Down the Trail

Our final exams came and I became busy, I had to study hard for them in order to get into a prestigious university, all these while, Elijah didn't confront me about the breakup or ask why. I felt lonely, sad and left out. I decided to get his attention by flirting with his friends but nothing worked. I still hadn't learnt my lesson from Adrian.

The world again dulled before my eyes, the little joy I experienced from Elijah vanished like the night at the break of dawn. What hurt most was the fact that he didn't even come back again to hear from me. After the breakup, we became like total strangers. I thought about confronting him but then I decided it was just a waste of time.

The truth is he never really loved me. I was just another girl passing by. The hurt in my heart became too much to hear, I started flirting with different guys, I kept multiple online relationships but I never met any in real life.

When results came out, I passed and was able to enter higher institution. I believed karma will surely catch up with Elijah for what he did to me. However he just kept on getting better, I entered a relationship just to get back at him but I became the joke instead. Everything was just working against me. I lost focus on my academics, I was no longer myself. If only I could see Elijah's downfall, my heart would be at peace that his retribution was finally here.

The last straw that broke the camel's back was when I learnt Elijah was leaving the country. He had gotten scholarship to study engineering outside the country. While I was still stuck here in Nigeria.

Not being able to hold it any longer, I cried out, beating my chest. Why are good things happening to him and not me. I am the one who was wronged, so why is he the one getting better. Where is God who delivers justice to the wicked and helps the innocent? I cried myself to sleep each night until it became a habit. I found the dark wonderful, a place of solitude. My mornings were spent with my curtains drawn close and my doors closed. My room didn't receive sunshine, as long as there was no sunshine in my heart.

I decided to pick myself up one morning to attend lectures. When I looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection looked so sick and pale. I dressed up for school, on getting to the class, we were told the lectures has been cancelled. I sighed, packing up my things to leave when I sighted him. My heart shook violently as I admired this work of art. My eyes swept over his tall figure, sitting elegantly across me. Long arms, long legs, his face? Breathtaking. I breathed in his scent and imagined the sound of his voice. The attraction I felt towards him was shocking. I approached him.

Hi my name is Soar, it's like you are new here. Do you need any assistance? I asked .

He looked up, his eyes sparkling.

Hi, Soar. I am Daniel.

The name filled my mind, Daniel. He continued, I am new but I don't need any assistance for now. My brother is in final year, he is helping process everything. Oh you are quite lucky, I said smiling. Seeing that he wasn't making any move, I decided to hang around. Can I help you with notes? Or do you have the complete notes? I asked.

Oh no, I can't ask you for that he said politely.

Embarrassed, I turned to leave. Maybe I should have just asked for his number, it was too late now to walk back in and ask him for it.

I went back to the darkness of my home. And for the first time in a long while, I turned on my lights and lifted my curtains. Sunlight pierced through my windows into the little room. Somehow I felt my burdens ease.