Ethiope.

Ejiro was sitted by the Ethiope, tossing stones into the river. Memories floating through her head. She was here ten years ago,bathing in this same river,dancing and singing with glee but then she was not alone. She had Tobore by her side.

A handsome young man who was so much in love with her and could do almost anything for her.
Beside them were other river lovers, some swimming,racing while others were pounding their clothes to remove dirt with gusto.

She scurried around the water while Tobore tried to reach her. Her giggles and squeals of delight could be heard from afar. So innocent, so alive. The world was at her feet and she was it's mistress.

Tobore standing tall and light complexioned was the epitome of manhood and everything she ever dreamed him to be. A brother, a friend, a father and ultimately her lover. He could do no wrong, he was her all.

He studied the sciences while she was in the arts but they had the best of both worlds since they were both mentally compatible and could go on arguing for hours until Tobore would give up for the sake of peace for Ejiro must win. She was his all and he was hers.

Days turned into weeks and weeks to months and months to years and the ties grew stronger but fate always had a way of playing tricks on ordinary mortals. Ejiro became more adventurous and thought the world had so much to offer. Temptations were everywhere, why limit myself to the ordinary, she thought.

Ejiro wanted to see,touch,taste and to fly and the winds made it so easy,the allures of Tobore had become mere dust. The drummers of the world played fervently and she danced to their drum beats. A step forward, then another and another and soon she was running. The cries and pleas of Tobore fell on deaf ears. They were like noise to her compared to the sweet melodies of the drummers that she longed for like a dog digging for lost bones.

They world came with so many fascinations, the sight, the sounds, the smells, the feel, the pleasure and it's terrors but they didn't daunt her, instead they ignited a passion so strong that even the fearful cries of the dark wilds to her senses were like an enchanting perfume that must be smelt, savoured and enjoyed.

The blood in her veins were flowing quick and fast and there was no going back.

Tobore saw the future but not even the warnings he gave could stop Ejiro. Like a volcano she had erupted and could not be stopped until she had poured out her content but by the time she was done, it was too late. Tobore dis-enchanted had found another and her time was over.

She cried and pleaded, prayed and fasted. She became a shadow of herself but all she did, did not make him sway for his mind once made was like cement that had solidified. She suffered, she died and died again but just like the Ethiope, fast moving and one directional, he had flowed past. He said his goodbyes, looking her straight in the eyes without flinching. That was ten years ago, He has a wife now and a daughter.

Soft breeze slowly caressed her skin and she stood up fom where she sat, slowly throwing stones into the Ethiope. Tears on her cheeks and her dress slowy swaying to the breeze. She was ten years older, ten years wiser. Like water poured into the Ethiope, so was Tobore now to her. Forever gone never to come back.