The weight of tradition
243 Words
Chapter Four:
Anike's mind wandered as she sat in class, her eyes fixed on the teacher but her thoughts elsewhere. She was only fourteen, but the weight of tradition bore down on her. Her friends, Neka and Amaka, had already been married off at fifteen, and Anike knew she was next.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She wanted to focus on her education, to become a healer and make a difference in her village. But the tradition was clear: girls were meant to be married off at fifteen, and their parents would choose their husbands.
Anike's parents, though supportive, couldn't shield her from the inevitable. The king, Amadi, had already begun to consider suitors for his own daughters, and Anike knew she would soon be approached.
Determined to resist, Anike poured herself into her studies, seeking solace in books and learning. But the fear lingered, a constant reminder that her dreams might be crushed by the weight of tradition.
Meanwhile, King Amadi grappled with his own doubts. He wanted his daughters to have a different fate, to follow in his son's footsteps and pursue their own paths. But the tradition was strong, and he feared challenging it would bring ruin to his family.
As Anike's fifteenth birthday loomed closer, the tension built. Would she find a way to defy tradition and forge her own path, or would she succumb to the expectations of her village? Only time would tell.
TBC
- Writer
