Through Tears and Triumph: A Promise to Mama

Jozzy sat quietly by the window, her fingers tracing the edges of her mother’s photograph. The image had grown old and faded, but her mother’s smile remained clear in her mind, as if it were yesterday. It was a smile Jozzy had longed to see again for years, one that had been lost far too soon. Losing her mother at a young age had left a void, one that even her father’s unwavering support couldn’t fully fill. Though he had done everything he could to make sure she had a chance at life—ensuring she finished senior high school and supporting her through her hardest times—nothing could replace a mother’s love.

The challenges that followed high school were almost unbearable at times. There were nights when Jozzy wondered if she would ever catch a break. But when she moved to her elder sister’s place in Akim Oda, something shifted. Life hadn’t magically become easy, but she found a job as a store attendant at the bustling main market station. The work was exhausting, and the pay was barely enough, but it gave her purpose, something to wake up for each day. It gave her space to breathe.

Even then, the nights were still haunted by thoughts of her mother. Each time she allowed herself to remember, the tears would come, and she would curl up, trying to fight the overwhelming sense of loss. It never fully left her, but she had learned to live with it. One thing that kept her going, though, was the dream she had carried for years: the dream of becoming a newscaster.

She wanted to stand tall in front of the camera, broadcasting the news to the entire country. She imagined herself on the national stage, speaking with confidence, her face known in every household. It was more than just a dream—it was her way of becoming someone her mother would have been proud of. And her father, always her rock, had promised to support her through her studies in Accra.

Accra was where her future lay, and she could see it so clearly now. The thought of being a newsreader felt like a distant star finally within her grasp. Yet, the choice wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Her brother Joe had other plans for her. He wanted her to join him in Kumasi, where they could enjoy school together and live carefree until graduation. Joe had always been her protector, the sibling who made her laugh through the hardest times. The idea of going to Kumasi was tempting—she could be close to him, share memories, and enjoy the comfort of family. But deep inside, Jozzy knew her path led elsewhere.

She remembered the last time she teased Joe about her new boyfriend.

“He looks just like you, Joe!” she had said, barely holding back her laughter.

Joe had been stunned, then doubled over in laughter. “You’re joking, right? Why would you want to date someone who looks like me?”

She had laughed too, but even in those light-hearted moments, the weight of her decision pressed down on her. Kumasi would be safe, fun, familiar. But Accra… Accra was where her heart pulled her. It was where she could finally live her dream, where her future awaited.

As the decision loomed over her, Jozzy felt the familiar ache in her chest. She looked at her mother’s photo again, her heart heavy with emotion.

“Mama,” she whispered softly, “I’ve been scared for so long. I’ve missed you for so long. But I promise you, I’ll make you proud. I’ll chase this dream for both of us.”

The words were quiet, but they held all the strength she had within her. Her mother might not be there to see her, but Jozzy knew that pursuing her dreams, becoming the woman she was meant to be, would be her way of honoring her mother’s memory. She wasn’t just living for herself anymore; she was living for the love she had lost too soon.

With that promise etched in her heart, Jozzy wiped away her tears. Accra was waiting for her, and so was her future. She would become the newsreader she had always dreamed of, and when she finally stood before the camera, broadcasting to the nation, she would know that her mother’s spirit was watching, proud of the daughter she had raised.

And on that day, Jozzy would smile, not just for the world, but for her mother—for the promise kept, for the dream fulfilled.