Juma stood on the old bridge overlooking the silvery waters of the creek, his eyes tracing the ripples made by the moonlight.
The bridge was his sanctuary, a place where his thoughts flowed freely, and on that night, he was consumed by thoughts of Kadzo. She had finally accepted his love, filling him with a joy he hadn’t known before. Their love had bloomed quietly in the hidden corners of Kilifi, with stolen glances at the market, secret notes passed under the village’s ancient baobab tree, and whispered promises exchanged beneath starlit skies.
Kadzo was unlike any woman Juma had ever known. Her laughter was like the bells of a distant church, warm and welcoming. She was bold and unafraid, traits that had drawn Juma to her like a moth to a flame. For months, he had poured out his heart, braving the scornful looks of her friends, the teasing of his own, and the relentless doubts that she might never return his affections.
But finally, after months of persistence, Kadzo had let down her guard, and they were wrapped in each other’s arms, full of dreams and plans for a future together.
One night, Kadzo came to him with a soft, hesitant smile. Her hands were trembling as she placed them on his, whispering the news that would change everything.
She was expecting their child. Juma’s heart raced with excitement and fear. He had grown up without his own father’s guidance, and the thought of becoming a father filled him with both a sense of responsibility and pride.
In his mind, this news solidified their bond, bringing them even closer. Together, they would raise their child and carve out a life filled with love and happiness.
The following morning, Juma approached Kadzo’s parents, his heart pounding with anticipation. But he found no welcome there. Her father’s eyes were cold and unyielding, his arms crossed over his chest as Juma spoke about their intentions to marry and start a family.
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He watched as Kadzo’s mother shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together in disapproval.
“No,” her father said, his voice like iron. “You are not fit for our daughter. You come from a family with no means, with no reputation. Kadzo deserves a better life, with stability and honor. You offer none of that.”
Juma’s face fell as the words cut through him. He tried to explain his love for Kadzo, the future he envisioned for them, and how he would do anything to care for her and their child. But Kadzo’s parents were unmoved. In their eyes, Juma was a nobody, a man from a poor background, a fisherman whose hands were roughened by years of labour, unworthy of a woman like their daughter. They forbade her from seeing him again, telling her that her future lay beyond a life bound to the meager existence that Juma offered.
Heartbroken, Juma sought the counsel of Kadzo’s grandparents, who had always been more understanding.
They had known him since he was a child, watched him grow and struggle, and had always admired his determination. He poured out his heart to them, recounting the love he and Kadzo shared, the plans they had, and how her parents had rejected him.
The grandparents sympathized, their faces lined with sadness as they listened. Kadzo’s grandmother placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We know you are a good man, Juma. We know how much you love Kadzo, and we see your heart. We will talk to her parents, and perhaps they will listen.”
They tried. The grandparents spoke to Kadzo’s parents, reminding them of the power of love, the importance of unity, and how they had once been young and in love, too. But the parents were resolute. They had made up their minds, determined that their daughter would not live a life of hardship.
Kadzo was devastated but torn between her love for Juma and her respect for her parents’ wishes. She spent days crying in her room, feeling the weight of the impossible choice forced upon her.
Months passed, and the distance between Juma and Kadzo grew wider. Juma continued to wait for her by the bridge, hoping that she would find a way to meet him. But each night, he returned home alone, his heart sinking deeper into despair. Kadzo’s family had done everything to keep her away from him, enforcing their will on her and preventing any chance of reconciliation.
Finally, one evening, Juma’s patience broke. He decided to go to Kadzo’s house one last time, prepared to confront her parents again and fight for the woman he loved. But when he arrived, he found the house eerily silent. The neighbours informed him that Kadzo and her family had left, moving to another village far from the memories they sought to erase. His heart shattered as he realized he might never see her again.
The weeks turned into months, and the bridge became Juma’s only solace. He visited it every night, hoping against hope that Kadzo might somehow find her way back to him. His heart clung to the memories they had shared, of her laughter, the warmth of her smile, and the dreams they had built together. Though she was gone, he held onto the love that had once bridged the divide between them, finding strength in the bond they had shared.
One night, as he stood on the bridge, lost in thoughts of what might have been, he felt a breeze brush against him, whispering through the trees. He looked up at the stars, the same stars he and Kadzo had once gazed upon, and found a glimmer of peace. Though their paths had diverged, their love remained etched into his heart, a bridge that no distance could destroy.
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