NONYE
I wasn’t comfortable with the idea, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. All I wanted was to escape this place and find solace back home. When my friends saw how determined I was to leave, they couldn’t hold back their emotions.
Victor arranged for a cab to pick me up around evening time. I couldn’t leave during the day without drawing attention to myself. My friends carefully packed my luggage into the cab to avoid raising suspicions.
At 6 pm, I put on a face cap to disguise myself and bid my friends farewell, promising to stay in touch.
As I got into the cab, I felt a mix of emotions: relief, sadness, and uncertainty. What would the future hold? Would I ever be able to return to school and face my peers again?
The cab drove off into the evening traffic, leaving behind the only life I had known for the past few years. I was headed home, but I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
As the cab drove away from the campus, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I was finally leaving behind the pain and humiliation. But I knew that the journey to healing was just beginning.
The cab ride was quiet, with only the sound of the engine and the occasional horn breaking the silence. I stared out the window, watching as the city gave way to the countryside.
After a while, the cab pulled up to my family’s house. I tried paying the driver who told me my bill has been settled. I knew it was Victor’s doing…I thank the driver for been honest and then alighted the cab….taking a deep breath of the familiar air, I walked towards the door.
It seems my mother was waiting for me at the door because it was immediately opened at the first knock…..with a look of concern etched on her face, she spoke… “Chinonye, my dear, welcome home,” she said, opening her arms for a hug….but why the late night journey?”
“it’s traffic mum…you know I also don’t like walking late at night
I hugged her tightly, feeling a sense of safety and comfort that I hadn’t felt in weeks.
But as we stepped inside, I knew that the road to healing would not be easy. There would be questions to answer, emotions to process, and wounds to heal.
“Where is dad? I asked
“he should be in his room sleeping….I was awaiting your arrival before calling him for dinner because I want us to have the it at the same time…..it’s been a while that happened…mum said smiling.
But Dad surprised us, walking to the living room….”and who said I’m sleeping?”
I rushed to hug him tightly…..”I’ve missed you dad.”
“I’ve missed you too my baby”….he replied hugging me back.
We broke apart from the hug and walked hand in hand to one of the couches, like two lovebirds. Meanwhile, Mum had already slipped into the kitchen…
“How is everything so far?….how is studies?…..dad asked.
“Fine dad…I managed to say
“I can see mum has been taking care of you, you are looking fresh…I teased with a smile, trying to divert the conversation
“Really?”Dad asked to be sure
“Of course dad…I assured
“Why am I hearing my name?…..mum asked walking to the dining with two plates of food..
“Your daughter here has been commending you, she said I’m looking fresh as a result of you taking care of me”
“Ehn ehn now, she’s very right…am I not taking care of you?….mum asked dad
“Am I not taking care of you as well”….dad replied
“No, I asked first, answer the question and I will answer yours too…mum said jokingly.
As we bantered back and forth, I felt a sense of normalcy wash over me. But deep down, I knew that I couldn’t avoid the truth forever. we spent the night talking and trying to catch up on everything we’d missed.
“We’ve missed you so much, Nonye.” My mother said, her eyes shining with happiness.
My father put his arm around me. “We’re glad you’re home safe.”
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at my parents. I knew I had to tell them everything, but I was scared.
“I’m just tired, Mum,” I said, forcing a smile. “It’s been a long day.”
My mother looked at me skeptically, but my father nodded.
“You should go rest then….we’ll talk more in the morning….my dad said.
I nodded feeling a mix of relief and guilt. I knew I had to tell them eventually, but I just wasn’t ready yet.
As I stood under the warm shower, I felt the tension in my body begin to ease. I took a deep breath, letting the water wash away the stress and fatigue of the past few days.
After my shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and reached for my phone. I sent a group text to my friends:
“Hey guys, I’m home!”
I smiled, thinking about how my roommates would react. They’d probably bombard me with questions, but I was ready to fill them in on everything.
I didn’t have Victor’s number, but I knew my roommates would pass on the message. I wanted to thank him again for being there for me. He’d really gone out of his way to help me, and I appreciated it.
Just as I was about to put my phone away, it buzzed with an incoming text. I smiled, expecting it to be one of my friends responding to my message.
But to my surprise, the text was from an unknown number:
“Welcome home, Nonye. I’m glad you made it back safely…my heart skipped as I realized who might have sent the message, could it be Victor?
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH’S HEART stories)
