In a bustling African market, filled with the sound of traders calling out their goods and the smell of roasted corn, there stood an old wooden stall. Unlike the others that sold yams, clothes, or jewelry, this stall had only one item—a tall, cracked mirror.
People often passed by it, shaking their heads. “Who will buy a broken mirror?” they mocked. The owner, an old man with gray hair and gentle eyes, simply smiled and said, “This mirror shows more than faces—it shows truth.”
One day, a young man named Tunde stopped by. He had always felt lost, unsure of what direction to take in life. Curious, he looked into the mirror. To his shock, he didn’t just see his reflection—he saw a version of himself confidently teaching in a classroom, surrounded by happy students.
Another woman, Ada, came by. She was known to be harsh and unfriendly. When she gazed into the mirror, she saw herself as a kind mother, surrounded by love. Tears filled her eyes, for deep down, she knew that was the person she truly wanted to become.
Word spread quickly. Soon, villagers lined up, each looking into the mysterious mirror. Some saw hope, others saw warnings, but all of them left with a clearer picture of who they were meant to be.
When the old man finally closed his stall, people begged him to stay. But he smiled and said, “The mirror was never magic. It only showed you what your heart already knew. The truth was inside you all along.”
