UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 5: TEARS AT SUNRISE

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarrOsMAuji

Chapter 5: Tears at Sunrise

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPQugpoNYe

"The hardest journeys often begin with the most painful goodbyes."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFhNcrgX6z

The day had finally come.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJFwfql28d

The day the three friends had spoken about for years.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmWzweUXkk

The day they had imagined during countless evenings beneath the iroko tree.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt2RMTLaTA

The day they would leave Ajanaku.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXOAnSzFgk

Long before sunrise, the village was awake.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ZEb2UCRw

Not because of celebration.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a64SgsVSd

Not because of excitement.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEzxEICfqR

But because of sorrow.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jXfeTy7uB

The air felt unusually heavy.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lgmByza91

Even the wind seemed reluctant to blow.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIaDfrgNOY

The stars still hung in the dark sky as Tunde sat quietly outside his father's house.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts2yKA2rxM

A small traveling bag rested beside him.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wOmtEArAS

Inside were only a few clothes, some food, and a bottle of water.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtlZkq4VfI

Everything he owned could fit into one bag.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcxMPCGkBy

Yet his heart felt heavier than a mountain.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNC2MHemqT

He stared into the darkness.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllXBXM93Ja

Trying to be strong.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXof6LNetA

Trying not to think about what he was leaving behind.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzmTudtVOH

The wooden door behind him creaked open.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59NX7aNMJn

His father stepped outside.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFtWCjmJVk

For a moment, neither spoke.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMsEJjgSSJ

Words suddenly felt too small.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZrp7IL8Ng

Too weak.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfKjiRcGem

The old man sat beside him.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24NJ2gZggN

Together they watched the horizon.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBY8YLiQhu

Waiting for the sun.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmxyOFUebw

Waiting for goodbye.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CFJY60fxP

Finally, his father broke the silence.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31fprSeAKU

"When your mother died, I thought I would never smile again."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jJ3wdp0Sq

Tunde looked at him.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoC3EZxClN

The old man's eyes remained fixed on the distance.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrsXFaQimg

"But life taught me something."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XUG7WNK97

"What did it teach you?"

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9t8Ekgs3N

His father smiled sadly.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHUcQksydw

"The night may be long, but dawn never forgets to come."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX6c26stUP

Tunde swallowed hard.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS5ft0kJZi

His throat felt tight.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPiQIWMXuf

The old man continued.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhb2mfsVNV

"Whenever life becomes difficult, remember that."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tiHtxMwUq

A tear escaped Tunde's eye.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cNnLZVzhq

Quickly he wiped it away.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJkgqE1dZR

But his father had already seen it.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFFvZ1I16g

"There is no shame in tears."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcr3M0lWLv

The old man placed a hand on his shoulder.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaHVzOXZfL

"Tears are proof that something matters."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQon8GdN2Rc

At those words, Tunde could no longer hold back.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRDXteQJRD

Years of emotion poured from his eyes.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ALbGCKjGo

The thought of leaving.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfTRkCdOg1

The fear of failure.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Fby5ZvwGD

The uncertainty ahead.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOrjWTGHHe

The love he felt for his father.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWLyzoOjBC

Everything rushed out at once.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI9QIUnwsR

For the first time in years, father and son cried together.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5okjq4C63A

Not from weakness.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy8THYmWqS

But from love.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hQrEJJH4T

Across the village, Musa faced a similar moment.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLWF2DRcZ0

His mother had been awake all night.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MVNYwofGr

She pretended to be busy.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8C2rfmOE3

Pretended to be preparing food.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP955u19f6G

Pretended to be organizing his bag.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyiNHV7uR4

But the truth was simple.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYCrdIGaX7

She was trying to avoid crying.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3MTAvMXYJ

A mother's heart is often strongest when it is breaking.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPkxFIiRJI

As Musa prepared to leave, she handed him a small cloth pouch.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxpBllPU7s

"What is this?"

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4jGDsz6CZ

"Open it later."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtLCBSZZ2y

"Mama..."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2lrjElAKA

She shook her head.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXt2PCaYXe

"Later."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLuh9N7ysp

Musa accepted it carefully.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm627fF0ekJ

Then she touched his face.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQuJ6BQfEm

The same face she had kissed as a child.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Rz6Ft2m1

The same face she had watched grow into a man.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy2OT7qOVZ

The same face she now feared she might never see again.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk48ZdKYMMZ

Suddenly her strength disappeared.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP319e7kJBA

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eMMOZiMB1

"My son."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia4am3BRB6

Musa immediately embraced her.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvY21rl4gu

The woman trembled.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH1OQOwwxP

Not because she was weak.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzSPBFrYRp

But because love sometimes hurts.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVM2WdTnFA

"I wish your father could see you today."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW5l3YhWp0

Those words shattered the little strength Musa had left.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW028GTQjBY

His own tears began to fall.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrCWYxsFba

For years he had hidden the pain of losing his father.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH0NwYEH9x

Now it returned all at once.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4w0jrZlmy

His mother held him tightly.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyoPgoDxoc

Then she whispered a Yoruba proverb.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFC4fV7yex

"The child who remembers his home will never truly be lost."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYovlG9Xfe

The words settled deep inside his soul.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DLYuhFLz9

No matter where life carried him, home would remain part of him.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYYtrXcfd6

Always.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXYEfyzlh7

Meanwhile, Emeka was saying goodbye to his family.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACfDvTQF16

His younger sister refused to leave his side.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdadOPe7BBD

She followed him everywhere.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRu8X4dCIX

Like a shadow.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmMZhbEmfg

When he picked up his bag, she immediately began crying.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaKOxC2bRS

"Don't go."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgeKQsAAFY

The words pierced his heart.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3vrg23AfX

He knelt before her.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdIvIO4KSP

"I have to."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD1MLr6TpL

"Why?"

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ao9GYddgA

The question was innocent.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIE8bL9p4s

Yet impossible to answer.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwl30MFLI9

How could he explain poverty to a child?

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABN7lauCKB

How could he explain dreams?

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeuAr3okMk

How could he explain sacrifice?

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdLqnNCrt7

He smiled gently.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ak1etD9fI

"I'm going so that one day things can be better."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9eu1dMl47

The little girl shook her head.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRSk0b5T3P

"I don't want better."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoWsGEBw7i

Her voice cracked.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9B5owSAT6

"I want you."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrzFpoDnfV

Emeka felt tears burning his eyes.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNtZWqwH2y

His mother turned away.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpkpFmfKhZ

Unable to watch.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvygYAjIxY

Even his younger brothers lowered their heads.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOj5V0MHAw

The pain was too much.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1KlMmE21S

Finally, his sister threw her arms around him.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IGh8NYQBv

And for several minutes, nobody spoke.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvdXkzNmcI

The only sound was quiet weeping.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcZmBFBuxd

As dawn approached, the entire village slowly gathered near the old iroko tree.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQKNGv3pGN

Men.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAqp4UQI8m

Women.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqZp0SVUyL

Children.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi79goSxrBh

Elders.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvfeh0rJEQ

Everyone came.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt0MlWgBBk

The three young men stood together with their bags.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLN1Uw8TKf

For the first time, the reality of departure stood before them.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgt6EaraP9

There would be no more delays.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgoKXBG0hR

No more planning.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyJoGWZ4pW

No more dreaming.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoBCjbfNRH

Only action.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCT4PyzkEg

The eastern sky slowly turned orange.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN0U9Jm09q

Sunrise was coming.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9WpxYM0GI

And with it, goodbye.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c2v87sOKG

Baba Ade stepped forward.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uSHMXZ0JI

The old man looked older than usual.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzymy7EnR4

His eyes carried a sadness he could not hide.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOEFRjhNlT

For a long moment, he studied the three friends.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc2JHMg5HE

Then he spoke.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6CfbqIMhz

"A river does not cry when it leaves the mountain, yet it knows it may never return."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbohL4HhBAr

The village became silent.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8kYohimEz

The old man's voice trembled slightly.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgWT1iU7uR

"You are leaving as boys."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAnqNh97zG

He pointed toward the road ahead.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpSiCcbvyV

"Life may return you as men."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZg9WZi2zT

His gaze became serious.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZc7gZ5jU6

"Or it may not return you at all."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni3sPWYwc6

A wave of emotion passed through the crowd.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1wskC9Eqh

Many people began wiping their eyes.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99gs7EKgHv

Because everyone understood the truth.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsPzzOHYxU

The road ahead was uncertain.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfjhXfX7Nd

Dangerous.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04YC80siCP

Unforgiving.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0RvV3wz9g

Nobody knew what awaited them.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqe0A8Pk3K

Baba Ade raised his walking stick.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6gnzMO5ui

Then he spoke one final Yoruba proverb.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J1NqpmmfQ

"The traveler carries two bags: one filled with hope and the other with lessons he has not yet learned."

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NiVS9zcaf

The words hung in the morning air.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvcr5phim4

Powerful.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7TwuxOHOP

Mysterious.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7PdIf1HT7

True.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7d69lATgT

The first rays of sunlight finally appeared above the horizon.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEkHImc7yy

Golden light spread across the village.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDIS7jMswj

Across the farms.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYJ2VBuOPL

Across the houses.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLtZ6t4wiq

Across the faces of those gathered.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3uDIbB6L2

The new day had begun.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWFWX9mHVi

And so had a new chapter of their lives.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtoSn6gMXd

One by one, family members embraced them.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYImKJH0gc8

Some offered prayers.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ345cSeOVXi

Others offered advice.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiCDOj0Rhi

Many offered tears.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf8F12xod9

Tunde hugged his father one last time.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ2KCsmUlV

Musa kissed his mother's forehead.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhgPzxPvRK

Emeka held his sister tightly.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy9LNEaFss

Nobody wanted to let go.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXfJQkkktt

But eventually, they had to.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUAvZLSShJ

Because life moves forward.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcGsoLnL9G

Not backward.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnTLVjrGjd

The three friends adjusted their bags.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1nFkvFSrK

Then turned toward the road leading out of Ajanaku.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGmiFPxkij

The same road they had stared at countless times as children.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKHGAQucTU

The same road they had dreamed about following.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H1asQ2DQq

Now it stood before them.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvoVzjmrWb

Real.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dq5l5r5d

Waiting.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDEvSnb6ea

For a moment, nobody moved.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWku7zwvKK

Then Tunde took the first step.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrouLVP494V

Musa followed.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjXz45oQpR

Emeka followed.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd0twN7RLo

The journey had begun.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaMEuXVUug

Behind them, the village watched silently.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv7ErljdOc

Ahead of them lay the Unknown Land.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUP3PLWDX1

A place filled with promises.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8g8wo6lRe

A place filled with dangers.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYEvHwx4za

A place that would test their friendship, their courage, and their faith.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQbuQyzdZo

As they walked farther away, the figures of their loved ones grew smaller.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TcWr8tnKN

Yet the tears remained.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIODU6x7Ow

Tears of fear.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF8W2iLJ6s

Tears of hope.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN7ZsTUr8j

Tears of love.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoduqeLdM5

And beneath the rising sun, three young men walked toward a future they could not see.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGX5jc1xbV

Unaware that destiny was already preparing their first trial.

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFav6nPRtfR

71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXSJMp2gXJ
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7wzeqhzHJ

ns216.73.217.139da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically