THE SOFT MAN

with a whisper, a tremor, a soft but persistent pressure aga

jabs the way he used to. He didn't flinch at her icy silence. He had stopped trying t

hat," he said one evening after she lash

you're better than me because

think I'm better. I just

landed like seeds. Ijeoma didn't say anyt

-learning to name his needs, to honor his wounds, to say, "This hurts," without shame. For y

brought new faces. Men from all walks of life-mechanics, teachers

t feel

s me in front

ce my mother died, a

built around masculinity. Each truth spoken wa

le happened-healing ri

e. Chike wrote a poem about his childhood that went viral on Facebook. People-men and wome

er been able to put into w

t our fathers, husbands, and br

He sat on the floor to play board games. He apologized when he lost his tempe

ifferent now?" his da

ending I don't have feelings. And I w

r emotional guidance. One day, a junior banker named Tolu confessed, "Sir, I

ited him

life, but in the world around him. And thr

xt chapters of his life would require hard decisions.