A path less chosen

In the heart of Kavimba, a rural village cradled by nature’s quiet beauty, Chika was born under the most tragic of circumstances. His mother, Mma Nchunga’s only daughter, died while giving birth to him, leaving Mma Nchunga with a newborn to raise on her own. There was no father figure in Chika's life, for his father had never been around. Mma Nchunga, though devastated by the loss of her daughter, took Chika in her arms with fierce determination. She vowed that her granddaughter’s death would not be in vain—that Chika would have a future.

Mma Nchunga was a woman of quiet strength, a matriarch whose heart was as vast as the village she called home. Though she had lived a difficult life, she was determined to provide Chika with everything she could. Her love was unwavering, and she worked tirelessly to make sure that Chika was never without the love, care, and education he needed. She believed that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and hardship in their family, and she would stop at nothing to give Chika the best chance at life.

As Chika grew older, it became clear that he was a boy of exceptional intelligence. While other children played in the dirt and sang songs under the tree, Chika spent hours reading and studying, fascinated by the world beyond Kavimba. He was a natural learner, always asking questions, driven by a curiosity that extended beyond his small village.

When the letter arrived from Mater Spei College, Mma Nchunga’s heart swelled with pride. Chika had been accepted to one of the best schools in the country, a place where his potential could be fully realized. It was a dream come true, not just for Chika, but for Mma Nchunga, who had always known that her grandson was meant for greater things. The entire village celebrated the news, and there was talk of Chika being the one to bring change to Kavimba, to show everyone what a bright future could look like.

On the day Chika left for Mater Spei, Mma Nchunga stood by the door of their humble home, her eyes filled with tears of joy and sorrow. She held him tightly, pressing a kiss to his forehead, and whispered, “You’re going to do great things, my boy. Remember who you are, and remember where you come from.”

Chika, though excited for the new chapter of his life, felt a deep sense of guilt. Leaving his grandmother—the one person who had given him everything—was harder than he had expected. But he had big dreams, and the city, with its sprawling streets and modern ways, beckoned him.

Mater Spei College, with its grand buildings and diverse student body, was a shock to Chika. The luxury and the fast-paced city life overwhelmed him at first. But it didn’t take long for him to find a group of friends who were easygoing and carefree. They quickly became his confidants, leading him into a world he had never known—a world where rules were bent, and there were no consequences for bad choices.

At first, it was harmless fun. Skipping classes, sneaking out at night, partying. But soon, the boys introduced Chika to something darker: selling drugs to other students. The money was quick and easy, and Chika, desperate to fit in, didn’t think twice about it. His grades plummeted, and the sharp, intelligent boy who had once dreamed of a better life was slowly becoming someone unrecognizable.

Mma Nchunga, back in Kavimba, wrote letters filled with hope and encouragement. She asked about his progress, always signing off with words of wisdom, urging him to stay true to himself. But Chika’s responses became fewer and farther between. He no longer felt the need to call home—his life in the city had taken over, and his dreams of success were buried beneath a veil of bad decisions.

When the inevitable happened, Mma Nchunga was beside herself. She had received a brief letter from Chika—a letter that arrived too late. The news had already reached her ears: Chika had been expelled from Mater Spei for his involvement in drug dealing. Her heart sank as she tried to grasp the reality of it. Expelled. Her bright grandson, caught in a spiral of destruction. But the pain didn’t stop there.

Chika had refused to return home. Instead, he chose to stay in Monarch, a neighborhood known for its dangers and crime. It was here, in the shadows of the city, that Chika lived with his friends, continuing down a path he could never undo. The boy who had once promised greatness to Mma Nchunga was now a stranger, lost in a world that had no place for dreams.

As the months passed, Mma Nchunga’s worry grew heavier. She continued to write to him, pouring her love and longing into each letter. But she never heard back. She would sit by the window every evening, watching the horizon for any sign of her grandson’s return. The hope that had sustained her for so long was slowly fading, replaced by the fear that she would never see him again.

Then, one fateful day, the news came. Chika had been killed in Monarch, a victim of the violence that had consumed his life. He had been caught in a gang-related fight, his lifeless body left in the street, Mma Nchunga collapsed when she heard the news. Her heart, already worn thin from years of worry, could not bear the weight of losing the boy she had raised. The pain was too much—too deep. She died that very day, her heart breaking for the grandson she had loved more than life itself. Her passing was quiet, peaceful in a way, as if she had finally found the peace that had eluded her for so long.

The village of Kavimba mourned the loss of Chika, the boy who had once been their hope for a brighter future, and Mma Nchunga, the woman whose love had given him life. Her legacy, however, lived on in the memories of those who knew her. Her love for Chika, unshaken by the years, remained a testament to the power of unconditional love and belief in one’s potential.