Uzoma looked around the messy room, holding tightly to the crumpled 1000 naira note in her hand—her eyes were swollen so much from crying, her heart ached immensely over what she was going through, her account balance had dried up and her belly rumbled from the hunger she felt. Her life was vague, uncertain and hopeless….was there any way she could rewrite her past? Or know what the future held?
She got up reluctantly putting on her clothes and shoes that were in the corner and walked down to the market, Uzoma needed to calm her growling belly so she could at least focus on what to do next with her life.
Why don’t we travel out to start up a new life together and build our family? , Tochi asked looking lovingly at Uzoma.
Uzoma’s eyes lit up, our family? she asked.
Yes , he replied.
That day, Uzoma had returned from an interview, the weather had looked bright but suddenly changed; everyone began running helter-skelter for cover from the rain. She was already tired from the long interview that led to nothing and the unexpected rainfall made her day worse, she still didn’t seek cover, she just stood there using a nylon bag to cover her hair.
You look like you’re about to shed tears like the sky , A tall man dressed in a casual outfit said grinning at her, as he opened an umbrella over Uzoma’s head.
She laughed, You should worry about yourself, you’re barely covered.
I’m good, you can have the umbrella or we could just share? They both laughed again.
And that was it. A rainy Wednesday evening, a shared umbrella that turned into swapping contacts. They began talking, first it was just subtle checking-ins, sharing memes, having lunch dates. Uzoma began feeling relaxed, she began developing a fierce longing to text him always, what started as nothing serious became something serious—she was falling hard.
Tochi fell hard too, he loved her in a beautiful way, it felt like the heavens had sent him to heal her and compensate her. He held her hand in public, showed affection publicly, walked her home, met her mom….He was head over heels for her, or so she thought.
While it lasted, it was beautiful! But slowly and slowly, Touchi began pulling away—he had lost his job and nothing excited him anymore, he grew distant, got moodier and snapped at the slightest provocation. You want so much love and I cannot give you that , he once said.
Uzoma tried understanding him, she knew he was going through a lot and tried to love harder but her love couldn’t help Tochi fight the demons he refused to face. After he had ignored her messages for weeks, he sent a three-line message on WhatsApp.
I’m sorry, I cannot continue this anymore. Everything is just too much for me right now, you deserve someone better. Take care.
And just like that—Tochi was gone.
Uzoma blamed herself for loving too hard, for caring too hard, it was then the weight of her joblessness hit even harder. She then went to the market, shopping for food, maybe a few grains of rice. The market was full of people; vendors shouting, customers haggling prices, children running around.
In all of this, she could only hear her heart beat faster and faster, the betrayal from Tochi drained her more than she had thought.
While she sat in a corner, shopping for the strength to stay sane, her eyes caught a store she had never seen before; the entrance had warm lighting adorned with polished wood and long fabrics. Uzoma peeped inside.
An old woman with mysterious-looking eyes and long grey white hair sat in a rocking chair, inviting her in. Come in, I’ve been waiting for you , Uzoma turned around to be sure the woman was talking to her. what? she asked.
You carry a heavy burden for someone so young, but I can help you The old lady continued.
She is probably unwell….Uzoma thought to herself, ready to leave.
The old lady unfazed by Uzoma’s unwillingness, reached out for a small clay pot, molded to perfection. Take this. A voice from this pot will speak to you every night and guide you until you’ve figured everything out. But you must trade your last money for it. The old lady added.
Uzoma scoffed. Is this some joke? I’m unemployed and you want me to give you my last money just for a pot?
The ball is in your court little one, you must choose what matters more; the pot or your money.
My life’s doomed anyways, I’ll take the pot. Uzoma replied, gave the woman the money and took the pot. As she turned to leave, the woman said one last thing.
The voice will speak to you for thirty seconds every night, be sure to stay alert and listen attentively.
This is interesting. Uzoma laughed bitterly and left, immediately she walked out the door, she turned around and saw nothing but a plastered wall. She got home that night, sat in silence waiting for the pot to speak but nothing happened. She assumed she had been scammed and tried to get some sleep, then a voice spoke.
Keep writing Uzoma, you’ll get through this. Something bright awaits you.
Uzoma sat still, staring at it, still in shock. The next night, the voice spoke again.
Someone better than Tochi will come. Pick up your pen and start writing.
Uzoma cried and felt relieved after the second night the voice spoke, she picked up her pen and began writing. She wrote engaging stories, poems and bit by bit she began to get noticed. The voice kept coming every night—guiding and strengthening her and just like that Uzoma sold her first book titled "A voice in the silence"—that was when she broke through.
One night the voice came again You’re almost there! You’ve almost made it, you won’t need this voice and the pot anymore.
No don’t go, I still need you , Uzoma panicked. But the voice never returned after that night.
She didn’t need it anymore by then.
Her blog had grown, she sold thousands of copies of her stories and poems, she became one of the most loved authors. Her life wasn’t perfect yet but she had hope that it would be soon.
She passed through the same market, hoping to see the woman to thank her but it was just a plastered wall with market women trading in front of it.
Uzoma smiled—she had found herself again, her happiness had returned, she had been guided onto the right path.
Heartbreaks really hurt and good thing for Uzoma that she got past Tochi. The old woman was very helpful even though it cost Uzoma her last cash.
Uzoma was one lucky girl! Her journey is one of transformation, from the depths of despair to the heights of self-discovery and success. The mystical encounter with the old woman and the mysterious voice in the pot symbolizes the guidance and strength we sometimes need when we feel lost.