August 21 at 11:23am ·
We locked ten fingers as we sat on the dried haystack in my uncle's barn. Hers was a hand that exuded opulence, which seemed to play with death and dirt in my weathered palm. Just as much as our fingers figured out how distant our worlds were, our hearts begged for a forlorn fairy-tale to be told of us to generations unborn, one of love. Either of us couldn't fathom life without the other....
I had no money, whereas she was the daughter of a moneybag. I had lots of love gained enough to have spare to share; she had only my affection, as she found out her wealth couldn't buy her love at home. Unfortunately, there was something both of us couldn't get, at least not easily, and that was freedom. Even if I eloped with her, I would have to bear the guilt of "stealing" her from her family all my life, and she would unavoidably bear it as well. My poor uncle also wanted her out of my life because he abhorred wealthy people. According to him, they were responsible for his penury (his harrowing experience with rich creditors must have influenced his line of thought).
Either ways, what tried to melt my world into Aminat's in perfect tandem was love. Our problem was that we lacked our freedom, and it had to be gotten with love. I sat with her on the patch of dried grasses as I kept my gaze to the sky in personal reflection. Uncle Bada had travelled, so I had called Aminat with the phone she got for me couple of months back to assure her the coast was clear for her to come over to see me at my uncle's.
There's no love without freedom, neither is there freedom without love. I hope both families will understand this and give the two of us a chance of life. I really cherish Aminat, but unfortunately, men don't cherish rudimentary values like love and freedom. Not anymore.
Ara 'deinde
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