“Akpabio!”

“I can see you. Please open the door! The Bear is coming. It’s coming for me!” I cried. 

“Akpabio! Akpabio!”

What’s going on? I can see Akpabio. It was dark but the moonlight reflected on my beautiful black skin. Surely Akpabio can tell it’s me outside. 

Even if he can’t see me, I am sure he can hear me. Hear my beautiful, distinct voice. My voice is the reason Akpabio, and I became friends. 

I still remember that day. It was the first day of school. All I said was “hello” and Akpabio turned and said he wanted to be my friend. 

So why isn’t he answering?

I kept screaming. I can see him inside. The lantern was on. He’s awake. Why wasn’t he responding?

And as if heaven conspired in my favor, he finally looked in my direction! 

God! He can see me. 

“Akpabio! It’s me, your friend. Open the door please!”

“Heavens!” How did I get here?

It came back in a rush. I was in the woods with some friends. Then, I took a break to see the moonlight, to bask in its beauty. The moon’s beauty had always fascinated me. It reminds me how darkness carries a light of its own.

I can see the moonlight today. It’s bright as usual and illuminates the night. But the night came with its own danger. A danger that I became aware of as soon as my friends screamed – “the Bear is coming!”

I hadn’t even seen the Bear, yet I ran for my life. Everyone scattered.  I didn’t know where my friends were. All I knew was Akpabio had a camp house nearby.

But why today? Why now?

Why was Akpabio not helping when he ran from the Bear and knew it could come for me too?

Akpabio walked towards me. Finally!

“Akpabio!” I screamed! It’s me, Rukkie.  Open the door!”

I saw him. He was with Shade, one of our friends.  Surely, he saved Shade from the Bear, like he’d save me too. 

Akpabio opened the door. I was excited!

But something was wrong.

Akpabio and Shade looked me dead in the eye. Their cold stare froze me. I got chills. And in an instant, they shut the door. 

“Akpabio! Shade! Please, help me.”

My chest tightened. I kept knocking, begging, but the leaves rustled. The Bear was close.

I needed to find a way. 

I must hide.

No, I should run. As I was about to start running, I heard it. It was a voice. 

No. Stay. Stay back and fight. The Bear is an experience, and you determine how you feel and experience it. It’s a figment. Fight because it’s only by fighting that you’ll fly. So, Fò, Rukkie. Fly. Fly, my kinswoman. 

I paused. Where did the voice come from?

I looked around but saw no one. I listened, and as the thuds drew closer, I felt a knot in my chest. 

It was finally here.

I closed my eyes. Maybe this was my last day on earth. I opened my eyes so I could confront the beast head on.

But it wasn’t a bear. 

It was a squirrel. 

I let out a sigh of relief. It was nothing but a scared squirrel. It was trembling like I was.

I had let fear dictate my experience.

As I cuddled the trembling creature, I heard the voice again.

Keep fighting because that’s how you’ll fly. So, Fò.  Fly. Fly Rukkie. You made it this far. 

I looked around and saw no one in sight. But where did the voice come from?

And then it dawned on me!

It came from within.

It was me. I came to my own rescue. 

As I held my new squirrel friend, warmth spread through me. The ice was melting. And at that moment, I figured it out:

Nature placed that voice within us so, we can rise, fly and face our fears. 

What do we choose to do with fear? It will surely come knocking but sometimes, the greatest rescue already exists within us.

So, Fò and fly.