Fate

-- Ann sat on the edge of her bed, the letter trembling in her hands. Her eyes darted over the words again, as if rereading them would make the moment more real. "We are pleased to inform you that you have been granted admission to the University of Westwood for the Bachelor of Arts in English program." The words blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. She had waited five long years for this moment. Five years of disappointment, frustration, and the sinking feeling that she would never make it. But here it was—her golden ticket. She pressed the letter to her chest, breathing in deeply. The walls of her small bedroom, once suffocating in their familiarity, now seemed to expand, making room for the future she had almost given up on. Ann wasn’t always the girl who failed exams. Back in secondary school, she had been one of the brightest in her class. She had dreams—big, ambitious dreams of going to university straight after high school, of wearing a graduation gown before she turned twenty-two, of proving to herself and the world that she was capable. But life had other plans. The first time she sat for the state exam, she was full of confidence. She walked into the exam hall with her head high, believing the hours of study, the sleepless nights, and the sacrifices she had made would pay off. When the results came out, she had barely missed the required cutoff. "Maybe next year," her mother had said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It happens, Ann. You'll do better next time." She had believed it, too. The second attempt was worse. She had prepared even harder, but the results still weren’t good enough. By the third attempt, she had stopped announcing it to her friends. Most of them had moved on, already living the life she had dreamed of. Each year that passed, her confidence dwindled. Relatives began whispering when they visited. Neighbors cast pitying glances her way. “She was so smart in school,” they would say. “What happened?” Ann had no answer. She had tried everything—changing study strategies, getting tutors, even fasting and praying for days. But no matter what she did, she always fell short. By the fifth year, she was drained. She had considered giving up, finding a job, and settling for whatever life handed her. But there was a fire inside her that refused to be extinguished. And now, finally, she had made it. Ann wiped her tears and rushed to the living room, where her mother was peeling yams for dinner. “Mama!” she exclaimed, her voice shaking. “I got in!” Her mother froze, the knife slipping from her hand. For a moment, there was silence, then, as if the words had just sunk in, her mother sprang up. “Ann! You mean it? You passed?” Ann nodded, unable to hold back the tears anymore. “I got my admission letter today.” Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace, rocking her slightly. “Oh, my daughter! God is good. You did it!” Her younger brother, Toby, who had been lounging on the floor with his phone, glanced up. “Finally,” he muttered, rolling his eyes. “Took you long enough.” Ann shot him a glare, but nothing could dampen her mood. She was too happy, too relieved. That evening, her mother made jollof rice and fried chicken—something she only did on special occasions. As they ate, her mother kept glancing at her with pride, as if she was seeing her for the first time. “So, Westwood University,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s far from home, but it’s one of the best schools in the state. You will need to start preparing.” Ann nodded eagerly. “I need to buy new clothes, get my documents ready, and—” Her mother held up a hand. “We’ll take it one step at a time. I still need to figure out the fees.” Ann’s smile faltered. She had been so caught up in the excitement that she hadn’t thought about the financial side of things. Her mother worked as a tailor, making enough to sustain them but not enough to afford university tuition easily. “I’ll help,” Ann said quickly. “I can get a part-time job, and maybe there are scholarships—” Her mother reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “We’ll manage, Ann. The important thing is that you got in. We’ll make it work.” Ann swallowed the lump in her throat. Her mother had always sacrificed for her, and now she was about to do it again. A Call to the Past Later that night, Ann lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed beside her, lighting up with a familiar name—Lisa. Lisa had been her best friend in secondary school. Unlike Ann, she had passed the state exam on her first try and had gone to university years ago. Though they still kept in touch, their conversations had grown infrequent. Ann picked up the call hesitantly. “Ann!” Lisa’s voice was bright with excitement. “I saw your post! You finally got in!” Ann smiled. “Yeah, I did.” “I’m so happy for you! I know how hard you worked for this.” “Thanks, Lisa.” Ann hesitated, then asked, “How’s university life?” Lisa sighed dramatically. “Tough, but fun. I just finished my third year. Can you believe that? One more year to go!” Ann felt a familiar pang in her chest. If things had gone as planned, she would have been in the same position by now. Instead, she was just starting. “I’m sure you’ll love it,” Lisa continued. “It’s different from secondary school—more freedom, more responsibilities. And you’ll meet new people. Maybe even fall in love.” Ann chuckled. “Love is the last thing on my mind.” Lisa laughed. “You always say that. But who knows? Maybe that guy you were obsessed with in secondary school will be there.” Ann’s stomach twisted. “What guy?” she asked, playing dumb. “Don’t act like you don’t remember Demian,” Lisa teased. “You practically wrote poetry about him in your diary.” Ann rolled her eyes, though her heart was pounding. “That was years ago.” “But you never told him how you felt,” Lisa pointed out. “What if he liked you too?” Ann sighed. “It doesn’t matter now. I haven’t seen him in years. He’s probably forgotten I exist.” Lisa hummed thoughtfully. “Well, the universe works in mysterious ways. You never know who you might run into.” After the call ended, Ann lay in bed, thinking about Demian. He had been her high school crush—the boy with the easy smile and the confident stride. She had admired him from a distance, never daring to tell him how she felt. Would he remember her? Would he even care? She shook her head. It was foolish to dwell on the past. University was a fresh start, and she wasn’t going to let old feelings get in the way. The days passed in a blur of preparation. Ann packed her bags, double-checked her documents, and said goodbye to her neighbors. The morning of her departure arrived too soon. Her mother hugged her tightly at the bus station. “Be careful, Ann. Study hard, and don’t let anything distract you.” Ann nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. As the bus pulled away, she stared out the window, watching her town disappear in the distance. This was it. She had fought for this chance for five long years. And now, she was finally stepping into the life she had always dreamed of. Little did she know, this was only the beginning.