A Place Called Peace.
The first time Somto said she needed a quiet place, Didi didn’t even take her serious.
“Quiet place?” Didi laughed, almost spilling her drink. “In this Nigeria? Where exactly you wan see am?”
Somto just shook her head resting her chin on her palm. "I’m serious Didi. Everywhere is too noisy. My head isn’t resting.”
They were sitting outside a food joint. A generator was humming loudly behind them ,Plates were clanking. People were arguing over change.
“Madam your balance isn’t complete!”
“Check it well!”
Didi leaned closer. "So what’s happening? You have never been like this before.”
Somto sighed. "Nothing really…. Everything at the same time, School, people, noise, my own thoughts… it is like my brain won’t calm down.”
Didi looked at her for a second then smirked. "You have started overthinking right? You just need small rest.”
“I need more than rest my dear " Somto said quietly. "I need silence.”
Two days later Somto was packing a small bag.
Didi sat on the bed watching her like she was about to do something illegal
“So you are actually doing this thing?" she asked.
“Yes " Somto replied, folding her clothes neatly. "I just want to go somewhere quiet for a bit.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
Didi frowned. "This isn’t a heartbreak thing is it?”
Somto laughed. "Not everything is a man problem okay.”
“Okay " Didi said, raising her hands. "Just make sure you are safe and call me.”
“I will.”
The journey was longer than Somto expected, When she finally got there she noticed the difference immediately.
No horns.
No shouting.
No generator noise.
Just… calm.
She stepped down slowly looking around like she wasn’t sure it was real.
“Wow…" she whispered. "So places like this still exist?”
She checked into a lodge, It wasn’t fancy, It was neat and quiet , The woman at the desk smiled warmly, "You are welcome, you came alone?”
“Yes.”
“You will enjoy it here , it is very peaceful.”
Somto smiled, "That’s what I came for.”
That evening she went for a walk, the road was almost empty, a few people were passing by quietly, trees lined the sides, the breeze felt soft against her skin, she found a bench nearby and sat down.
For once she did not reach for her phone, she just sat there breathing and listening to nothing.
Somehow that nothing felt like everything she needed.
“You like it here?”
Somto turned quickly.
A girl stood beside the bench holding a nylon bag, "Sorry " the girl said with a smile, "I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay " Somto replied, "I just wasn’t expecting anyone.”
The girl nodded, "This place is always like this, quiet, calm, some people don’t like it, but love it.”
Somto smiled. "Same here, that is why I came.”
The girl sat down beside her, "I’m Didi.”
Somto blinked, then laughed, "Didi?”
“Why are you laughing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“My friend’s name is Didi too.”
“Ah, what a coincidence " she grinned. "So what’s your name?”
“Somto.”
They sat quietly for a while, It didn’t feel awkward at all.
After a minutes Didi spoke again.
“You know that sometimes it is not the noise that is the problem?”
Somto looked at her, "What do you mean?”
“Even if everywhere is quiet , if your mind isn’t calm you won’t feel at peace.”
Somto nodded slowly, "Hmmm that is true.”
“So what are you running from?" Didi asked gently.
Somto exhaled,
"Honestly I don’t even know, i just feel overwhelmed, It is like everything is just too much.”
Didi smiled softly,
" It will be like that sometimes, you don’t always need to run, sometimes you just need to sit with yourself.”
Somto leaned back thinking about it.
“Hmm… I have never really tried that.”
“Well " Didi said, pointing her hand around. "This is a good place to start.”
That night Somto lay on her bed staring at the ceiling.
No noise.
No distractions.
Just quiet.
For the first time in a long while her mind wasn’t racing, It wasn’t completely silent, It felt lighter.
“Maybe I needed this " she whispered.
The morning her phone rang, It was her friend Didi.
“Madam traveler " her friend’s voice came through. "How are you? did you find your quiet place?”
Somto smiled.
“I think I have or at least I’m getting there.”
“So you won’t come back again?" her friend teased.
Somto laughed. "I will come back, I have learned something.”
“Something how?”
“That quiet place I was looking for… it’s not just a location. It’s something you create inside yourself too.”
There was a silence.
“Wow " her friend said finally. "You have changed o”
Somto laughed softly.
“Maybe a little.”
That day she returned to the same bench.
Same breeze.
Same silence.
This time she closed her eyes.
Instead of running from her thoughts… she let them settle.
For the first time, in a long while…
Everything felt calm.
