The warrior queen. Eps1

 

'A splash of color to express the butterflies I feel in my tummy at the sound of your voice' 

I remember just like yesterday, the words I told him on our first date, after he complemented my dress...

 Don't stare at me because I am dark...the sun has darkened my skin. . .' I looked away sharply as I thought these words in my heart, he had taken notice of me! My heart thumped! He lingered his gaze on me..

..my heart almost went out of my mouth..the warmth in his smile should have had that soothing effect it once had: butterflies would always rise.. from my belly to my chest, the feeling never got old. . .never say never they said? They were right, this time, I had full control of the direction of the butterflies and soon disrupted their rythm 

beauty stained with ashes...how could a love so pure eventually corrode at a pace so fast. . "You went away, without even saying goodbye. I only got to know via your Instagram location ...you wouldn't reply my Dm's, my messages. . .what was I to do?" I remembered saying to Him..

..3 months and you were already cosy, snuggling under the sheets of another man's bed.. I thought we had something more!" He hurled at me!..Tears already trickling down my face I screamed: " I was hurt!!! Vulnerable, you left me empty!"

I was always that girl that needed another man's attention, validation and expression of love. Bitter or sweet, from the start I had a gift of knowing how it would end but I just did not care, the pleasures of the moment were sufficient for me.

Mofe was the last of them, a guy too sweet! He deserved better than a broken hearted girl struggling with her insecurities that seemed more real to her than the person she had become... I had to leave him. I cried myself several times to sleep but I had to, I needed to be whole again.

'You look good!'. 'I know! You look pretty much the same, good for you!' I was more surprised  at the sassyness in my voice than he was. . .especially because I really was not pretending. I had healed, much more than I gave myself credit for! It's been two years since I last saw Mofe. .finally I had the answer to the question I had asked myself for so long: 'I wonder how I'll be if I get to meet him again...' 

..we both laughed about how much my new dark tonned skin made me look like an Ethiopian Jew..'the Chokwé trip is one experience that I would hold on to forever!' I exclaimed! That missionary trip to Mozambique did more for me than the service I volunteered to serve in, could have ever done for the people of that town...

Her face, expressionless, her eyes spoke courage, the look it gave, so piercing ... her name was Akeelah! Eagle is what it means. She never knew her parents, she named herself!

She taught me the greatest lesson of my life, she was only 13. A girl who had mastered the art of survival on the streets of Chokwé...

'Don't give me that look, you're scaring me!' she said with what I know was a smile forced out of pain...she wanted me to be at ease. There had been a riot, she got stabbed and was loosing a lot blood..the gentle manner I stroked her hair I matched the rythm with which my tears flowed ...she was dying.."

"..driving home that night, I couldn't help the tear that came down brushing my left cheek..'You know I'm a winner Doris but even if I don't win this one, you continue the fight! I'll win through you..don't you ever back down...' powerful last words of a 13 year old..

'I did it girl..' I muttered under my breath..I aced running into Mofe...one win, many more to go..I'll fight for you Akeelah. . .I'll fight for you!"