E Mberego · Real

“What was her name?” she asked.

“ E mberego ,” she repeated softly — as if learning a prayer. e mberego

The old man sat on the crumbling wall, watching the sun drip gold into the sea. His granddaughter knelt beside him, tracing patterns in the sand. “What was her name

And somewhere, beyond the horizon, the woman in the locket smiled too. beyond the horizon

When he finished, the girl pressed her small hand over his heart.

“No,” he said. “It’s what I say when I close my eyes. E mberego — I remember.”