The rope dangles from your hand
Back and forth, it swings
Like the pendulum of a grandfather clock
Ticking away the seconds
Of your life.
The stool beckons you
And like moths to a devouring flame,
You step forward
Ready to bring your story
To an abrupt end.
Like words on the last page of a book
That fade into indistinguishable scribbles.
Suddenly,
Unbidden memories infiltrate your mind
Your mother’s soothing arms
The rays of sunshine that always roused you from sleep
Your son’s toothless grin
A million little things that say “Wait”
That keep you from taking that final leap
Into nothingness.
And as the fog of despair loses
Its hold on you,
Through misted eyes,
You seek out your son
And clutch him to your chest
Relishing the feel of his little body
And all of life’s little wonders.
A tiny smile pulls at your cracked lips
Because, you know
That your story will go on
Your last page is yet to come.
Oluwatetisimi Akande graduated from Redeemers International Secondary School, Lagos in 2019 where she was the Assistant Head Girl. She took a gap year and is currently awaiting admission to the university to study Psychology.
