I stand at the edge of the airport, the constant hum of suitcase wheels and the chatter of travelers filling the air. Another oversized bag in my hands, I heave it onto the conveyor belt. I know these bags like I know their owners, they are bound for the skies —Paris, New York, Cape Town—places I’ve only seen in glossy magazines and heard of in passing conversations.
Those destinations call to me, but I stay grounded.
The guys at work joke about the stack of travel brochures in my locker. “You really think someone like you could make it out there?” they ask, half laughing, half serious. I laugh with them, but their words sting a bit. They reflect a truth I would rather not admit. My own doubt.
I grew up in a home where travel wasn’t an option. My family barely made ends meet, and ‘seeing the world’ was a luxury I couldn’t even afford to dream about. But something in me still feels like I’m meant for more—to leave perhaps, to explore beyond these airport walls.
But here I am, —chained to this place by circumstance, by fear. “Born to travel the world,” I mutter, “but stuck as a baggage boy.”
As I load another bag, a piece of paper flutters from one of its pockets. I pick it up—a boarding pass to Tokyo.
“Another city I may never see”. I sigh.
I should just put it back. But I don’t. Instead, I fold the ticket and slip it into the side pocket of the next bag on the belt, a small act of rebellion. Maybe a ‘Good Samaritan’ isn’t the job I have. Maybe it’s the belief that I’m not meant for more.
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Winnie Wekesa is a budding writer whose love for storytelling dates back to her early childhood. Having grown up in the remote parts of Kenya-West Pokot County, her curiosity saw her always carrying a book in her school bag, to read whenever she could spare a moment, a habit that stuck even in adulthood.
Winnie holds a degree in Economics and Sociology from Egerton University. She is a published author of “From Panic to Peace: A Mindful Approach to Managing Anxiety.” A book close to her heart, in which she writes a relatable tale of her struggles with anxious thoughts while sharing her triumphs over this incredible struggle. This insightful work reflects her commitment to providing solace and guidance through the written word.
Before becoming a writer, Winnie worked in finance for a Kenyan bank and later moved on to an SME in the events industry. Her journey as she transitioned from a world of numbers to that of narratives reflects her deep-seated passion for storytelling. Winnie is fascinated by the human condition, always seeking to understand its complexities. She weaves beautiful stories that, while entertaining, also invite readers to reflect on their own lives, encouraging a journey of self-discovery alongside her characters.
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Read – Double Period – A Flash Fiction by Celestine S Reuben – Nigeria
