In a small village nestled in the heart of a lush valley, a young girl named Leah lived with her loving family. Her days were filled with laughter, games, and helping her mother with household chores. One sunny morning, her mother, a strong and kind woman, tasked Leah and her sister with important errands. Leah's sister was sent to fetch firewood from the farm, while Leah was instructed to fetch water from the nearby stream.
Leah's mother, aware of the potential dangers of the stream, specifically warned her daughter to go with her friends, who were already on their way. But Leah, engrossed in a thrilling game of hide-and-seek with her friends, lost track of time and forgot her mother's instructions. She rushed to the stream alone, her heart pounding with excitement and a hint of fear.
As she approached the stream, she struggled to lift the heavy water pot, her slender arms straining under its weight. Just as she was about to give up, a mysterious creature emerged from the depths of the stream. Origa, a being with an otherworldly appearance, gazed at Leah with an unblinking stare. Leah froze, her heart racing with fear.
Origa, surprisingly, offered to help Leah lift the pot, its strange powers allowing it to do so with ease. But instead of releasing Leah, it clung to her back, refusing to let her go. Leah pleaded with Origa, her voice shaking with fear, but the creature remained stubbornly attached.
Meanwhile, Leah's father, a seasoned hunter, returned home from a long day in the forest, exhausted and concerned about his daughter's safety. He had always been protective of Leah and had warned her about the dangers of the stream. As he approached the house, he heard his daughter's desperate cries for help.
Without hesitation, he rushed towards the stream, his hunting instincts on high alert. Seeing his daughter in distress, he attacked Origa with all his might, determined to save Leah. But in the chaos of the struggle, his actions inadvertently caused fatal harm to his beloved daughter.
Origa, realizing its grip on Leah had loosened, quickly fled the scene, leaving the family to mourn their tragic loss. Leah's father, consumed by grief and guilt, held his daughter's lifeless body, regretting his actions that had led to such a devastating outcome.
The village mourned the loss of Leah, and her father became a shadow of his former self, haunted by the memory of his daughter's tragic fate. The stream, once a source of life and joy, became a reminder of the devastating consequences of that fateful day.
BY ATITSOGBUI JAMES ENAMEDZOR