Shadows of the past

By: Jennifer Celeb PAGE 1Three days before my departure to university, my mother was deep in thought. Her mood was elsewhere, and she didn’t notice me standing there. I tried to talk to her, but she didn’t respond. I had to call her name three times before she snapped back to reality, leaving her eyes wet — strong, but the emotional silent tears streaming down her face. I comforted her as best as I could and even Fumilayo began to share her story.“It’s been 17 years since your father left us,” she said, her voice breaking. “He gave me promises and planned for a future after making a better life for us. I was young and naive, believing he would come back to marry me. But he vanished, leaving me with a shattered dream. My father in public had warned me about Clinton but I didn’t listen. His death on the night of your birth still haunts me. I’ve raised you alone, and now as you leave for university, make sure to do your best to make me proud.”The day of my departure arrived quickly. We embarked on the 3–5 hour journey from Oyo State to Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) at Lekki. PAGE 2It was a bright Monday morning when I arrived at Pan-Atlantic University in Lekki. As we entered the school gates, I was amazed by the beauty of the campus. The atmosphere was so calm and welcoming, and for a moment I felt like I truly belonged here.But deep down, I was nervous. I was a shy fresher who had just left home for the first time. The fear of meeting new people, adapting to a new environment, and starting a whole new chapter of life made my heart race.Everything changed when I met Nneoma, a warm and friendly senior student who was assigned to help me settle in. She guided me to my hostel, helped me with my luggage, and made sure I didn’t feel alone.She smiled and said, “Relax, you’ll be fine here. Just give it time.”Her words soothed my heart.