It was a cold Harmattan morning when we decided to explore a hidden path in the eastern part of town. We stumbled upon the hidden path when our staff bus had a punctured tyre a few weeks ago while we were returning home from work. Eden and I saw the tarred road that appeared to be uncharted and overgrown with thick branches and tangled vines but we were determined to check out where it led.
Early in the morning on that cold fateful Saturday, we made our plan come through as we met at the spot to begin the journey through the dense foliage. The voice of the forest overwhelmed us, rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the distant splash of nearby streams. The air was cold and thick with the scent of dampness filling our lungs with each breath we dragged in.
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We had to pull and push our way through the thick undergrowth, scraping and scratching our arms and legs in the process. One thing that kept us going was our sense of adventure. Our fueling determination to discover where this path led strengthened us even when the journey seemed unyielding any tangible results.
After hours of trekking through the forest, we emerged into a clear firmament, so clear like the clouds at the Emmanuel Park. Before us was a waterfall splashing down in a very clear pool. It was a breathtaking sight. It was mesmerising. We do not have any waterfalls in the whole region. So, this one is simply hidden gem in the heart of the forest.
Eden looked me in the eye and said:
I almost gave up this ambition at some point.
I smiled and said back to him:
In life, the best times and opportunities to break forth are just a step ahead. Unfortunately, a lot of people walk away when they are near success.
We sat on the fusty rocks at the fringe of the pool, taking in the charm of the pool and the luxury that is hidden at the end of the uncharted path. The water was cool. And refreshing, luring us to dive to wash away the dirt and sweats from the journey.
I have a phobia for a large body of water. Aside from that, I wasn't sure of which creatures inhabited the water space, that's why I refused to join Eden who was already having a filled day in the pool. As I relaxed by the waterfall for the very first time in my life, I felt a sense of peace and satisfaction wash over me. The noisy and busy city life is far behind and away in the other world, replaced with the serenity of nature and tranquillity.
I made a bond with myself to always try out what an unclear future holds. I won't hold back trying. There are treasures in places that people refuse to visit. A sense of curiosity is all that I need to break even and make a new discovery. We set out after over two hours of cool-off. It seemed that the journey back to the city was shorter than when we were struggling through the uncharted path before we discovered the waterfall.
Eden had a filled day. We are proud to tell our colleagues at work how we ventured on the journey and our discovery.
Six months later, I was transferred to another branch, far away from our discovery which had by now turned to be a relaxation point during the weekends by our colleagues at work. The last weekend I spent there, we all went to have a picnic by the pool with food and music. It was a memorable event that I was sent forth and the venue was the spot we discovered out of curiosity.