The Love Clock by Lovis Kwasi Armah

One day a woman gifted to her daughter due for marriage an old clock. The clock was covered in ash and dust and looked rusty and cranky. "It wasn't and couldn't be a wedding gift, but can save your love life one day," the mother said. They were from a poor background and she knew it was the best the mother could afford. The daughter had seen this same clock hang in their room. And there had been days that as a young girl she resisted the fantasy to get rid of it so she doesn't have to sweep the particles that came off the clock.

The mother insisted if she was going to take her gift- then she hangs this rusty clock in their bedroom where husband and wife can daily see. Short of it all, the daughter took the gifted clock but held it somewhere and the only periods that she hanged it was during planned visit by the mum. But by and large the mum passed on and so was the burdensome task of keeping the hanged clock.

However In the sixth year of her love life, something occurred that renewed her interest in the clock- both partners became entrenched in who they are and what their roles should be so they became less caring, more abusive and lied even when it was not required. They were gradually getting to a firm resolution that they were not meant for each other and their relationship was a standing mistake. But unlike her mum where with every love trial gushed a new peace fountain, she was in a fiery furnace.

When the husband left home and her situation got aggravated so was her search for answers in strange palaces; one said she should start giving another person the chance, another said she should learn new act of love making, and at one healing quarters she was asked to return the mum's gift for further directions. The healing quarters was run by an old woman who asked her to come to the healing quarter every mid night. Reference to the mum’s gift worn her trust and so grudgingly she went home and returned the further deteriorated hidden clock.

On the first day, when she arrived, and whilst obeying the instructions to hold the clock firmly, the old woman hit a small part on the clock and asked her "which part of the clock did I hit?” "The wooden part," replied the lady. "What does the clock reads?" "12 midnight" and at this the old woman dismissed her and continued her care for another patient.

"I came here to find answers to how I can use my gifted clock to restore my love-life," the lady said, she sensed the old woman had forgotten her mission and therefore her ask that she repeats time that was already obvious. But the old woman not uttering a remark hit a small part on the clock and asked her "which part of the clock did I hit?” "The metal part," replied the lady. "What does the clock reads?" "12 midnight" and at this the old woman dismissed her and continue her care for her patient.

The third day when the lady came, the old woman not uttering a remark hit two parts on the clock and asked her "which part of the clock did I hit?” "The metal and wooden part," replied the lady. "What does the clock reads?" "12 midnight."

"I came here to find answers to how I can use my gifted clock to restore my love-life," the lady said. "I have shown you how already," the old woman answered.

The man being taken care of had observed the three days directions and so stepped in to help the lady, “just like the clock where the different parts are not the focus but the time is,” the man started, “so is a relationship of two different people, who we are or what our roles are relevant to the extent that it delivers on the single goal- love.”

The man was right, the lady thought, and so went closer to say thank you. Lo and behold, it was her husband! They reunited with a strong resolve to deliver on the focus of their relationship - Love.