The Whispering Trees is an interesting short story by Abubakar Ibrahim, a Caine prize winner. It is the story of Salim, a man who lost his sight as a result of a ghastly motor accident just two months away from his graduation at the medical school. He was on his way to meet his soon-to-be in-laws when the accident occurred.

At first, he could not come to terms with the loss of his sight and blamed everyone including Faulata, his fiancée for his misfortune. Faulata, who supported and cared for him in his blind state, encouraged him to enrol at the School for the blind.

However, just as he was beginning to hold a positive view of his condition, Faulata dropped the bombshell- she was getting married to someone else. Salim was shocked and devastated by the news. When he recovered from the shock, he suddenly discovered he had the ability to see even beyond the physical. He could see the souls of men, trees, and even insects.

While exploring his re-discovered life, he visited the Whispering Trees, a wood that once served as playground in his childhood days. He unravelled the mystery behind the death of Hamza, his childhood friend who had died in the woods many years ago.

Abubakar in The Whispering Trees subtly passes across important life messages. He also condemned man's depletion of the earth's resources through deforestation and other nature threatening activities.

Here's the link to the story: http://www.caineprize.com/pdf/2013_Ibrahim.pdf

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