Between two worlds

Chapter 4: A Gathering of Friends

The final exam had just ended, and excitement filled the air as we gathered at Alimat’s one-room house to celebrate. It was a cozy setting, perfect for unwinding after weeks of stress.As I arrived, I spotted Emmanuel and Oluwaseun laughing on the porch while Glorious and Daniel set up a portable speaker. The familiar camaraderie made me smile.

“Hey, Mariam!” Emmanuel called, waving me over. “Ready for the ultimate post-exam celebration?”“Absolutely!” I replied, feeling a surge of happiness at being with friends again.Inside, the room buzzed with laughter, snacks, and the soothing sounds of gospel music. Alimat had created a welcoming atmosphere, and I felt at ease.

I was happy to see Kingsley among the group, his usual aloof demeanor replaced by a genuine smile.“Did we really survive?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, looking relaxed.“Barely!” I laughed. “But we made it, and now it’s time to celebrate!”

As the night unfolded, I joined a game of cards with Oluwaseun and Daniel, enjoying the playful banter. Glorious kept us entertained with his jokes, and the joy in the room was palpable.I noticed Zainab sitting on the couch, laughing freely with everyone.

As a Muslim, she surprised me with her laid-back nature. It made me reflect on my own struggles with faith, but I decided not to dwell on it.“Where’s Tofarati?” I asked, noticing his absence.“He’ll be here soon,” Alimat said. “He was finishing up in the hostel.”Just then, Tofarati walked in, his smile wide. “Sorry I’m late! I had to bring some good vibes!”“Now the party can officially start!” Daniel declared, and we all cheered.The gospel songs played softly in the background as we celebrated. I felt a comforting sense of belonging surrounded by friends, but my thoughts drifted to my childhood friend back home, who had a crush on me and was still waiting for university admission.Later in the evening, I took a moment to chat with Kingsley. “What do you think of the party?” I asked, genuinely curious.“It’s great! I’m glad we could all come together,” he replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.As the party began to wind down, I savored the laughter and the shared memories.

The morning after the party at Alimat's house, we all gathered for something unexpected—prayer. Glorious, the pastor of our group, took the lead. As he prayed, something shifted. He suddenly went into the spirit, and it felt like the atmosphere thickened with intensity. Everyone fell silent, waiting for what he had to say next.Glorious began to prophesy. His voice deepened, and he spoke with such conviction that even those of us who weren't particularly religious paid attention. He had words for each of us, including himself. When he turned to me, I didn’t know what to expect.“Mariam,” he said, his eyes focused. “Someone is coming for you soon. Beware of guys and relationships has he described the guy .”I didn’t know how to respond.

As Glorious continued speaking to the others , his focus shifted back to me. His words became even more personal, piercing through the usual layers of conversation.“Mariam, don’t make the mistake your mother did,” he said, his voice firm but compassionate.My heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t possibly know about my mother or the things that had happened in her past—things I hadn’t shared with anyone. I had always been careful, determined not to follow the same path my mother had taken. I blinked, trying to stay composed, but his words left me shaken.“What do you mean?” I managed to ask, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.Glorious looked at me, and in that moment, he seemed older than his years. “You know exactly what I mean,” he said softly. “She made a choice that still haunts her. You’ve been doing everything you can to avoid it, but you need to be careful now.”I could feel my pulse quickening. He wasn’t wrong. There were things about my mother—decisions she had made in her life—that had left deep marks on our family. It was a truth I had never spoken out loud, not even to my closest friends. And yet, here was Glorious, laying it all bare, as if he knew exactly what I had been struggling with.Everything he said about her was true. It wasn’t just general advice; it was specific, too specific to be coincidence. I glanced around the room, wondering if anyone else realized how profound this was, but they were all focused on their own thoughts, wrapped up in their own parts of the prophecy.

I nodded slowly, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to dismiss it, but the other part, the one that had always been vigilant about not repeating my mother’s mistakes, knew I needed to heed his warning.

As we left Alimat’s house later that day, Glorious’ words echoed in my mind, mingling with his prophecy about my future relationship. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was something more than just a passing warning.

As a Muslim and not a good one at that , I didn’t fully believe in prophecies like this, but something in his voice made me pause. Despite my doubts, I decided to listen and store his words at the back of my mind, even though I didn’t give it much weight at the time.After the prayer session ended, we all hugged, and went our separate ways for the holiday. The sense of community we had built during the semester stayed with me as I prepared for the long break ahead

Once everyone returned home for the holiday, I found myself eagerly connecting with my friends online, chatting with Kingsley and Akim late into the night.“Mariam, you’ve been quiet tonight,” Kingsley typed during one of our chats. “Everything okay?”“Yeah, just reflecting on how much has changed this semester,” I replied, a smile tugging at my lips. “I feel lucky to have friends like you.”“Same here. I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone better,” he responded, sincerity shining through the screen.As I set my phone down, hope filled my heart. I was excited about the possibilities that lay ahead—friendships, new experiences, and the chance to explore my feelings for Kingsley while reconnecting with my childhood friends.This break was shaping up to be something special.