Ntoiti

Ntoiti, eyes wide with a dawning ache,

A truth unveiled, a world to remake.

The vibrant market, abuzz with trade,

Hid a secret truth, a sickness pervade.

Each face, a mask, a carefully carved guise,

Some smiles strained, with shadows in their eyes.

The confident stride, the boisterous call,

Could cloak a heart that's about to fall.

The hunched elder, weathered and worn,

Might bear a burden heavier than borne.

The playful child, with laughter so bright,

Could carry a darkness hidden from sight.

Ntoiti herself, with spirit so bold,

Did her own facade a deeper hurt hold?

The sickness, it seemed, wasn't just for the frail,

It touched every soul, whispered a hidden wail.

But a new empathy bloomed in her heart,

A connection unseen, a brand new start.

For in shared vulnerability, a comfort did lie,

A chance to connect, beneath each weary sigh.

Perhaps, then, the illness wouldn't define,

But a shared journey, a chance to entwine.

To mend, to forgive, to love and to see,

The beauty in brokenness, humanity's decree.