“Thank you, Rona,” she said. “I will return.”
Rona watched her carefully before sinking back into the water.
Latty adjusted her cloth and began walking along the narrow bush path that led to the village. Birds flew away as she passed. Leaves crunched under her feet. Her heart beat loudly in her chest.
Ahead of her, she could hear drums, laughter, singing — a wedding.
She stopped walking and stood still, listening. Her lips trembled slightly.
“So, it has begun?” she whispered to herself.
As Latty stepped closer to the village, no one noticed her yet. She was just another beautiful stranger walking out of the bush.
Drums continued to beat. Women danced harder. Latty’s father laughed loudly among the guests, proud and confident. Eba sat quietly, dressed for his wedding, staring into space.
Latty stood at the edge of the village, watching everything with clear eyes for the first time in her life.
Her heart was heavy, but her spirit was strong.
She did not know exactly what she would do next. She only knew one thing:
