Last December, I traveled back home for the holidays after being away in the city for almost a three years. The noise, the hustle, the constant running around had drained me, and I longed for the warm embrace of home and more than anything, for my mother's lovely hug.
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When I arrived, my mother was already at the door, arms wide open, her eyes bright with tears. My younger brother ran up to me, nearly knocking my bag over. The smell of egusi soup filled the whole house, she sure knew how to welcome a son.Suddenly, every stress and worry I carried seemed to disappear.
Later that evening, my father and I sat outside under the mango tree in yhe compound. The air was cool, and crickets sang in the background. We talked about everything and nothing about how my job was going, the neighbors’ new baby, and the state of his vegetable garden.
One talk led to another story I had never heard before. When he was a young man, he had wanted to become a musician. He saved up to buy a small guitar and practiced every night. But when my grandfather fell ill, he had to give up that dream to support the family. He told me, "Sometimes we sacrifice our dreams for the people we love, but that doesn’t mean we stop dreaming altogether."
I saw a softness in him that I had never noticed before. That night, I realized my father was more than just the strong, quiet man I had always known. He was a dreamer too.
The next morning, I found my old guitar in the storage room. I brought it out and sat with him, teaching him a few simple chords. We laughed as his fingers stumbled over the strings. For the first time, I saw him light up like a child again.
My best friend Faith came over later that day. She joined in, and soon we were all singing, the house echoing with laughter and music. My mother peeked in from the kitchen, shaking her head but smiling widely.
That holiday reminded me how deeply we need each other. Our family and friends hold pieces of our stories we might forget. They remind us of who we are and who we can still become.
Sharing these moments here on Hive feels like opening a window into our hearts, giving these everyday heroes our parents, siblings, and friends the honor they truly deserve.
