SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE- PEDE HOLLIST_ BY SAGEBOY.

When I first read what Fina said to Cammy in the above quote, I concluded that parenthood is not just about giving birth to a child, it is about taking full responsibility for that child.

When Fina said, _"You certain he's, you're certain he's your son, right? Then you've got to behave like a father... Real fathers sacrifice themselves for their kids..."_ - she was trying to make Cammy understand that being a father is more than just blood.

In my own understanding, Fina is telling us three deep things about what it means to be a real parent.

First, parenthood is about certainty and commitment. Once you know that a child is truly yours, there is no more excuse. You cannot keep doubting and asking "what if." You have to step up. Cammy was trying to hide behind his profession and his fears. He was asking questions like, is the boy really mine? What will people say? What about my career? But Fina cuts all that off. If you are sure, then act. That is what real parenthood demands.

Second, for me, parenthood is an action, not a title. Fina says "behave like a father." That phrase is very powerful. It means anyone can be called a father biologically, but not everyone behaves like one. To behave like a father or a mother means to protect, to provide, to guide, and to be present. It is not about just putting your name on a birth certificate. It is about your daily behavior towards your child.

Third and most important, parenthood means sacrifice. This is the heart of Fina's message. A real parent will put the child's life before his own. In this novel, it was a kidney. In real life in Sierra Leone, it can be your last money for school fees, your sleep, your food, your own dreams. Fina herself knows this pain because she has lost her own child through miscarriage and the stress of her first marriage. So when she speaks about sacrifice, she is speaking from pain. She knows what it means to lose a child, so she cannot watch Cammy allow his own son to die when he has the power to save him.

So in conclusion, for me as a literature enthusiast, and as a future father, what Fina teaches me is that parenthood is not convenient. It is not when you have time or money. It is a decision to say "my life is no longer just mine, it is also for my child." You do what you must do now, and deal with the consequences later. That is what makes a real father, a real mother, a real parent.

Thanks for reading,

My regards,

Brother Sage.