I Was Wrong

Don't be like me.

Aug 09, 2021

It was a year ago on a certain Wednesday. I was walking home from the school I used to teach in, humming a song I barely knew and smiling at everyone that bothered to look at me.

I felt a strange kind of happiness that day. I couldn't explain it. Then I saw her. Beautiful as I remembered her, this my friend. Her elder brother was my classmate then in High school.

She seemed to mirror my happiness because she smiled so widely when she saw me. It's been two years since we spoke, but somehow, she's been seeing me pass by often. You could tell I was excited to see her. My God, she was stunning! With crystal clear golden skin and sparkling brown eyes, she was everything the word "beauty" meant.

We talked for a short while about life and school. I asked about her Asthma and she said it wasn't giving issues. That little moment felt perfect, as we smiled, hugged, and went our separate ways.

I kept thinking of her as I kept walking, and resisted the urge to cancel my schedule and run back to her to talk more.

I should have done that, but I believed I was going to see her next time. “We'll hang out sometime later” I thought to myself, giggling away.

I was wrong.

That Sunday, my younger brother showed her picture. “Nenye is dead,” he said.

“What are you saying?” was my response.

I looked at the picture.

“B-but I.... I saw her on Wednesday...”

I couldn't speak, couldn't cry, couldn't think straight.

“How? Oh God”

She died of Asthma that Saturday. Died fighting to catch her breath. If only I knew there wasn't going to be a next time. If only I could go back, and hand her an inhaler in that struggling moment. If only I could cure her...somehow.

RIP, Nenye. Thank you for always asking me deep questions. Thank you for all the memories. I'm sure I'll get to meet you again. This time we talk for long without glancing at our wristwatches. Without having to catch our breath.