In a house filled with silence and pain, there existed a small room in the house that was protected by a door that knew many emotions. In this small room lived a father who spoke in the language of the doors. When trouble tiptoed, the father would flee into this room, slamming the door with a bang. The door bore witness to the whirlwind of his emotions.
Right next to father’s small room lived a little girl named Ayaa, the only girl among little boys in the house. A family of three boys, a girl , their mother, and father. Ayaa’s heart felt everything, even though it was not as big as father’s. Every time the door went “Bang!” Ayaa’s heart would flutter with unsettled emotions. It understood the story that was being told and knew something was not right. She wished, with all her might and power, that the bangs would stop. She wanted to feel calm and happy.
One night, as she lay asleep, the moonlight painted her a path into the garden of wisdom. In this magical garden stood an old lady who introduced herself as Tula. In Ayaa’s tribe, Tula meant owl, and owls were known to be wise and intelligent. Guided by Tula’s wisdom, she began to understand that the door’s bangs were not arrows aimed at her little heart but echoes of emotions seeking a safe heaven.
When Ayaa woke up the next morning, she ran into her father’s small room, knowing he’d already be awake. He almost always was before her.
“Father, are you okay?” she asked softly. “The door bangs… I really don’t like them. Every time it slams, this anxious rhythm echoes through my room. So please, if you could try not to bang it so much, it would really mean the world to me.”
Father was very surprised to learn that, despite Ayaa being small, she was able to understand and feel what was happening. He felt really bad that his actions had affected her that much. So he made a choice to be careful, and from that day on, he stopped the bangs. The door, once marked with anger and detachment, turned into a portal to heartfelt conversations. Ayaa’s heart was no longer captive to anxious beats. She finally found the calmness and peace she had wished for.
PIECESBYRUTH 