Just the Way it is
by Itseme Akede
Itseme Akede is a dedicated storyteller whose love for writing began in her early years. As a student, she filled notebooks with stories that her classmates eagerly read, setting the foundation for her future as a writer. In 2021, she published Party of One, a collection of three distinct short stories, marking her entry into the literary world. With over 100 short stories to her name, she continues to explore different forms of storytelling. In 2023, she expanded her reach by writing All His Beautiful Creations, a children's book. Now venturing into screenwriting, Akede remains committed to crafting narratives that captivate and challenge her audience.
Her work often delves into themes of identity, tradition, and personal freedom, as seen in Just The Way It Is. Through her writing, she examines the weight of societal expectations and the internal conflicts they create. Her stories offer a voice to those grappling with conformity, shedding light on the silent struggles many face. With each new project, Akede pushes creative boundaries, solidifying her place as a writer unafraid to tackle complex and thought-provoking subjects.
Just the Way it is
They say traditions form who you are; that it makes up the fibre of your being and shapes who you and your descendants and your descendant’s descendants turn out to be. It is why since the day I was born; I have not stopped being shaped into this woman who I do not really know and who I have just conformed to for years.
It is why I am awake at 5am every day, laying my bed as soon as I get out of it, making sure not to leave a single crease. It is why I take a 2-mile run, stopping only when I am done with the first lap. It is why I spend exactly 45 minutes every day in the shower, taking great care to scrub every inch of my body, applying multiple lotions and balms. ‘It will keep your skin looking rich’, they say. It is why at exactly 8am, I am dressed to the teeth by an able team, not a hair out of place, not a spot not covered in powder.
It is why I am sat at a long table fit for twenty everyday yet I am the only one on it, breakfast waiting – a large spread which no doubt will go in the bin once I have managed to pick a few offerings. It is why out of all that is on offer, I am only allowed certain items, mostly protein and hardly any carbs, followed by fruit which is both solid and liquified. It is why asides the protein on my plate, I have an array of vegetables to accompany. I have questioned the need for the display when no one else will eat, and I have gotten no reasonable reply.
It is because of tradition that I spend several hours in the day reading books and attending lectures on etiquette, grammar, and poise. It is why I sit through boring talks about this institution and the high importance it carries. It is why at 1.30pm everyday, I am back at the large table, eating the same things I eat every day. It is why I get a mandatory beauty nap right after. An hour which I could spend doing several other things that I actually enjoy, but I must lay down and pretend to be asleep until I am awoken for the next task. It is why at 4pm, I change into more suitable clothes and go out to play a game of squash, ‘to keep my legs toned and my blood pumping’, they say.
It is because of this that at the end of the day, I must sit through a perfunctory phone call with my husband-to-be who I do not really know save stories I have been told, of whom I have been trained and pruned for, smiling at the right times, and nodding at others, lest it slips that I am not enamoured by this stranger. I want nothing more than to rip out of this mask, expressing my true self, but I dare not colour out of the line. It is expected that I stay true to the call. So, excuse me if I say I hate this tradition and I hate everyone who enables it.
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