Kamau has been thinking about his wife for all those years, and finally it is the time for his return. He hopes everything would be the same as before, and he would start everything again with his wife, then "life would start anew" (Thiong'o 338).

However, his wife Muthoni left his family with his rival Karanja. Kamau feels betrayed and he can hardly speak. He cannot believe his wife has left him.

The Honia River in the story symbolized the Kamau's past. At the beginning of the story, when Kamau comes back to the village, he sees the Honia River still flowing. The Honia River brings back a lot of childhood memories to Kamau. At the end of the story, when Kamau finds out about his the story of his wife, it is the Honia River that takes away the small bundle, the small bundle that reminded Kamau of his wife for all those years (Thiong'o 340).
��