Nineteen
651 Words
A Visit Without Regret
The sun was already low over Boame Village when Mr Matey stepped out of the compound.
Afia watched him leave.
She didn’t need to ask where he was going.
She knew.
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“To Auntie Esi…” she whispered to herself.
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Inside the small compound, Pomaa sat quietly, peeling cassava.
“You should go and rest,” her mother said gently.
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Afia shook her head.
“I’m fine, Ma.”
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But her eyes kept drifting toward the path Mr Matey had taken.
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A few minutes later, Mr Matey stood in front of a familiar compound.
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Nothing had changed.
The same old walls.
The same dusty ground.
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Auntie Esi was seated outside, fanning herself slowly.
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She looked up.
Not surprised.
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“You came,” she said calmly.
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Mr Matey walked closer.
“Yes, I did.”
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Silence followed.
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No greeting.
No warmth.
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Just tension.
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“ U saw her,” Mr Matey said.
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Auntie Esi nodded.
“I know.”
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“You know?” he repeated.
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“Yes,” she replied, her tone steady. “She has been here.”
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Mr Matey’s jaw tightened.
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“And you didn’t think to treat her better?” he asked.
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Auntie Esi stopped fanning herself.
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“She came to work,” she said. “And she worked.”
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“She is a child,” Mr Matey said firmly.
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Auntie Esi looked at him.
“Children grow,” she replied. “Life is not soft.”
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Mr Matey’s voice dropped.
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“She suffered here.”
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Auntie Esi shrugged slightly.
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“And now she is eating well in your house,” she said. “So what is the problem?”
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The words hit hard.
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“You don’t regret anything?” he asked.
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Auntie Esi met his eyes.
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“No.”
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Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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Mr Matey exhaled slowly.
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“I expected better,” he said quietly.
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Auntie Esi looked away.
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“You always expect too much,” she replied.
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For a moment, neither of them spoke.
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Then Mr Matey said,
“I will sleep here tonight.”
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Auntie Esi nodded.
“There is enough space so why ask .”
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And just like that—
The conversation ended.
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No apology.
No change.
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Back at the house, Afia sat beside her mother.
The evening breeze was cool.
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“Ma…” she said softly.
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Pomaa looked at her.
“Yes?”
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Afia hesitated.
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“I don’t want to come back here like this again,” she said.
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Pomaa frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
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Afia looked down at her hands.
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“I want to come back better,” she said. “With something. With a future.”
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Pomaa watched her carefully.
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“You will,” she said.
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Afia shook her head slightly.
“No… I mean it. I want to become someone. Someone who can help you… help Ama, Adwoa, and Kofi.”
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Her voice grew stronger.
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“I don’t want them to suffer like we did.”
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Pomaa’s eyes softened.
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“You are still young,” she said gently.
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“But I understand now,” Afia replied.
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Silence.
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Then Pomaa reached for her hand.
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“Then don’t give up,” she said.
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Afia nodded slowly.
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“I won’t.”
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That night in Boame Village—
Two different thoughts filled the darkness.
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In one place—
A man lay awake, thinking about what should have been done.
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In another—
A girl held tightly to a dream she refused to lose.
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Even if the world made it dream
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