Uncle James sat on the bed , facing me , his shoulders heavy with the weight of the story. He wiped away the small streak of tears from his face, his voice trembling as he continued.
" I forgot we were in hiding amd became overwhelmed with sorrow ," he said "I yelled her name and shook her , hoping and praying shoe would wake up . But she was stiff and lifeless in my arms ."
He paused , his eyes clouded with grief, before speaking again .
" I carried her , dodging the men searching for us . And took her body home .I burried her behind our house . I started running towards our family home near the sea .What I didn't know was that one of the men had been following me , trying to figure out where we had hidden you ."
His voice broke slightly as he continued.
" I reached the house and found your gradma holding you on her left and holding a small bag at her right , I grabbed you both , and started running towards the sea . In the distance, I spotted a ship that delivered goods to Ghanaland . It felt like our only hope ."
Uncle James stopped for a moment, his gaze distant , as if the memory was replaying vividly in his mind .
" The man following us began throwing arrows. We dodged them as best as we could, running as fast us our legs could carry us . Just when we thought we couldn't go any further, we came across captain Johnson , a kind man from Barbados.
He offered us a helping hand. And carried both your and your grandma onto the ship while I followed behind . But as I was climbing aboard, I felt a sharp, searing pain at my ankle. I looked down and realized I had been struck by an arrow ."