Giwa was the most beautiful boy in his town.
Yes, beautiful.
The word "handsome" just couldn't do him justice. With a clear, clean chocolate complexion and shiny black hair, he also had limbs hewn to perfection and lashes that made the village beauties grow green with envy.

After they woke up from swooning at the sight of him, that is.

It was commonly said in the village that the creator was in a good mood the day he made Giwa. Some even speculated that he was created on a day of rest. Afterall, everyone knew it took time and special attention to create a masterpiece.

Nevertheless, Giwa was the pride of the village. Not just beautiful, he was also smart. And hardworking too. Everyone loved him. He was born to a dotting mother who had every reason to pamper him after a prolonged season of childlessness, after sixteen years of marriage!
What no one knew was that Giwa was not an ordinary child. He was "given" to his mother by the river goddess with a strict warning.
He was never be allowed to meet with her again. She was notorious for her love of pretty things. Pretty boys and girls. Pretty rocks. Pretty shells.
If anything pretty got to the riverbank on a sacred day (one of the days when she came out to roam the earth in the guise of a human) it always ended up following her home.

However, everyone knew the sacred days, and were wise enough to stay indoors. As such there was no problem.

Giwa grew into an attractive, healthy young man with a fondness for swimming. Knowing his origin, his mother tried her best to indulge him, knowing fully well that he could not be in any form of danger from the water. The only restriction she placed on him was a stern warning that the river was off-limits on sacred days.

She drummed this into his ears from the moment he was strong enough to stand in his own two feet. Giwa knew this. It was law. But sadly, it was not enough...

Read the rest at www.laolusblog.

Nice short story!