The theme of the penactive short story contest 2023 brought back memories of a poetry piece my mother liked to read out loud when I was growing up, titled: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner  by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Since I was seven years of age, a particular verse stuck with me.

"Oh well a day, what evil looks
Had I from young and old,
Instead of the cross,
An albatross around my neck was hung."

Now an albatross symbolizes freedom so it seemed ironic to me that it became a burden to the mariner. I knew I needed a story that would mirror the sentiments of the ancient mariner and it became a challenge for me to write a first draft.

Sehindemi just like the mariner had a series of misfortunes befall him and had to bear a burden due to a grievous mistake he made. While the albatross became the mariners cross to bear,  the words of Sehindemi's mother he didn't adhere became his.