THE WOMAN WHO CHOSE HERSELF
"A Door Opened by Love"
The cab pulled up in front of a small but beautiful bungalow painted in soft yellow.
Flowers bloomed along the edges of the walkway, their bright colors waving gently in the morning breeze.
Amara hesitated at the gate, fear creeping up her spine.
Would Isioma look at her with pity?
Would she ask uncomfortable questions?
Would she see Amara as a broken thing to be fixed?
Before she could turn back, the front door swung open.
And there stood Isioma — smiling, arms wide open, no judgment in her eyes.
Amara dropped her bag and ran into her friend’s arms, bursting into tears she didn’t even know she had been holding.
Isioma hugged her tightly, whispering,
"It’s okay, Amara. It’s okay. You’re safe here."
Those simple words melted something inside her.
For the first time since she walked away from her wedding, Amara felt safe.
No accusations.
No anger.
No expectations.
Just love.
Isioma pulled her inside, sat her on the couch, and without asking too many questions, brought her a plate of hot jollof rice and fried plantain.
Amara ate slowly, her heart warming with each spoonful.
Not just because the food was good — but because someone cared enough to feed her without asking why she was "such a disappointment" to her family.
>>>Written by Jed The Creator
Later that evening, as the sun dipped low, Isioma finally spoke.
"You don’t have to tell me what happened if you’re not ready," she said softly.
"But just know this — whatever decision you made, you chose yourself. And that’s the bravest thing anyone can do."
Tears filled Amara’s eyes again, but this time, they weren’t just tears of sadness.
They were tears of release.
Tears of acceptance.
Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as alone as she thought.
Maybe, in this broken and complicated world, there were still people who understood.
And maybe — just maybe — she had made the right choice after all.