Golden thoughts

She wore them today. She could feel the stares of strangers as she walked into the room. She did not mind that they probably thought she was making the wrong fashion statement. She'd rather have them think that, than know the truth. These glasses she wore, occasionally, covered a horrible truth. If she dared to remove them now, these strangers would cringe at the sight they concealed. One eye was swollen shut while the other had some nasty bruises around it. He was usually careful not to mark her. Her dark skin would bear no marks if he wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed till she thought that she would die. A shove to the floor would leave no visible dirt on her body after she took a shower. A visit to the doctor's for a sprained ankle could be explained away as the result of a fall down the stairs. You see, they are the perfect couple so no one would believe what truly happened behind their closed doors. He was attentive and very courteous to he

                                      "I love you, mummy. You're the best mummy in the whole wide world" Sweet, sweet words from Nwando. She's talked this way for as long as she could talk (and she started doing that really early). So, I'm used to that. We are two of a kind, really... My daughter and I. It IS uncanny how much of a mini me she is. Anyways, hearing these particular words yet again, I looked into the mirror. Nwando loves me very much and in her eyes, except when we're fighting :) , I can do no wrong. She has this complete trust in my mummy skills, a trust I don't always share. For now, mummy is on a pedestal. Would she always think this? When she's older, would she even like this woman staring back at me? Would she admire this woman and still be friends with her? Even when they hold different opinions about anything then, would they respect each other and not be disagreeable about it? Would she always want to come home, knowing

I, finally, decided to start blogging today :) It would be a great opportunity to put some of my thoughts down, in writing. I wrote the article below a few weeks ago and it was featured on  a friend's page  I've decided to use it as my maiden post because this particular article, very clearly, defines me. Enjoy.                    ONLY A MOTHER I loved her immediately I knew about her. I prayed for her that instant with tears in my eyes and a goofy grin on my face. A few days later, I saw her on a screen, barely six weeks old but with a heart thumping so strongly already, and I fell in love all over again. Many months later, at the end of a most intimate relationship, I held her in my arms. She was so beautiful, so complete and all mine; my beautiful Nwando. A year and nine months later, I discovered the heart’s immense capacity to love; its expansion to accommodate even more. For the second time, I discovered that such a tiny, little one could hold my he