ONCE WE WERE US

THE FIRST DATE.

Saturday arrived sooner than Daisy expected. She had spent the entire week pretending she wasn't counting the days,but every glance at the calendar reminded her of the lunch she had agreed to.It wasn't just lunch. It was her first date in years.

Standing in front of the small mirror in her apartment, Daisy changed outfits three times before finally settling on a simple sky-blue dress and a pair of a white flats. She tied her hair into a loose ponytail and smiled nervously at her reflection."You look fine,"she whispered to herself. Her phone buzzed.

Kelvin: I'm outside.Her heart skipped a beat. She grabbed her handbag and hurried downstairs. Kelvin was leaning against a silver car, dressed in a navy blue shirt and a dark jeans. When he saw Daisy,his face lit up. " You look beautiful." Daisy felt her cheeks warm. "Thank you.......you look nice too."

He opened the passage door for her.

"Shall we?"

The drive through Nairobi was filled with easy conversation. Kelvin pointed out buildings he had helped design, explaining how each project had taught him something new. "I never knew architecture involved so much creativity," Daisy admitted. Kelvin smiled.

"It's not just about buildings .It's about creating places where people make memories." Daisy looked out of the window thoughtfully."I like that." A few minutes later, they arrived at a quiet restaurant overlooking a small garden. The peaceful atmosphere made Daisy feel more relaxed.

After ordering their meals, the conversation became more personal." So ," Kelvin asked, what's your biggest dream?"Daisy smiled sadly. "I used to dream of managing my own company after graduating. But after years of job hunting, I started believing maybe I wasn't good enough." Kelvin shook his head immediately.

"Don't ever say that ,"She looked at him .

"Life delaying your dream doesn't mean your dream isn't worth chasing." His words settled deep in her heart.

"No one has ever said that to me."

"They should have."

For a moment,they simply smiled at each other.

When their food arrived,the conversation shifted to lighter topics. They laughed over embarrassing childhood stories, argued playfully about which football team was better and discovered they both loved watching the rain while drinking hot coffee.

Hours passed without either of them noticing. After lunch, Kelvin suggested they take a walk through the nearby garden. The afternoon breeze was cool, carrying the scent of blooming flowers.

As they walked, Daisy noticed children playing nearby while the elderly couples sat quietly on benches.

"It's peaceful here ," she said. "It reminds me that happiness doesn't always have to be loud,"Kelvin replied.They continued walking until they reached a small pond.Without thinking, Daisy stepped onto a loose stone near the edge. It shifted beneath her foot. She gasped. Before she could fall, Kelvin caught her hand. For a brief moment, they stood frozen. His hand held hers firmly. Their eyes met. Neither of them spoke.

Daisy could hear only the sound of her own heartbeat."Are you okay?"Kelvin asked softly.She nodded."Thanks to you."

Neither of them seemed eager to let go.

Finally, Daisy smiled shyly, and kelvin slowly released her hand.As the sun began to set,he drove her back home.

When they arrived, neither wanted the day to end.

"I had a wonderful time," Daisy admitted.

"So did I."

Kelvin hesitated."Can I see you again?" Daisy laughed softly.

"I was hoping you'd ask ." He grinned.

"Then it's a date." As Daisy stepped out of the car, she looked back one last time. Kelvin waved before driving away.She stood outside her apartment for several seconds, unable to stop smiling. For the first time in a long while, the future no longer felt empty. She didn't know where this journey would lead.

But she knew one thing. She was no longer walking it alone.

Far across the town, however, someone watched Kelvin's car pull into a parking lot. A young woman stepped out of another vehicle.She folded her arms and frowned.

"So...... you've finally moved on?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

She turned and walked away, determination filling her eyes. Neither Daisy nor Kelvin knew that the peace they had just found was about to be tested.