Every night, Kunle prayed the same prayer.
Not for love.
Not for peace.
Not even for happiness.
Just success.
He was tired of watching life pass him by. Tired of being the poor boy people advised instead of respected. Tired of returning home with empty pockets and fake smiles.
His mother, Mama Kunle, noticed the change in him.
He no longer laughed.
He no longer ate with patience.
Every conversation ended with anger or silence.
“You must be careful what you rush,” she often said.
Kunle hated that sentence.
The Weight of Being the ‘Poor Son’
Kunle was educated, smart, and ambitious. But opportunities never seemed to stay. Interviews came and went. Promises faded. Bills stacked up.
Friends who once borrowed from him now avoided his calls.
Each failure hardened his heart.
In his mind, poverty was not just lack of money — it was disrespect.
And he had tasted enough of it.
An Opportunity That Refused to Wait
One morning, Kunle received a call that made his hands shake.
A powerful company wanted to see him.
Not next week.
Not tomorrow.
That morning.
It was the kind of opportunity people waited years for. The kind that changed surnames.
As he rushed out, his mother called him back.
Her voice was weak. Her body tired.
“I don’t feel well today,” she said.
“Please don’t leave me alone.”
Kunle froze.
This was the morning he had prayed for.
This was the door he feared would close forever.
The clock was ticking.
The car was waiting.
And his mother was watching him.
The Moment That Divided His Life
Kunle stood there, torn between two fears:
The fear of remaining poor…
And the fear of being delayed.
In his heart, a thought whispered:
“She has always been here. This chance may never come again.”
He avoided her eyes.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, already stepping out.
His mother said nothing more.
She only watched him leave.
Kunle did not look back.
To Be Continued…
That morning gave Kunle everything he wanted.
But it also took something from him that no amount of success could replace.
Part 2 will reveal what truly happened after he walked out that door.
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This is a fictional African moral story inspired by real-life struggles and cultural values.