Chapter:9
As the water embraced her, Amara felt herself lifted, weightless yet deeply anchored, as if the river carried her memories and dreams in its current. Shapes began to emerge beneath the surface faces of women she did not know, yet somehow felt familiar. Their eyes held stories of courage, pain, and resilience.
A soft, luminous mist formed around her, and whispers swirled like wind through reeds.
You are part of the river, as it is part of you.
Amara's heart raced. Images flashed before her eyes.a mother she had never met, holding her as a baby,a path through the forest illuminated by moonlight,a village celebrating both loss and renewal. Each vision pulled at her, demanding she understand what had come before so she could know her place now.
Then a figure appeared in the mist tall, draped in flowing silver robes that shimmered like water itself. Its face was calm but impossibly wise. Amara, it said, its voice both gentle and commanding, the river has called you because the balance of many lives rests in your hands. You will face trials, questions only you can answer. Fear is natural, but do not let it bind you. Trust the river, and trust yourself.
Amara reached out instinctively, and the figure's hand met hers not cold, but alive, vibrating with energy. Suddenly, she understood this journey was not about escaping fear or finding safety. It was about awakening to who she truly was, and what she could become.
The river pulsed around her, brightening, swirling faster, carrying visions of the past, the present, and the possibilities yet to come. And in that flowing chaos, Amara felt something stir deep within a courage she hadn't known she possessed, and a voice, her own, rising to meet the call,
I am ready.
The river's current shifted, suddenly stronger, swirling around her in a pattern that seemed almost alive. Amara struggled to stay afloat, her breath catching as the water tugged at her arms and legs. Then, the voice returned this time sharper, more insistent.
To know yourself, you must face what you hide.
Before her eyes, the river's surface darkened and became like a mirror, reflecting not her face, but moments from her past moments she had buried deep. There was the night she ran from the village in shame, the day she ignored a friend in need, the anger she had felt toward her mother's absence. Each memory twisted and writhed in the water, confronting her like ghosts demanding acknowledgement.
Amara's chest tightened. I I can't,she whispered, trying to look away, but the river would not let her. The reflection reached out, and she felt its touch on her skin, cold and insistent.
A calm voice inside her mind reminded her of Nneka's words The river calls only those ready to see.
Drawing a shaky breath, Amara closed her eyes. She began to speak aloud, naming each memory, each regret, each fear she had tried to hide.
I was afraid I was angry I was selfish
The river's current slowed, the darkness receding, and warmth spread through her chest. The water shimmered with silver light, wrapping her in a gentle embrace. The reflection changed, now showing a version of herself strong, determined, and unafraid.
You have faced yourself, the river whispered. This is only the beginning. Courage is not the absence of fear, Amara, but the willingness to walk through it.
She opened her eyes to see the river calm once more, the pendant around her neck glowing faintly as if approving her bravery. And for the first time, Amara felt a spark of something profound hope, strength, and the undeniable pull of destiny calling her forward