THE FRAM WAS UNDER MY BED__14TH OCTOBER

I found the frame under my bed.

We bought it two years ago at Onitsha Main Market. Big white frame, expensive. The seller said "this one na for wedding picture."

We were going to use it for our wedding. Emeka and I.

We never even printed a picture for it. We kept saying "next month, when we have money." Then Emeka left.......He said I was too ammbitious, that I wanted too much.

For one year, the empty frame stayed under my bed, facing the wall. I couldn't throw it away. I couldn't look at it. Every timme I saw it, I saw a futuree that never happeneed.

Today I was cleaning my roo....... I pulled it out. Dust everywhere.

I wanted to throw it away. Then I looked at my wall. My wall was empty. Plain. Like my life since he left.

I took my graduation picture — just me, in my black gown, smiling with my certificate. The picture I took alone last month. No Emeka, no boyfriend, just me and my hard work.

I put it inside the frame.

It fit perfectly.

I hung it on the wall. White frame, black gown, my smile.

My sister came in and said, "Ah, this frame fine for you o. Who take this picture?"

I said, "I did."

I thought the frame was for us. But it was always for me. I just needed to frame the right picture.

Sometimmes you don't need to throow the framme away............You just neeed to changge the picturee insidee.

IMAGE SOURCE AI