It was a beautiful sunny day. I was going to finally resume school after taking an abrupt break to tend to my health that suddenly started failing in my finals. I was happy to return to school even though I had missed out on all the semester’s continuous assessment tests, however, I was no longer the same girl who left.
My body had shrunk, my skin had paled but my smile bright like the morning sun remained intact. I was so happy even though I knew my life had taken an unexpected turn. I had to be more careful now because I could return to the hospital if I made a slight mistake.
I alighted from the motorcycle at my hostel, dropped my bags, and headed straight to school to meet my supervisor who was always looking out for me despite my unannounced absence.
The moment he saw me, he pulled me into a warm embrace and whispered, “thank you for coming back to us, alive”. Oh, that was the most reassuring hug I had gotten in a very long time.
After spending some time with my supervisor, I returned to my hostel to rest from the day’s stress, and then, came the knocks. My course mates and friends came bearing gifts, but the most important of all those gifts being their hugs because I needed them. I was almost out of my mind trying to understand what was happening with me because even the three doctors I met, including a psychiatrist, had no answer.
My roommate on the other hand knew she was in for a long ride of whatever kind of help she could render because first, I had lost more than 50% of my strength. I couldn’t even perceive the smell of anything other than air else, I would be back at the hospital for another round of treatment.
Everything was gradually getting back on track until I until the murmurs and gossips ruined the moment.
“Is she the first person to fall sick? Why will anybody disturb the peace of the hostel because of one person? Is she the only one with friends? Why is it that it’s only her roommate that was doing the chores? Does she think she’s that big?” and so many others. I heard them, loud and clear, but I didn’t mind. I smiled like nothing else mattered, and honestly, they didn’t matter at all. However, at some point, it started getting to me.
Their words started penetrating through me when I heard someone said “oh, that girl from that department? I’m very sure her result will be bad this semester because she hasn’t been serious. She missed school for a whole month, maybe because she thinks nobody is as serious as she is”.
At that point, I knew something was up. I didn’t realize that I had a lot of people checking me out until calamity befell my health. My business suffered a major blow first because I didn’t have the strength to carry on with it. I was medically advised to stay away from triggers of the symptoms I had.
Then, my sleepless nights reduced. I couldn’t spend much time reading because within 30 minutes, the headache would hit me like there were some war happening up there. Gradually, it got worse.
I would cry so much yet put my best into reading because it was a week to the exams now, and it was my final exams as an undergraduate. Any mistake would mean spending an extra year in school. The thought of that alone made me cry so much, but I was going to put in my best anyway.
On the last day of our exam, the heat in the exam hall made me lose my breath and I was rushed to the school clinic where I wrote the exam with the help of the doctor who insisted I wouldn’t have an extra year because of that.
The exams were done. Everyone was happy, and we were waiting for the result.
The result was released, and I had the worst result ever that semester, but I smiled nonetheless because I had no extra year. However, there was someone who said, “despite all her gragra, she didn’t still graduate the best”.
At that point, I knew I wouldn’t let that go. So, I turned around, slowly took a few steps towards the person that spoke, stood up tall to her eye to eye, and said, “when you have multiple near death experiences, have to visit the hospital at least twice a week, live your life on medications, lose most of your strength, and are still able to pull a 4.00 points out of 5.00, then, you can come and speak to me about not graduating the best. In the meantime, you can just swallow the pit of saliva down your throat because despite the dark spots you have on your heart, your results still do not meet up with mine.”
The atmosphere? Awkward. My friends? Shocked. Tension? Risen. Silence? So heavy that the drop of pin would be resounding. Soon,one of my friends moved closer, held my hand and gently pulled me out of the space.
I wasn’t going to fight. I was only going to let her know that until she walked a mile in my shoes, she shouldn’t measure my journey with the yardstick of her assumptions.
Images are from MetaAI.
Posted Using INLEO
Some people can be so insensitive to other's situations.
Because they don't know the details and are not really interested in knowing.
Sometimes we forget to look closely at others because we see ourselves; each person has a long history, a path full of obstacles that no one can imagine.
You're right. However, sometimes, people just feel they need to talk because they think your life is their cup of tea when actually they're not interested in the "tea" but the "tip".
Wow! You are loved by everyone! Sometimes, we need to consider our healths first. You have been a fighter.
Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes done is better than perfect.
Thank you very much.
This story shows how strong you really are. You didn't give up on school despite being sick, it's not right to judge someone when you don't even know their story. It's amazing how you kept pushing forward.
People need to unlearn judging actually whether they know the story or not. Lol. Thank you very much for your kind words.
Very well said. An interesting piece so to speak. Yes, people are judgmental as it is their nature, but remember that thieves don't aim at an empty house. They felt your worth. Lolz...Greetings.
Hmmmm. You're right.
You have been a fighter! I understand how uneasy education can be. I used to say, if one can survive schooling then one can survive life. I don't know how true that statement is... Thanks for sharing 😊
So touching...💯
As long as they (people) have not lived one's struggle, they won't understand, the best they will do is gossip.
It's good to see how you finished strong despite all.
Thanks for sharing.
💯💗💯
I can imagine how you felt, people don't know their words hurt or maybe they do know and just being wicked with it. The best is never to let such words hit deep down in one's mind
Oh, hit me? I bet what I said to her would continue to hunt her because ever since, she avoided throughout the few days left in school.
That's good for her
I've learned not to judge people no matter what, especially after spending four years at the University and experiencing first-hand what students go through. Truly, it's not easy to concentrate in school when one's health is constantly failing. And for you not to drop out or give up? You tried, honestly.
I appreciate your kind comment.
I don't even know if this should be considered jealousy or what? People bare happy someone who has been sick just returned and she feels completely different.
My words hit deep she wouldn't think that of any other person again.
Everyone needs that strength you talked about in this story at every point of our lives to scale through the challenges of life
Yeap. You're right.