THEME: KNOCK YOURSELF OUT
TITLE: THE STORY OF MIRIAM
Written by SANKHULANI DAKA
It was a warm, humid day in the heart of Africa. The sun was shining down on the dusty streets, casting long shadows as people went about their daily business. Amongst them walked a young woman, her head down, lost in thought. Her name was Mariam, and she was struggling. Struggling to find her place in the world, struggling to find love, struggling to find meaning in her life. Mariam was plagued by an existential crisis that seemed to have no end. She had grown up in a small village in the countryside. She was the youngest of three siblings, and her parents had high hopes for her. They wanted her to follow in their footsteps and become a successful farmer. But Mariam had other ideas. She wanted to see the world, to experience new things, to find her own path in life.
So, Mirriam left her village and moved to the city. At first, she was excited by the hustle and bustle, by the bright lights and the endless possibilities. But soon, reality set in. Mariam found it hard to make friends. She didn’t fit in with the other young people in the city, who seemed to be more interested in partying and having fun than in deep conversations and meaningful connections. Mariam felt isolated and alone. She missed her family and the simple life she had left behind. She missed the smell of freshly plowed earth, the sound of the rooster crowing in the morning, the taste of her mother’s cooking.
Mariam tried to make the best of it. She got a job as a receptionist at a local hotel, but it was a dead-end job with little opportunity for advancement. She tried online dating, but the men she met were either not interested in a serious relationship or only interested in her for her looks. Mariam felt like she was living in a world that didn’t understand her. She felt like she was on the outside looking in, watching as everyone else went about their lives, finding happiness and fulfillment while she remained stuck in a rut. Her existential crisis deepened. She started to question the meaning of life, the purpose of existence. She wondered if there was any point to it all, if there was any reason to keep going.
Mariam found solace in reading. She read books about philosophy, about spirituality, about the meaning of life. She read about people who had faced similar struggles and had come out the other side stronger, wiser, more enlightened. But even that wasn’t enough. Mariam felt like she was stuck in a never-ending cycle of despair. She tried to talk to her colleagues about her feelings, but they just brushed her off, telling her to “get over it” and “stop being so dramatic.” Mariam felt like she was living in a world that didn’t care about her, that didn’t understand her. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of loneliness and despair.
One day, Mariam decided she needed to take action. She quit her job at the hotel and bought a one-way ticket to a small village on the edge of the Sahara desert. She had heard that there was a community of people there who lived simply, who were focused on spirituality and self-improvement. When she arrived, Mariam was struck by the beauty of the landscape. The desert stretched out before her, vast and endless, the sand dunes shifting and changing in the wind. The people in the village were warm and welcoming, and Mariam felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged. She started to attend the local mosque, where she listened to the imam’s sermons about the importance of faith, of community, of living a simple yet meaningful life. She started to volunteer at the local school, teaching children how to read and write. She started to learn Arabic and the local dialect, immersing herself in the culture of the village.
Slowly but surely, Mariam started to feel like she was finding her place in the world. She started to feel like she was making a difference, that her life had meaning and purpose. One day, as she was walking through the village, she met a man named Ahmed. Ahmed was a farmer, with deep brown eyes and a kind smile. They struck up a conversation, and Mariam found herself drawn to him. They started to spend more time together, talking about their hopes and dreams, about their struggles and their fears.
Mariam felt like she had finally found someone who understood her, who saw her for who she was. Ahmed was patient and kind, always willing to listen to her and support her. They started to date, and Mariam felt like she had finally found the love she had been searching for. She felt like everything was finally falling into place. But life is never that simple. One day, Ahmed got sick. He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and the doctors told him that he only had a few months to live.
Mariam was devastated. She had finally found someone who understood her, who loved her and now he was going to be taken away from her. She spent every moment she could with Ahmed, taking care of him, holding his hand, and praying for a miracle. But the miracle never came. Ahmed passed away peacefully in his sleep, leaving Mariam heartbroken and alone once again.
Mariam felt like she had hit rock bottom. She had lost the love of her life, and she couldn’t go back to the life she had left behind. She felt like everything she had worked for had been for nothing. But slowly, she started to realize that Ahmed had given her something that no one else ever had: a sense of purpose. He had shown her that there was more to life than just existing, that there was love and meaning to be found even in the darkest of times.
Mariam spent days in her house, barely getting out of bed. She couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and couldn’t stop thinking about what had gone wrong. She had thought she had it all figured out, but now she was lost again. One day, a friend came to visit her. She tried to talk to Mariam, but she was unresponsive. The friend noticed a brochure on the table for a volunteer organization that helped sick people. She suggested to Mariam that volunteering might help her feel better and give her a sense of purpose. Mariam didn’t feel like doing anything, but her friend persisted, reminding her of how she used to be passionate about helping others. Mariam finally agreed to give it a try.
The first day of volunteering was tough, but Mariam found that she felt a little better by the end of it. Mariam started to volunteer at the local hospital, taking care of patients who were alone and afraid. She started to write about her experiences, sharing her journey of self-discovery and hope with others who were struggling. And slowly but surely, Mariam started to find her way out of the darkness. She realized that her existential crisis had been a gift, in a way – it had forced her to confront her deepest fears and to find her own path in life.
Mariam’s writing began to gain traction. People from all over the world started reading her blog and sharing her story. They were drawn to her honesty and vulnerability, and many found comfort in her words. Mariam started to receive messages from people who were also struggling with existential crises, loneliness, and a sense of purposelessness. They told her that her words had given them hope, that they had inspired them to keep going.
Mariam realized that her purpose in life was to help others who were going through similar struggles. She started to write more about her journey, sharing her insights and advice with those who needed it. She also started to give talks at local schools and community centers, encouraging young people to pursue their dreams and find meaning in their lives. Mariam knew that she could never go back to the life she had left behind, but she also knew that she had found something much more valuable: a sense of purpose and a way to make a difference in the world.
Years passed, and Mariam became a respected writer and speaker. Her work had touched the lives of countless people, and she had found a community of like-minded individuals who shared her values and beliefs. But despite all of her success, Mariam never forgot the lessons she had learned in the desert. She knew that life was unpredictable and that there would always be struggles and challenges to overcome. But she also knew that there was always hope to be found, even in the darkest of times.
Miriam’s story of existential crisis, grief, and loss taught her several valuable lessons. Here are some of the lessons she learnt:
1. Life is unpredictable: Miriam realized that life can be unpredictable and that unexpected events can happen at any time. This led her to appreciate the present moment and to live life to the fullest.
2. Grief and loss are a natural part of life: Miriam learnt that grief and loss are a natural part of the human experience. She realized that it’s okay to grieve and that it’s important to take the time to process her emotions.
3. The importance of self-care: learnt the importance of self-care during times of crisis. She realized that taking care of herself, both physically and emotionally, is essential for her well-being.
4. The value of relationships: Miriam realized the value of relationships and the importance of having a support system during difficult times. She learnt to lean on her loved ones for support and to cherish the time she spends with them.
5. The power of resilience: Miriam learnt that she is stronger and more resilient than she thought. She realized that she has the ability to overcome adversity and to come out the other side stronger and more self-aware.
Today, Mariam is still living in the village on the edge of the Sahara. She is still volunteering at the hospital and writing about her experiences. But now, she is doing it with a sense of purpose and meaning that she never had before. She knows that life is not always easy, that there will be ups and downs, but she also knows that there is hope to be found even in the darkest of times. And as she looks out at the endless expanse of the desert, Mariam knows that she is exactly where she is meant to be. She finally found her place in the world, and she will never be alone again.
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PUBLISH’D AFRIKA Magazine Facebook Short Story Competition is funded by the National Arts Council, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme 3
PUBLISH'D AFRIKA 
Great write up
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