I still remember the day Chris came to me, smiling, and said something I will never forget. You see, Chris is my childhood friend and the only friend I know who has a twisted personality. His personality includes being quiet, lacking emotions when needed, being too intelligent, and making other people feel dull without remorse, among other traits. This has made him lose a lot of friends, yet I remain his very close friend because I know what he has been through and what damaged him like that.
Image generated using Meta AI
When Chris was little, he lost his dad at a very young age, but that wasn't the issue. His dad's family came around to seize most of their properties, like the school, which was eventually shut down, and the farmland they had. I remember the day people were screaming and causing trouble in front of their house.
"Haven't you taken enough? What do you want me to do with the three children your brother left me with? Why are you people so heartless?" I saw Chris's mother crying in front of their house, holding onto the shirt of a man, while Chris and his sisters were standing in front of their gate, crying too. People came around to assist, but the man kept saying.
"This is family business; stay away from us," he struggled to get Chris's mom's hand off his shirt.
After that day, some years passed, and Chris's mother also passed away. This time, Chris and his siblings were chased out of their home, and they had no choice but to leave with their pastor.
All this was what contributed to Chris's behavior and attitude, but that wasn't what made me scared. After that day Chris and I had that conversation, I kept thinking to myself, "Is Chris more damaged than I thought?" How could a person say such a thing?"
That hot evening, I was standing in front of my house, eating the groundnuts my mom had made. I was washing our chickens and playing around before they retired to the place where they sleep. I hardly see Chris anymore because they have moved to their pastor's house, but we still stay in the same city, so it is easy to get to my place with public transport or just walking it out.
After looking at the chicken, I raised my head and I saw Chris walking towards my house, smiling like he had won a lottery. He isn't someone who always smiles because he was always having this sad expression on his face, but that evening I saw him smiling. I waved to him from afar, and he immediately ran towards where I was. Then we started conversing.
I asked him what was making him happy because this was one of the rare times I saw him smiling, and he said, “Do you know that guy who was insulting me the other day?”
I was confused because I know a lot of people Chris has had issues with. He continued to describe the guy, and I remembered. I said, “Was it that stupid James? Just forget him.” I said so because I didn’t want him to remember what happened that day.
James was a guy who was smart like Chris. One day, during a heated argument with Chris, James said something that made me dislike him. He said,
“Maybe that’s why your parents are both dead.”
I was angry at James because how could he say something so insensitive? Chris left that day without saying anything.
“So why are you now smiling?” I asked him. “Are you and James now friends again?”
Chris said, "No, but something better." I wondered what was better. Maybe he and James became best friends. Then he said
"James’s mother is dead. I found out yesterday. It remains his father now.”
I froze. My heart sank a little. I really didn’t know if I should be happy with him, but that statement made me sad. “How could you say that?” I asked him.
He replied, “Karma has come for him, and this is only the beginning.”
I tried to make him see how wrong he was, but he wouldn’t listen. He just kept nodding and smiling like he had been waiting for that day for a long time. Then he left.
He didn’t even look back. Just walked away like nothing happened.
I stood there for minutes, confused. That smile, that tone, the way he said it, it wasn’t normal. That wasn’t healing. That was something else entirely.
From that day, something in me started fearing Chris. Not because he was dangerous, but because I felt something inside him had truly died a long time ago. And no one could bring it back, not even love, maybe just God.
Many years passed after that day, and I didn’t see him again. Life moved on. I changed cities. Things got busy. Sometimes I would remember him randomly, especially when I passed by our old street or saw someone who looked like him.
Then I met him again some years ago.
It was in a small eatery not far from my new apartment. He was sitting alone, reading a book. He looked cleaner, healthier, and surprisingly calm. I didn’t recognize him immediately, but the moment our eyes met, I knew.
Image generated using Meta AI
“Chris?” I said.
He looked up and smiled, just a soft smile, not like that evening one.
“Hey,” he said like we had just seen last week.
We talked for hours. He told me about how he went away for a while, how he was in a different state for some time working with a media firm. I was really happy to see him.
I couldn't see that bitter look in his eyes anymore, but deep down, I was still wondering…
Is he really a changed person now? or is that smile just covering something darker? I left that day after collecting his number, but since then we haven't spoken. He looks better, so I believe he is better.
The End.
Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.
Posted Using INLEO
Honestly I don’t know where to start because this story actually got me speechless. Trauma is real and honestly the way some persons handle grief, if they don’t have a proper therapy, they can turn into something else. I equally hope Chris is healed now.
A very beautiful piece of writing.
Thanks for reading and the amazing comments
I hope so too 🙏
This was incredibly moving. It's heartbreaking what Chris went through, and it's no wonder he was shaped by so much pain and loss. You told his story with such honesty and care -it's clear how deeply you've always seen him, even through the darkest moments. That last line hit me hard.... sometimes healing doesn't always erase the past, it just teaches us how to wear a better mask. I hope Chris truly found peace -and someday, you both connect
This was a good comment
I don’t know a better way to have said it
I truly hope he has found peace has healed because he was a very sweet boy
He was very smart and that’s how we became friends. I’ll text him tonight and try to see how he is doing
Thanks for this comment
Obrigado por promover a comunidade Hive-BR em suas postagens.
Vamos seguir fortalecendo a Hive
I never understood why people can be so horrible. And to be honest I don't blame him for his reaction because I am not even sure I can survive that kind of ordeal. As for the guy that mentioned his deceased parents, I can never say his mom deserved to die, but he was very STUPID!
James was a stupid boy really.
After bringing up his parent
Christopher didn’t say anything again, he just left quietly but I was very sure it hurt him
As for his dad family, i dont even know what to say
When his sister got married, non of them came
Nawa o.
Abeg it's better they didn't even come, than for them to carry their bad belle and come
Like do you get?? Sometimes it's better to keep this family people at pole length because they can be so wicked.
Exactly 💯
That how people are, but not all. I learn alot from this. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
Thanks for reading
hello @fashtioluwa, this CNF of yours surprisingly flagged very high for AI influence. We wonder if you perhaps used any AI editing software for this piece? And if so, would you mind sharing which software was used? Please be aware that extensive use of advanced AI editing features will cause a piece to be flagged, and we will then not be able to reward the piece as we could have without the flag. Many writers inadvertently fall into this trap. We encourage them to stick to spelling, punctuation, and light grammar edits only, and steer away from any suggested rephrasing from editing software. We have a very useful article in The Ink Well in Feb-25 that explains this issue for our writers.
On the issue of editing software
I wrote it all myself and after editing I used a AI detector to check
First place showed non while the other one shows 3%
So I felt it was safe
I can bring proof if needed
I never use AI to write or anything
This issue was brought to your attention in April when another of your submissions scored high for AI influence, and you acknowledged then that you clicked accept to the editing suggestions offered by Grammarly, including suggestions on rewording. We do not accept edits that include rewording, rephrasing, AI improvements. Have you perhaps again used Grammarly more extensively than you should have, accepting editing suggestions without properly reviewing them? We use a paid-for, sophisticated AI detection software that detects AI use beyond what standard checkers can do.
I did not use Grammarly; I can assure you that. Which is why I kept the unedited story. I only use grammar checker, which helps me correct spelling and punctuation. I never rewrite or paraphrase. I stopped using Grammarly a long time ago.
I write, then edit my work while improving it myself.
I have submitted the unedited story, so I don't have issues like this. I always keep the unedited story after that day of correction
I also use scribrr and zerogbt dector to check my work. If it was showing AI, I wouldn't have uploaded it. Zero was showing 3% which I felt like it wasn't something to worry about
I also kept the unedited one too
Unfortunately, we don't have the time to review all unedited drafts. Can you not simply advise whether you used Grammarly in that manner or not on this occasion?
Please do share your unedited version in the comments and we will take a quick look.
I still remember the day Chris came to me, smiling, and said something I will never forget. You see, Chris is my childhood friend and the only friend I know who has a twisted personality. His personality includes being quiet, lacking emotions when needed, being too intelligent, and making other people feel dull without remorse, among other traits. This has made him lose a lot of friends, yet I remain his very close friend because I know what he has been through and what damaged him like that.
When Chris was little, he lost his dad at a very young age but that wasn't the issue. His dad's family came around to seize most of their properties, like the school, which was eventually shut down, and the farmland they had. I remember the day people were screaming and causing trouble in front of their house.
"Haven't you taken enough? What do you want me to do with the three children your brother left me with? Why are you people so heartless?" I saw Chris's mother crying in front of their house, holding onto the shirt of a man, while Chris and his sisters were standing in front of their gate, crying too. People came around to assist, but the man kept saying.
"This is family business; stay away from us," he struggled to get Chris's mom. hand off his shirt.
After that day, some years passed, and Chris's mother also passed away. This time, Chris and his siblings were chased out of their home, and they had no choice but to leave with their pastor.
All this was what contributed to Chris's behavior and attitude, but that wasn't what made me scared. After that day Chris and I had that conversation, I kept thinking to myself, "Is Chris more damaged than I thought?" How could a person say such a thing?"
That hot evening, I was standing in front of my house, eating the groundnut my mom made, I was washing our chicken, playing around before they retired to the place where they sleep. I hardly see Chris anymore because they have moved to their pastor's house, but we still stay in the same city, so it is easy to get to my place with public transport or just walking it out.
I saw chris walking towards my house smiling like he won a lottery. He isn't someone that smile always because he was always having this sad expression on his face but that evening I saw him smiling. I wave to him from afar and he immediately ran towards where I was then we started conversing. I asked him what was making him happy because this was one of the rare time I saw him smiling and he said "do you know that guy that was insulting me the other day" I was confused because I know a lot of people chris has had issue with. He continue to describe the guy and I remember. I said "Was it that stupid guy? just forget him" I said so because I didn't want him to remember what happened that day. James was the guy and during an heated arguement james said "Maybe that's why your both parent are dead" I was angry at james because how could he say something so insensitve. Chris left that day without saying anything.
So why are you now smiling, I asked him. Are you and James now friends again. Chris said no, but something better. I wondered what was better then he said what scare me "James mother is dead, I found out yesterday. I remains him father now"
I really don't know if I should be happy with him but that statement made me sad. How could you say that, I asked him, he then replied "Karma has come for him, and this is only the beginning" I tried to make him see how wrong he was but he wouldn't listen. He left that day and I kept wondering if it was something to be happy about.
Many years pass after that day and I didn't see him again. I met him some years ago and he seems to have change and better than before. I couldn't see that bitter look in his eyes anymore but I am still wondering if he really is a changed person now.
That is the unedited story. I used QuillBot grammar checker for editing and QuillBot doesn't change or use AI to rewrite; what it does is check for spelling and punctuation errors. I can promise you that.
The unedited version also flags but not nearly as high, which suggests that it was already partly edited in AI. Reading the two versions side by side it is clear that the second half of the final story has several edits that go beyond mere spelling and punctuation differences from the original. The Ink Well does not endorse the use of Quillbot and we have been clear about that for a long time. Quillbot use will often flag as AI. We only recommend the use of Grammarly and Google Docs, and then ONLY for spelling and punctuation, and basic grammar such as using the correct form of your chosen verb, pronoun etc. Any suggested rewording/rephrasings edits accepted by a writer from an online editor is likely to flag as AI influence because the piece of written work is veering further away from being original content. Please do read our article as suggested.
Alright
But truthfully
I’m surprise the both flag as AI
I didn’t use AI and I have never use it to make my story what surprise me the most was the unedited version flagged as AI
After writing, ill read again and rewrite thats what I do.
Thanks for your time.
I know how strict the community is against using AI to write stories, which is why I opt in mostly for creative nonfiction, and that's because it is easy for me to come up with stories.