Chapter 14

“And now, the recipient for this year’s Goi peace foundation and UNESCO award in Literature is Miss Ntone Francis.” The Master of Ceremony’s voice boomed over the microphone.

Ntone walked up the aisle of the King Stone theatre in Washington D.C amidst a standing ovation from an audience of over three thousand people. People from every race, tribe, and culture were represented and as the shouts grew louder, she prayed inwardly that she wouldn’t miss a step. The flicker of coloured bulbs momentarily blinded her but she felt so good that going blind for a few seconds seemed okay.

“Thank you…” she began, after taking over the microphone. Her eyes gleamed with every word of thanks to her mother, Nkoro, the late Barbara Johnson and her sponsors. “Finally, to all the women in this struggle, I assure you that we will rise. This is indeed my dream.”

After receiving the best writer’s award and the peace award, she descended the podium. The auditorium boomed loudly with an excerpt from her novel;

It’s been a very long journey

I’ve shut my eyes to the fears ahead

Believing in the triumph of womanhood

Trusting that truth will prevail

It’s not enough to let the tears flow

It’s only just to join in the struggle…

She rejoined her mother and brother at the front row knowing that the struggle had only just begun. Her voice would ring across the ends of the earth. She told herself.

“I told you that you had no choice but to be a great woman.” Nna Awor said.

Their eyes met and they smiled knowingly at each other. The same thoughts occupied their minds. The absence of a father, schemings of her late step-sister, gigantic prison walls and prejudice of society could not stop her simply because she had cared to dream.

THE END