usual, she was crying this time because they wouldn't allow her to do what she loves.
She reached a river bank and sat, she was throwing stones into the water, and the splash her action made soon made her forget everything that her parents are doing to her.
She started aiming for a particular rock in the middle of the river, but all her attempts failed and while staring at the rock with a disappointed face, she saw something hit the rock.
'Are you trying to hit that?, A voice came from the other side of the river and she raised her head to see who it was.
She was surprised to see someone outside her community for the first time because only their elders are allowed to make a trade in the city and whenever they had a stranger, the kids are kept in the house to avoid any contact with the outside world.
The voice was that of George, a young boy of Simi's age who lives in the city. His father worked with a furniture company and he accompanied his father who came to inspect some woods the company wants to purchase.
George wandered around while his father was busy and the noise of the water splashes from Simi's throw led him to the river. It wasn't far from the sawmill but Simi never tried going beyond the river because of what her parents had told them about those strangers.
Immediately she saw him from afar, she ran into the woods. Simi hid behind a big tree and watched him from there, she was scared and didn't know what would happen after.
George stood there staring, he didn't know why she ran and he was curious about what a young girl like Simi was doing at that place.
He kept screaming " hello " and he left when no one answered. He left with his father and he was mute all through the trip back to the city. George didn't want his father to know he wandered around so he kept quiet about it but his old man knew something was bothering him.
Simi left for home, she sneaked in as usual and joined the family for dinner.
"Where have you been?", her father asked.
Simi stammered as she lied about her whereabouts, the family prayed and had their meal.
She couldn't take her mind off her experience and the fact that she couldn't tell anyone was more troubling.
The two kids had several thoughts running through their heads all night.
George reached for his camera and checked the image of the girl he captured in the woods, he smiled while looking and said to himself " she must be a wandering ghost".
The next morning, George grabbed his kit and started drawing immediately his father left for work. He painted the image from the camera so perfectly intending to put it by the river bank if he is lucky to visit again.
The weekend came and his father told him they were going to the sawmill again by month's end, they will spend about two days because he needed to get some things done.
George was excited and packed for the trip earlier, he was hoping to see the little ghost again.
They set out for the trip and George sought permission to take a stroll immediately after they arrive there, his father disagreed but the sawmill workers assured him that there were no wild animals so he went with George to the river to see the environment for himself and eventually left him there since it was safe.
George was happy, the privacy meant a lot to him. He removed his painting from his bag which he put in a transparent bag and tied around a tree, he waited for hours but the ghost didn't show up.
Meanwhile, Simi was been grounded for carving again. She sneaked out when she could and went to the river but George had returned to the sawmill by then.
She saw the painting from the other side of the river and cross the river out of curiosity to see what it was. Simi took it and went away with it, she couldn't explain how it was done. She crossed back and hid with the hope of finding who dropped it there.
Simi waited and was about to give up when she saw George, she remembered his face.
George saw that the painting was gone when he returned and started screaming "hello" again, he knew she was nearby but couldn't figure out where. He ran to both ends of the river and saw no one, he was disappointed and wished he didn't leave before someone picked it up.
He sat and brought out his drawing kit which he went to get earlier to draw the flowing river, he wasn't motivated but didn't have the intention of leaving. George buried his head in the board he placed on his legs folded and held his brush tightly.
Simi couldn't see what he was doing so she came out of her hiding place, and waved her hands to get attention but George didn't notice until she shouted: "hello".
He was scared at first because he was carried away by what he was doing, he jumped to his feet when he saw her.
"Hi, my name is George. Can you cross over to my side?", He made an expression with his hand since he wasn't sure if she heard him.
Simi looked around and crossed the water, they both stared at each other for a while and their expression could tell that they had tons of questions to ask one another.
George eventually broke the silence with a question, " are you a ghost?" and Simi nodded signifying no.
He asked further, "why are you in this place all by yourself?"
Simi told him she wasn't alone, she told him about their community and he didn't believe some people don't like technology.
While they were talking, an airplane flew over them and Simi tapped George as she fixed her eyes on the plane.
She said, " that big bird flies over here every day, do you see them in the city too?"
George laughed and explained what an airplane does, Simi was wowed by the things she heard and didn't know why her parents choose the kind of life they were living. George showed her a lot of things on his camera, he shared chocolate with her and they played like they have known each other for a while.
The discussion went on for a while before Simi decided to leave.
She begged for sheets and ink to draw, George gave her everything because he wasn't sure if they will see each other anytime soon.
He went on to take a selfie with her before she left, and George felt very happy. He went back to the sawmill to ask his father when they were leaving again, his joy doubled knowing they still have a day to spend at the sawmill.
Simi hid her things well and no one suspected anything about her until the next morning when she left home early with excitement to hear more stories about the city from George.
Her father felt tired and returned home from the farm early only to discover that Simi wasn't at home. He asked around and no one could tell her whereabouts, the elders split into groups and went searching for her.
Simi was having a good time learning about the City, she had a pure smile on her face and you can tell from her eyes that she was eager to see the city.
George asked if he should tell his father about her but she didn't agree to that. Simi completely lost track of the time that day and was there till sunset, George went back a few times to make sure his father doesn't come looking for him and he had a good excuse to draw so his old man wasn't bothered..
Simi was set to leave and George told her that they will be leaving the next day. She wasn't happy and didn't want her only friend from the city to leave that soon.
George handed her another painting he drew for her as they said goodbye. None of them was happy but they had to return to their different world.
Simi walked slowly home because of how bad she felt about George leaving and she was shocked to see the whole community waiting for her return. They have combed everywhere and didn't find her, no one thought she could be at the river bank.
Her father seized everything she was holding and she was scolded but the painting he took from her pained her most. She was grounded and told she will never leave the community again, everyone kept an eye on her and she couldn't leave anymore.
Years passed and Simi had to erase the memory and idea of ever visiting the City.
She was busy cleaning her father's room after her 15th birthday when she saw a box and opened it. Among the things she saw in it was the last painting George gave her, she opened it for the first time and discovered it was another picture of her.
She was folding the sheet back when she noticed that there was a message at the back of the drawing and it says, "I wish to see you again and if you ever come to the city, please look for me." There was a phone number and a house address there as well, Simi tore that part out and left the room after cleaning.