We set off toward the forest, quickening our pace to ensure we could fetch the water and return before dusk. After what felt like two hours of walking, the forest lining came into view. Its dark, towering trees stretched toward the sky, creating a mysterious and serene outline. Just beyond the forest, the path that led to the city, Anglo's Sign, was faintly visible in the distance.
The whole walk was filled with chatter and laughter as the three of us shared jokes, stories, and little secrets. As we talked, "Kalindi, I've always wondered," Nia said, a playful edge to her voice. "Why is it that people are so attached to that old tree near the road? It's just a tree, right? I mean, Maya says that's why the city is called Anglo's Sign, but there's got to be more to it than just the way it looks."
I smirked at Nia. "I did tell you the story already. The tree's branches form a cross, so people thought it was a sign from the heavens."
Nia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, but that's boring. I want to hear Kalindi's version—it'll probably be better than yours."
Kalindi chuckled, adjusting the bundle on her head as she spoke. "Well, your version isn't wrong, Maya, but there's a bit more to it. My mother-in-law used to tell me that the tree wasn't just any tree—it was considered sacred. People believed it had magical properties, that it could guide travellers safely to the city."
"Magical properties?" Nia asked her curiosity now fully piqued.
Kalindi nodded. "Yes, they said the tree was planted hundreds of years ago by a group of travellers who had lost their way. They prayed for a sign, something to lead them out of the wilderness. The next day, they stumbled upon this tree with branches that naturally formed a cross, pointing toward the open plains where the city now stands. They believed it was a sign from angels, so they named the city Anglo's Sign in honor of that moment."
I tilted my head, intrigued. "I didn't know about the travellers. I thought it was just about the tree's shape."
Kalindi smiled. "Well, most people only remember the shape now. The story gets lost over time. But my mother-in-law loved old tales, and she used to say that the tree was a reminder that guidance and hope can come when you least expect it. That's why it became such an important symbol for the city."
Nia grinned. "So, basically, it's not just a tree—it's a miracle tree."
Kalindi laughed. "If you want to call it that, sure."
As we walked, I couldn't help but glance toward the road where the tree stood. Its dark silhouette against the sky seemed almost ethereal, a quiet reminder of how small things could carry such deep meaning.
Changing the topic, Kalindi mentioned something that piqued my interest. "By the way, Grace will be coming to the village in three days."
I smiled, my mood instantly lifting. "Really? It's been so long since I last saw her!"
"She's visiting us?" Nia asked, her excitement matching mine.
Kalindi nodded. "Yes, for a few days. You know how much she misses all of us."
Grace was the fourth member of our little group. Unlike us, she didn't live in the village. She lived in Anglo's Sign and only came to visit occasionally, but when she did, it felt like a celebration.
"She still works on the outskirts of the city, right?" Nia asked, her tone softening.
Kalindi nodded again, her expression growing more serious. "Yes, she works at the brothel her mother used to run. After her mother passed, Grace took over."
The mention of Grace's work brought a thoughtful silence between us. Kalindi was the first of us to meet Grace. They had crossed paths years ago, back when Kalindi's husband—before he passed—was a regular customer at the brothel.
"She's been through so much," Kalindi added quietly. "But Grace has a way of turning her pain into strength. She's one of the strongest people I know."
I felt a surge of admiration for Grace. Despite the hardships she faced, she carried herself with grace and dignity. She never let the weight of others' judgment break her spirit.
"I can't wait to see her," I said, my voice filled with genuine excitement.
"Me too," Nia agreed. "We'll make her visit unforgettable."
With that, our spirits lifted once more, and we continued our journey toward the well, laughing and planning how we'd welcome Grace when she arrived.
After half an hour of walking, we finally reached the edge of the forest. We entered, and immediately the silence enveloped us. The only sounds we could hear were the chirping of crickets and the occasional birdsong. The path was narrow and winding, the sunlight creating long shadows ahead of us, but once we stepped inside the thick canopy of trees, the brightness faded, and a quiet darkness surrounded us.
I couldn't quite explain it, but suddenly, I felt the weight of the pots on my head and hips become heavier. It was strange; I'd carried them this way countless times, yet now they seemed almost too much to bear. Maya felt it too, but we didn't say anything; we just kept walking in silence, our steps steady as we made our way toward the well.
The forest path leading to the well was only about fifteen minutes long, but it always felt longer when you were deep inside it. As we walked, the sounds of animals grew louder and more aggressive. It was as though the creatures could sense that we had entered their domain. The rustling of leaves, the distant growl of some unseen animal, and the sounds of branches creaking filled the air. It felt as if the forest itself was alive, watching us as we moved through it.
The trees were so thick here that walking side by side became impossible. We had to form a single line. Kalindi took the lead, walking confidently as though she knew the forest like the back of her hand. Nia followed closely behind her, with me at the rear, always keeping my eye on the darkening path ahead.
There was something strange about this forest. It was like the very air held an unspoken magic, one that could make even the most talkative person fall silent. Nia, for once, didn't say a word. It was as if the forest had cast a spell over her, and we walked in the kind of quiet you only find in places where no one dares to speak too loudly.
When we finally reached the well, the silence was even more profound. The wind, the birds, the animals—all of them seemed to hold their breath. Only our own breathing echoed in the stillness. I quickly set down my pots and began to fetch the water, the rope slipping silently into the depths below. The well had always been a strange place—no one knew exactly who had built it or when it had appeared. Some whispered that it had been created by a witch, a woman who once lived in the forest before she abandoned it, leaving the well behind as the only trace of her existence.
We didn't talk much as I filled the pots, the weight of the silence pressing down on us. It felt like the forest itself was waiting, watching, as if there was something more to this place than met the eye.
We quickly came out of the forest after filling the pots with water and started moving toward the village. We had just taken 15 or 16 steps when someone suddenly said, "Excuse me" from behind us. We froze, and I was so startled that I almost dropped the pots I was carrying—one on my head and one by my hips.
We turned around at the same time, and there, standing behind us, was a man holding an empty water bottle.
I asked him. The man had green eyes and a strong physique, like he worked out or something. His hair was messy, as if he had been running, which only increased my fear. I wondered if he had been following us all the way to the well to get us alone. I could tell Kalindi was feeling the same way, because she also asked him who he was and what he was doing here.
The man smiled and said, "I'm a traveller. We ran out of water and thought you might have some to spare."
Kalindi quickly replied, "No, we don't have any water."
Maybe we could have shown kindness if we didn't know what happened to Nia's mother all those years ago. She had shown kindness to a strange man once, and that's when everything went wrong.
After Kalindi's response, we started walking back toward the village. But we heard footsteps behind us, and the man called out, "Please, please, give me some water. I don't have any. Please."
His plea kind of made me weak, so I said to Kalindi, "Let's just give him some water."
Nia quickly responded, "No, no, we're not going, we're not giving him any water, What if we go near him and he calls another man or something?"
Kalindi was still wary, but I added, "I don't think he has any friends. Just look at him—his appearance, he's shaken."
Kalindi accepted and said, "OK, fine, let's give him water and just get going."
We all three walked towards him with cautious steps. His body stiffened, like he was waiting for us to make a move. When we were just five steps away from him, he started moving towards us. I quickly stopped him and said, "Stop right there. Throw your water bottle here, and I'll fill it up and toss it back to you."
He threw his empty water bottle towards us, and Nia caught it. I set down my three pots on the ground and took the water bottle from Nia.
What kind of water bottle was this? It was huge—much bigger than anything I had ever seen before. I held it in my hands, and it was nearly the size of the pot I had been carrying. I told Nia to fill the water bottle while I held it. It was so heavy.
After refilling the water bottle, I threw it towards him. He caught it effortlessly, as though he was already so trained in handling heavy things like that. After that, we continued walking back to the village.
As we made our way back, the conversation turned towards the man. Nia was gushing about how handsome he was, which was strange coming from her. Just moments ago, she had been the most reluctant to give him any water, and now she couldn't stop talking about his looks. It was almost like she'd completely forgotten her earlier doubts and fears.