• The Woman with Two Skins

Beauty lies within

In a quiet village in Nigeria, there lived a woman who was shunned by everyone because of her unusual appearance. Her skin was rough, blemished, and unsightly, making her the subject of ridicule and whispers. What the villagers didn’t know, however, was that this woman carried a profound secret. Beneath her unappealing outer skin lay another—a flawless, radiant layer that revealed a stunningly beautiful woman. She guarded this secret fiercely, knowing that no one would value her true self for who she really was.

One fateful day, the village was abuzz with excitement as a young and noble king came to visit. This king was renowned for his wisdom and fairness, a ruler who judged people by their character rather than their appearance. While exploring the village, his attention was drawn to the woman everyone avoided. Despite her outward appearance, the king sensed a warmth and intelligence in her demeanor that intrigued him.

Unlike the villagers, the king chose to engage her in conversation. He discovered that she was not only intelligent and wise but also kind-hearted and humble. Her spirit shone brighter than anything her outward appearance could convey. Deeply moved, the king made an extraordinary decision—he asked for her hand in marriage.

The villagers were stunned. They whispered and gossiped, convinced the king had lost his mind or fallen under some sort of enchantment. How could he, a king of such stature, choose to marry a woman so unattractive? But the king remained resolute, dismissing their shallow judgments.

The wedding day arrived, and the entire village gathered to witness what they believed was a most peculiar union. As the woman walked down the aisle, cloaked in her unassuming skin, the villagers sneered and scoffed. Yet the king gazed at her with admiration and respect, seeing what they could not.

That night, after the celebrations, the woman decided to reveal her secret to her new husband. In the privacy of their chamber, she carefully shed her outer skin, revealing her true self—a vision of breathtaking beauty. The king was awestruck, but not just by her physical transformation. He was moved by the courage and wisdom she displayed in protecting her true self until she found someone who saw her worth beyond appearances.

The next morning, the king and his radiant queen returned to the village. The sight of the once-reviled woman now transformed into a stunning queen left the villagers speechless. They were filled with regret for how they had treated her, realizing their folly in judging someone solely by their appearance.

From that day forward, the queen’s story became a powerful lesson for the villagers. It reminded them of the importance of looking beyond what is visible to the eye. They learned that true beauty lies in the heart and spirit and that every person deserves respect and kindness, regardless of how they look. The king and queen ruled wisely and compassionately, their union a symbol of the triumph of inner beauty and character over shallow prejudice.