RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

In a bustling city in Africa, there lived a young man named Maurice. Maurice, with his fair complexion and striking looks, often caught the attention of his neighbors. He was friendly, always offering a smile and a kind word, which made him well-liked in the neighborhood.

Maurice lived alone in a small apartment, right next to a lady named Mama Tasha. She was a single mother with two children—her daughter Zola, who had just turned 18, and a younger son named Kofi. Mama Tasha was known for her vivacious personality, her infectious laugh, and the warmth she radiated wherever she went. She had lived in the neighborhood longer than Maurice and had watched him settle into his life there.

One day, Maurice noticed Mama Tasha was giving him more attention than usual. At first, he thought it was just friendly neighborly care. She’d bring him freshly baked bread, invite him for meals, and occasionally share stories about her youth. Maurice didn’t think much of it until the day he overheard a conversation between Mama Tasha and her daughter.

He had been in the hallway, locking his door, when he heard Mama Tasha’s voice. She was telling Zola how she found Maurice to be incredibly charming, and even confessed that she had started to develop feelings for him. Maurice froze. He hadn’t expected this at all. In that instant, he felt his heart race, and his mind started to spin.

Maurice knew that Mama Tasha was a good woman, but he also knew that her feelings were something he could not reciprocate. She had her family, and he felt that getting involved would only complicate things. He worried about Zola, too. At 18, she looked up to him like an older brother, and he didn’t want to disrupt the peace of their household.

The next few days, Maurce tried to avoid Mama Tasha, but she was always there, smiling, waving, and inviting him over. Each invitation made Maurice more anxious. He felt trapped and unsure of how to handle the situation without hurting anyone’s feelings. But as days passed, Mama Tasha’s gestures became even more affectionate, and Maurice’s anxiety turned into a quiet panic.

Then, one evening, he saw her approaching his door with a warm smile, a basket of fruit in her hand, and a gleam in her eye that told him she was ready to have the conversation. Maurice knew he had to make a decision, and fast. In that split second, he made up his mind.

Without a second thought, Maurice grabbed his jacket, threw open his door, and bolted down the hallway. He heard Mama Tasha calling after him, but he didn’t look back. He ran and ran, through the neighborhood, past the familiar shops and faces, until he reached a quiet park. There, he sat down, trying to catch his breath.

As he calmed down, he realized he needed to have a difficult but honest conversation with Mama Tasha. He cared deeply for her as a friend and neighbor, but he also knew that boundaries were essential to keep their community strong and harmonious. When he finally returned to his apartment, he knew the time had come to face Mama Tasha, share his feelings, and ensure that they both found a way forward that preserved the warmth and respect they’d always shared.

Maurice learned that sometimes running away could give you the clarity to face what you’re really running from—and in this case, it was his fear of disappointing someone he cared about.