"The Weight of Waiting"

There was a village surronded by many green trees and bushes, and whisper of winds. a boy named Affi, grew up in a small and beautiful home. Affi's had his four sisters and who filled the house with love and laughter and a widowed mother who carried the weight of their battles with elegance. When affi grew older, his dream of a brighter future was burning in his heart. he decided to leave his home and move far away for chasing openings with tearful goodbyes. his mother and sisters saw him off, their eyes shinning with trust. his mother whispered "Do well my son and never forget where your heart belongs". 

Affi worked tirelessly in the bustling city. days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, years into decades. he sent money back home regularly, believing it would ease their struggles, he wanted to build a new life,a life where his family could live without worry. But in his pursuit of a better tomorrow, Affi forgot the present. His sisters grew older, their laughter fading as they missed their brother. His mother, her health slowly declining, found solace only in memories of a time when their family was whole. 

Letters from home spoke of their longing for him, but Affi always replied, “Soon. When things are better, I’ll return.” The city, with its towering buildings and endless noise, grew lonelier for Affi. He missed the scent of his mother’s cooking, the sound of his sisters’ chatter, the simplicity of home. Yet he kept pushing forward, thinking, Just a little longer. One day, a letter arrived. It wasn’t from his family but from a neighbor. It carried the news that his mother had fallen gravely ill. Affi dropped everything and rushed back to the village, his heart pounding with regret.

When he arrived, the house was the same, but the warmth was different. His sisters greeted him with tears, their faces both joyous and sorrowful. His mother lay on her bed, her once-strong hands now frail. She smiled when she saw him, her eyes filled with love and relief.“I always knew you’d come back,” she whispered weakly. “But remember, Affi, life isn’t just about what you can give. It’s about being present for those you love.”

 

That night, as Affi sat by her side, he realized the truth he had ignored for so long: time and togetherness were the greatest gifts. He had paid a high price for his dreams, one that no amount of money could ever balance.

From that day on, Affi chose differently. He stayed with his family, finding ways to work nearby. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was full of love, laughter, and the warmth of being together. And in their humble home, Affi finally found the peace he had been searching for all along.

                                                                DS