REFLECTION STORIES &THOUGHTS

FEAR WITHIN I stare into oblivion, Anxiousness eats me inside, Stomach churns, I clench my jaws. I want it to be successful, I want it to make me smile, Yet fear dulls me up, I can only hope and pray. The news start to stream in, I wait nervously, She has emerged, All beautiful and cordial, I stare in disbelief, A laughter escapes me, "Welcome to the World".

1 It was morning again, The bird’s rhythmic sounds rent the air, The crowing of the cock woke the humans, Grandma was out milking. I was getting up when I saw it, I screamt out of sheer anguish, Grandpa called after me, Mamma ran to my room. I stared at her perplexed, She saw it then and smiled, She looked so happy, You are now a woman!. I was confused, I felt dirty, I could not hold back the tears, Her words resounded, “She is now ready!” Grandma sang that day, Mamma laughed all day, Grandpa drank Chang’aa over and over, Pappa roasted the meat in the afternoon. I heard them whisper, He was coming at last, To get that which he had promised, I kept to my room. Visitors filled our homestead, The party began, Everyone danced and sang to the music, I remained in my room distraught. Mamma came after me, My favourite Cousin Joy at her side,...

   By Rosyline Gechemba N. It is ridiculous how teenagers are succumbing to lifestyle diseases in their hay years. Teenagers are supposed to be energetic, passionate, rowdy, intelligent and all those good qualities. However, some are just bored, sullen, tired and fed up with life that all they can do is watch TV all day. It is pretty sad to look at the statistics, to know that a teenager is going to die because he was too exhausted to exercise or live a healthy life. Causes of Lifestyle Diseases Type 2 diabetes,  cancer, heart diseases and obesity are some of the common lifestyle diseases that have emerged in recent years. These diseases are brought about by the lack of exercise, poor diet, lack of sleep and behavioral factors such as unsafe environment and stress and poor living conditions at home. Lifestyle diseases are preventable diseases and should not be the cause of worry in many countries. One would think that with the advancement in technology ...

Losing a loved one is painful, Painful because of the memories, Memories taken for granted, Granted but not intended, Intended that you be friends forever. We should appreciate each smile, Smile that turns into laughter, Laughter that makes our life bearable, Bearable when they are gone. Today all I have are photos, Photos of you, You with a kind heart and soul, Soul that I now pray for. May you find rest, Rest till we meet again, Again in eternity, Eternity in God’s light.

A new year beckons, the old is gone, with it the memories of good and bad times. Gona looked at his diary and quickly shook his head perhaps at the unmarked resolutions he had not been able to accomplish. He looked at the first one, he was to buy his father a suit, he had not accomplished this as he did not know his father’s measurements and was afraid to ask him. He saw the second he was to renew his spiritual life; he was not sure if he had accomplished this. He had been to church a number of times, tried to pray before meals but still felt empty. He wondered what he needed to do to feel closer to God. He took out a pen from his drawer and wrote the word Google in the place of a tick. He scrolled towards the end of the list and saw the three fun things he had not managed to do as a result of finances. He had not gone for camping, swimming or picnic with his girlfriend even after promising her a couple of times.  This year he hoped for great things, knew that he had to do some...

I look at him sleeping, Sleeping calm and peaceful, Peaceful he is not, Not quiet and relaxed, Relaxed but likes to terrorise, Terrorize the sister, Sister who is older than him. He is a wonder, Wonder to watch, Watch him crawl by, By how he likes to try, Try to stand and fall, Fall he dislikes, Dislikes when he cannot walk. He has learnt to talk, Talk by childish chatter, Chattering he loves, Loves to make noises, Noises that pronounce, Pronounce how young, Young and cute he is. He calls to me now, Now he is up and work starts, Start by making a meal, Meal that he chooses, Chooses to eat calmly, Calmly or disturb, Disturb he loves moreso porridge. Porridge they hate i wonder why, Why it is the most nutritious, Nutritious to eat and grow, Grow every step , Step by step daily, Daily and always, Always i pray for them.

The Secret Julie’s face looked a mess as she had been crying for quite a while, she took out a handkerchief and quickly wiped her face as she heard her daughter call out. Talia, her daughter looked at her and came to touch her face with a worried look. “Mum, what is wrong? Did dad beat you again?” Julie shook her head and stood up from the seat and grabbed the utensils from the table and walked to the kitchen. “Mum, why do you allow him to beat you, mum please talk to me”. Julie looked at her daughter, started to say something but her voice was hoarse from so much crying. She coughed to clear her throat and looked at Talia. “Dear, am trying to be strong, kindly understand your father, he is just frustrated at work”. Talia looked at her mother in shock, she could not understand why she was making excuses for him. “He has no right to beat you mum, just because he is frustrated at work, you need to stand up for yourself next time. Am running late I came to pick my clutch bag I left it ...