Bamboo Love   Mercy averted her gaze, feeling a mix of emotions as her father wheeled himself into the sitting room. A sense of unease settled upon her, causing beads of sweat to form on her forehead.   She found solace in fixating her eyes on her brown suede boots, avoiding direct eye contact with him. This strained dynamic had persisted for the past two years, ever since the accident that had left him in a wheelchair.   Despite her attempt to shield herself from the reality of their changed circumstances, she couldn't help but notice the unmistakable longing reflected in her father's eyes.   The atmosphere in the room seemed heavy with unspoken words. Deep down, she knew that her father's love had not faltered, despite all that had happened. Her apprehension in confronting the new reality was the problem.   As she continued to study her boots, memories raced through Mercy's mind. He had always been her pillar of strength, her guiding light....

 World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 - Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030 I have always been vocal with my advocacy even from childhood. This is partly because of my lived experiences. One time, I accompanied my cousin to their school debate. When we got there, I cheered the loudest. Both teams were marshaling out their points fiercely. I was enjoying the show. I had such a great time listening to the teams that I even wished I got popcorn on my way there. I made a mental note to grab some whenever they had contests or competitions. Their debate was on the technology and its place in secondary child education. So far, the opposing team was leading. They had done their homework well and were giving the proposing team beta gbas gbos (a thought time). Halfway through the debate, the lead speaker for the other team swirled to. Prove a point. Instead of applause, there was a deafening silence that swept across the room. It was so weird. Finally, one person “You’re bleeding!”...