Steemit Engagement Challenge (week 2): create your original story // "Akweley" by @paulandam

Akweley had always doubted herself, always took the backseat job— to sit and observe. She was full of great ideas and questions but those were always in her head. Was it fear or doubt? She always wondered.

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But there were those days when she spoke out and from those days people had formed their opinions of her. She was an arrogant, proud, all-knowing girl. The old women said she was going to be a bad wife. The wife took the authority of her husband. Maybe they were right. So she kept to herself. Whoever said they were good ideas anyway. But today was a different day. She stood on a platform— that platform. How she got that opportunity was still a mystery. Who knew her? Who was this person who thought her ideas were good? Who had noticed her little efforts to change her world?

She almost forgot about the speech she had to make. She carefully folded the speech she had written because what could be better than speaking right from her heart, her guts maybe she thought. And So she started from the problems she had noticed, the solutions she thought would work, and then she slipped from the Voltic bottle they had placed beside her, ah Voltic eh.

Then she concluded, ''I will not stand here and condemn every effort we have made so far. Those collective efforts are what have made our society better today but we do not have to be complacent. We have to keep identifying the problems among us even in our own lives. The change indeed begins with us. The values we discarded along the way claiming we were more civilized and modern we have to go back for them. We cannot change this big world in a day but we can start by effecting little changes in our homes our communities our schools, our churches, our mosques, and even on our playgrounds because little drops of water indeed make a mighty ocean.''

As she exited the platform, she saw these big men and women rise and clap for her. A standing ovation. What had they heard that they hadn't heard before? She wished a change will start but she knew wishes were not horses and fantasies didn't come true by magic. She prayed a silent prayer for the hearts of those who had heard her speech today and asked for God's help to even do better than what she had done so far.

At the end of the ceremony, most of the big men and women wanted to meet her. They exchanged pleasantries and she had to hit the road. Mom had called her a lot of times. Sweet mom probably worried about Ghanaians and their time issues. Approaching the house she saw her uncle's car there. Another family meeting.

She greeted them and mumbled something about changing into more comfortable clothes.
"Akweley you're 30 years, when are you thinking of settling down. We like this 'your changing the world crusade' but you should consider getting married. Your mother keeps whining about grandchildren my father stated. This marriage thing again."

''Daddy, I will surely get married. Please don't pressurize me and force me to make wrong choices. Please" This had been her answer for the past two years. Truly, she was 30 and she had to get married but what she didn't tell anyone was her fear her doubts, and her insecurities. How she had ruined two relationships single-handedly.

She had now been named, The Melancholy by the ones who knew I would be happy on my own but was I? Something always held me back from giving up everything to experience that love I always saw around me. She saw how April lit up anytime we mentioned Yaw's name and how even our 'beloved men are trash crusaders.' Joan was all giggles when Mark was around. It seemed nice but also not cut out for her.

There was Jude and then came Kwesi. But she somehow succeeded in pushing all of them away.

Was I allergic to happiness? I always somehow liked to plunge myself into pain, hate, low self—esteem, shame, guilt, sorrow — all those negative emotions. It was time to get help from a psychologist. But these days people just judged you. They never tried to get out the real reason from you. Just judge you and make you feel bad and then hope you'd find your way out yourself. It worked sometimes but for me who kinda fed on this negativity — only God could suffice. She thought to herself cradling her pillow and begging for sleep to take over.

The beautiful breeze swept across her face. Akweley always liked a morning jog and she called the breeze beautiful. With the beads of sweat falling from her forehead, she knew it was time to slow down after all keeping fit didn't mean she had to kill herself. She laughed. Her mind had always been a big part of her. She lived most of her days in her mind, shielded from the skepticism and prying eyes of society. They wanted so much from her yet they offered her very little. It had been two weeks since the announcement at home. The reminder that she wasn't getting any younger.

Since that day she carefully avoided her parents even on Sundays. She didn't believe there was any man in the world who shared her same charisma for the things she believed in — God, truth, and justice. She didn't have to lose herself just to get married. It was an impossible bargain she wouldn't settle for. Perhaps she could learn to bridle her sharp tongue or that annoying sarcasm that laced her answers to ignorant colleagues. She came back home shocked to find her parents at the gate. They laughed when they saw they saw her. 'You can't keep hiding from us in this house' her father said amidst laughter. She smiled, greeted them, and asked them how they were doing. They said they were fine. No talk of marriage Akweley prayed.

She mumbled something about getting dressed to go out. Her mom asked were and she knew the answer wouldn't make her morning better but she said it.

'Going to Joan's. We are planning her wedding.' She managed to say painfully. 'Wow greet her for us and send our love. We hope that next time she'll be planning yours too.' Her mom said.

This continued till Akweley met the love of her life. She got married and lived happily with her family.

I will like to invite @saharatu, @rans69 to take part in this contest.

Thanks to @colombiaoriginal for this contest.