15 August 2025 @marinnewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2830: A Bitter Pill

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This is my post on #freewriters2830 #dailyprompt a bitter pills hosted by @marinnewest's. Ngozi was sitting on the wooden bench outside the clinic, staring at the tiny white pill she was holding. It was a round tablet, seemingly innocuous, but to her it held the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. She could still hear the doctor say, "You have diabetes." Your health will deteriorate if you don't take this medication on a daily basis. Ngozi's heart fell. The change that the illness required was more painful than the illness itself. No more late-night bowls of mashed yam or the sugary snacks she loved. Her familiar life was over. Her thoughts turned to her kids, whose innocent faces still needed her support. She had to avoid being weak. But it felt like surrendering to think of taking that pill every day. Finally, Ekaette, her friend who had been sitting next to her in silence, spoke. "Ngozi, sometimes the hardest medicine to take is the one we need—not because it tastes good, but because it makes us face reality." Ngozi took a deep swallow, swallowing the pill and her pride. Her mouth was filled with its bitter aftertaste, but she also experienced an odd calm. This battle was for her future, not for defeat. As she walked home, the sun sank low, casting a warm glow over the dusty path. The bitterness lingered, but underneath it was something stronger: hope. Ngozi knew she'd taken the first step towards recovery, and sometimes the most difficult medicine is the one that saves you.