The Charisma Report

  I knew a day like this would come but why that particular day? I was supposed to be celebrating my 45th and not regretting a stupid mistake. It was unreal. I blame my mother-in-law for everything.  I watched as Dayo sniffed the peanut butter cake and he took a careless bite. “I said she showed me what you wrote,” He said and stuttered like he was still trying to understand what he said. I stared at Doctor Fumi behind me, such a beautiful devil. She could kill you and weep the most at your funeral.  She was expressionless. A fly could perch on her face, and she won't move. Her guts to even stand before me.  ''Mo kú oh. I'm dead.'' I muttered and shook my head with a faint smile. My head was spinning, my heart racing, I wonder who else she told about this. My heart, ah. I did not know how to feel. Fumilayo has finished me. “ How could you?” My voice was cold and angry. She hesitated and furrowed her eyebrows. “How could I do what?” She replied, pretending like h...

I felt the world around me stop for a minute. Everyone was waiting for me to speak up but my throat went dry, I could hardly feel saliva in my mouth. The sitting room was pin-drop silent, I could hear the clock ticking. Doctor Fumi tossed the diary to my side and crossed her arms standing right in front of me. I bent my head in regret as I stared at her shoes, my old red diary on my thighs. I felt so messed up. My daughters were sensitive enough to excuse us after they exchanged questioning glances. Then I opened the diary, feeling every part of the pages soaked with depressing thoughts of my early days. My late father gifted the diary to me on the day before he passed on. He instructed that I write positive things only but I did not keep to his wishes. As soon as my last marriage turned sour, it became a book of my darkest secrets and deep bad thoughts.  “I also read it. How could you, Tinu?” She said, “I thought you loved your son! I thought you loved Dayo!”. She was not 'scoldin...

        Mama and I exchanged glances. There was an awkward silence. We watched as Papa pressed his cell phone against his ear, all he did was to say yes twice and nod. The call ended, and he heaved a deep sigh, I knew he was in a Dilemma.  “The bus leaves in 10 minutes, they will soon be here to get me.” He said to no one in particular. I simply turned my head away. My instincts don't lie, he won't come back to us.  “So, they cannot wait till the weather is better?” Mother asked with furrowed eyebrows. The rain had stopped but it drizzled at that moment. Awkward silence again, the birds taking full control of the atmosphere. “Okay...sit” Papa waved to our old leather brown cushions. “Please” He added. I pretended to not hear but at the same time, caught Mama's eyes. Those eyes though, they speak for her so well. I reluctantly sat, still looking away. His big ted talk was the last thing I needed. “Listen, I understand how both of you feel. This was sudden bu...

My sweating palms held the old suitcase of my departing father. Tears wailed up already as I practised the calmness therapy debating the wisdom of staying strong. I did not want to cry as I tried my best to ignore the drama behind me. All I thought of, was his Death. I always saw things from the positive aspect but at that time, I couldn't help it. It was obvious, nobody ever got back alive from all the stories I've read and movies I've seen. Also, everything just felt weird that day, the singing birds did not even excite me. Why were they even interrupting my thoughts with their bad voices? Even the weather was acting crazy, the rain never fell in the dry season. I just didn't get it. I adjusted my scarf and rested by the door staring at nothing.  I glanced behind me. I saw a tear roll down his cheek. I had never seen Papa cry before. I looked away while he brushed the offending cheek with his hand. I was the only one not crying this time around. Mama cried herself to ...

  Landscape photography is the art of capturing pictures of nature and the outdoors in a way that brings your viewer into the scene. From grand landscapes to intimate details, the best photos demonstrate the photographer’s own connection to nature and capture the essence of the world around them.  Landscape photography  shows spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. Landscape photographs typically capture the presence of nature but can also focus on man-made features or disturbances of landscapes. Landscape photography is done for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most common is to recall a personal observation or experience while in the outdoors, especially when traveling. Others pursue it particularly as an outdoor lifestyle, to be involved with nature and the elements, some as an escape from the artificial world. Many landscape photographs show little or no human activity and are created in the pursuit of a pure, ...