Don’t Run, My Love

In the heart of Kija, an ancient Angamis village, resides Atuonuo alongside her widowed mother, Visuenuo. Their existence is intertwined with the rhythm of seasons, guided by the unending annual toil of cultivating and reaping, digging and sowing. Amidst this toil, a tranquil existence prevails, nurtured by a closely-knit community of sagacious elders and caring, albeit occasionally overbearing, neighbors and kin. However, serenity is fractured by the arrival of Kevi, a youthful and agile hunter possessing an irresistible magnetism, eclipsing all others in handsomeness within the village.

During harvest season, Kevi extends his assistance and presents a share of venison, triggering an unexpected cascade of events. Enamored by Atuonuo, he extends a proposal of marriage. Yet, Atuonuo, youthful and uncertain of her heart’s desires, hesitates and declines his advances. Love’s gentle overtures evolve into something more ominous as Kevi’s emotions, wounded by rejection, transform into viciousness, unveiling an aspect of his character that lies beyond the realm of her mother and her own worst apprehensions.

With delicate proficiency and poetic language, Easterine Kire taps into both folklore and a deep comprehension of human psyche, masterfully weaving a gripping narrative that delves into the enigmatic dance between love and the shadows it occasionally summons.