Trials Of Thelma: Unbroken

A Place Of Solace

The next morning, Thelma dragged herself to school, trying to hide the evidence of the previous night's ordeal. She wore a thick sweater despite the warm weather, hoping it would conceal the marks on her arms and back. Her face, however, bore the undeniable signs of her suffering—swollen eyes from crying all night and a slight bruise on her cheek.

As Thelma walked into the classroom, Blessing took one look at her and gasped. “What the heck, Thelma? What happened to you?” she exclaimed, her voice filled with shock and concern.

The outburst caught the attention of some of their classmates, who quickly gathered around Thelma. She tried to offer a weak smile, but the effort brought fresh tears to her eyes.

“I... I fell,” Thelma mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Blessing wasn’t convinced. She gently touched Thelma’s arm. “No, you didn’t. Did your mom do this?”

Thelma looked away, unable to meet Blessing’s eyes. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words. The other students, sensing her distress, offered words of comfort.

“You don’t deserve this, Thelma,” one classmate said softly.

“We’re here for you,” another added, squeezing her hand.

Thelma nodded, grateful for their kindness but feeling utterly broken. The rest of the school day passed in a blur. She struggled to focus on her lessons, her mind drifting to the solace she would find on Sunday.

******Justin*****

Thelma's POV

Sundays had become a sanctuary for me since I became close with Justin. Don't give me that look, he's not my boyfriend okay and don't let my mum hear that I am hanging out with a boy.

He was an altar boy at our church, a decent, strong young man with a passion for football. More importantly, he is my friend and confidant, someone who made me forget my troubles, if only for a few hours.

Bible classes usually starts at 3 PM and last until 6 PM, followed by football practice until 7 PM. But I always arrive at the church before 2 to spend time with Justin.

Our conversations are the highlight of my week, it made me forget all the chaos of my home life plus I get to enjoy the company of a brilliant man who makes me laugh and is protective of me.

This Sunday afternoon, I arrived at the church even before 3 with Jayden and Justin was waiting for me with his siblings in an office.

“Hey, T!” Justin called out.

I smiled and then hit him "how can you be here before me, I left home earlier than usual?"

"Well, same here" he giggled.

We let the little ones go out to play and went outside to keep an eye out for them,sat down on the grass, and Justin immediately launched into a story about his week.

“You won’t believe what happened in my biology class,” he said, laughing. “We were dissecting frogs, and one of them jumped right out of the tray. The whole class freaked out, especially the girls.”

I giggled, imagining the chaos. “That sounds hilarious! Nothing that exciting ever happens in my classes.”

“Well, you’ve got to find the fun in the little things,” Justin replied. “What about you? How was your week?”

I hesitated, but decided to share a bit of what happened during the week. “It was tough. My mom... she’s been really strict lately. I got into trouble for falling asleep before she got home.”

Justin’s expression turned serious. “I’m sorry, T. I know our parents are always very strict. But she was too extra, looking at the marks you showed. Don't worry in 2 years we should be leaving home for university and it will be a thing of the past.”

“Thanks, Justin,” I said, feeling warmth spreading through my chest. “Talking to you always makes me feel better.”

We spent the next hour talking about our future plans. Justin was excited about his upcoming exams and the possibility of going to university. He dreamed of becoming an engineer.

“What about you, Thelma? What do you want to do?” Justin asked, genuinely interested.

I sighed, looking up at the sky. “I’m not sure yet. I am thinking of studying Economics or Political Science but who knows I may change my mind again.”

“You’ll be amazing at whatever you choose,” Justin said confidently. “You have a kind heart and a strong spirit. Don’t ever forget that.”

Our conversation flows easily, and for those precious moments, I felt a sense of peace I rarely experienced. The church, with its tranquil atmosphere and Justin’s reassuring presence, had become my haven.

*****Flash Forward******

How was I supposed to know that Years later, the memories of those Sundays with Justin would be a bittersweet comfort?

I often found myself sometimes thinking back to those carefree afternoons, more especially after the tragic loss of my dear friend.

Justin had been accepted into the university, a dream come true for him. We had talked about all the things he would do, the adventures he would have, and how he would stay in touch no matter what. I felt I had a friend for life, the future had seemed bright and full of promise.

I decided to call Justin that day as I was eager to hear his voice, to share my latest news, and to listen to his plans. The phone rang and rang, but there was no answer. I tried again, and this time, his mom picked up. When I heard her voice trembling, almost breaking, dread began to set in.

“Thelma, I’m so sorry... Justin is gone,” she said, her words hitting me hard.

My world stopped. “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, as if not speaking the words aloud would somehow make them less true.

“He had an accident. He didn’t make it,” Justin’s mother said, her voice cracking. He died just days before he was supposed to leave for university.

I fell to my knees, unable to process the magnitude of my loss. My chest tightened, my breath coming in short, painful gasps. Justin, my Justin, was gone just like that.

The days that followed were a blur. I went through the motions, but inside, I felt hollow.

I called his number several times over the next few days, each ring a desperate plea for this nightmare to end. When the calls went unanswered, my heart sank deeper into an abyss of grief. It wasn’t until his mother answered again, gently reminding me of the finality of his absence, that I began to face the harsh truth.

Sleep brought no relief either. Instead, it brought vivid dreams where I and Justin would continue to hang out. In those dreams, I would ask him, “I thought you were dead?” and he would laugh, saying, “Do I look like I died?” and we would laugh over it.

I would believe he was still with me. Those dreams were my comfort, a place where Justin’s warmth and laughter still existed. But each morning, reality would crash down around me, the emptiness in my heart growing heavier with each passing day.

One morning, mom found me crying, after waking from another dream of Justin. She sat beside me and gently said, “It's your Friend right? It’s time to let him go, Thelma. He’s at peace now.”

I knew mom was right, but the pain of losing Justin was a wound that never fully healed.

*****End Of Flash Forward*****

Maybe I loved him in my childlike way. I don’t know if it's right to call it love, but one thing I can say for sure is that I cared for him deeply.

I miss you, Justin. I still do.