Stars filled the sky like pale corn onto freshly turned ground. Eshé looked above her, bathed in the light of the sun, the moon was more beautiful than ever.
She wiped her head on her loincloth, swatting away the mosquito buzzing in her ear.
She'd been at the river since her camp had arrived. The creeks had most called to her, hidden behind tall palm trees and lush flora it'd almost been like stepping into a world of her own.
Eshé had gathered her dirty clothes and two stocks of boiled cassava to her new hiding spot. The sun had set on her with almost little warning but it didn't matter.
She could still see her camp from above the tree line, their fire still burning bright. The last of her clothes had finished drying and she busied herself with packing them back in her ghana-must-go.
With the bag hauled atop her head she made her way back to her encampment.
At this time most people were getting ready to head back to their tents for another day of travel until they reached their final destination. Two large fires were at opposite ends from each other.
Sat on one end were some adults idly talking amongst themselves, whilst the other had little to no people around it, probably a cooking fire.
Most people were getting up from there to busy themselves with packing and helping others pack.
Eshé sat by the fire relishing the warmth it gave her, a girl wearing a purple wrapper and black shirt sat beside her and handed Eshé a bowl of beans and pondu.
"Thank you Esther" She was already digging spoonfuls of rice in her mouth with no sign of etiquette to be seen.
Esther watched a mildly amused look on her face, "what?"
"You eat like what white people think we eat like" she answered looking back into the fire. The sound of pots and pans sloshing water was an irritating kind of background noise, "what the hell are you on about?" Eshé asked.
Esther turned back to her a mischievous look in her eyes. Before Eshé could react Esther attacked her with tickles, "you eat like a starved african you monkey!"
Eshe almost choked on her laughter, "sto- stop! Esther my food" the were a puddle of giggles as passing elders gave them disapproving looks.
"Ssshh they'll kick us out for sure stop" Eshé said between her laughter.
when the laughter had subsided, they sat in silence again whilst she finished her food. When she was done she put her plate aside and stretched, "Eshe" Esther called her name.
"Mm?" she hummed in response, "do you ever miss home?" Eshé paused and looked at her friend who was now intently looking at the flames deep in thoughts.
She sighed knowing whatever answer she gave would feed into her thoughts of home sickness. Almost everyone in their camp had been ripped from their home against their will on the run from terrorist and war from the east.
Eshé and Esther had seen their fair share of massacres and lost just as much, yet they still longed for home knowing that whatever was left of it when they left probably wasn't there anymore . "I don't know Esther yes and no" she looked down at her hands as she spoke, "there are days when I imagine myself waking up in our house during quiet summers when school is out but-"
she gulped and looked up at the sky again- the moon what a beauty she thought, "but I remember what it was like to leave, I remember what it was before I decided I had to leave"
she looked at her friend again who hadn't looked away front the flames, "the chaos, the torture-" tears threatened to spill out.
"The rape" Esther finished almost inaudibly, she sighed a shaky breath. Eshé looked away she'd been one of the luckier girls who hadn't been touched, she knew that if she'd stayed for long enough it would have happened and she thanks god everyday for it.
"Yes, so listen" she grabs her friends thin arms forcing her to look back at her, " we're lucky Esther were lucky. there's nothing left for us there other than pain and suffering" She searched her friend's eyes for some form of understanding and she reciprocated it ten times more than Eshé anticipated.
she looked down intimidated by how much the girl trusted her.
Esther nodded a single tear falling down her cheek. Just then one of the car conductors came out to inform everyone that they had to finish packing up for the night "we leave at dawn" he said "we have about 11 hours left until we reach our final destination"
The two girl helped pack up their belongings and slipped into their respective tents for the night.
Eshé dreamt of a woman and boy dancing in the stars laughing and joking. She felt their joy and love for one another. As they moved her heart soared when she realized she was jumping and running with them, her hair not in its scarf anymore but freely out in the open for them to see.
Eshé it's almost time
she blinked but didn't know who'd spoken Eshé you must wake up now she felt disoriented as the boy and the woman sped up ahead leaving her behind Eshé Eshé Eshé "Eshé! Wake up!"
YOU ARE READING
Gods of Zandé
Fantasy"To za ba féticheur té. To za bana y'a Zandé batu ya mikili y'a biso moko" The sound of drums spoke of the first signs of war. The prince is dead, and Akide knows who did it. Chaos ensues at court as he tries to navigate through it whilst the Re-wri...
