Not such a stupid thing

Not such a stupid thing © Folakemi Emem-Akpan   It was such a stupid, simple thing to do. They all sounded beautiful, and if there was one thing my life needed at the moment, it was beauty and a little simplicity. And they were all so very far away, and I needed to get very...

A patch and a hope

A patch and a hope © Folakemi Emem-Akpan   My back groans in protest as I heave myself to my feet. It’s been a grueling two hours, weeding, trimming, planting. Yet, the sorry excuse of a garden looks forlorn. Actually, it mirrors the despair in my heart, the terrifying loneliness, the pain.   “Mom, haven’t...

This wish

This one wish (c) Folakemi Emem-Akpan An achingly cold night. The Harmattan wind buffets my face, stings at the frozen line of tears there. I hurry on, my slippers plat-platting on the sidewalk, my heart beating at the frantic pace it almost always does these days. Mrs. Brown next door had called thirty minutes ago,...