Ronna's Encounter

Hope

That was how she was further frustrated. She needed to talk to someone; she more than ever needed the advice of her sister. But that was not possible. She couldn't even bring herself to call Roland.

It was then it dawned on her that she didn't really have any friends. She just wished she could trust one person enough to confide in. "If only my sister was here." she said to herself. "Maybe she would have given me a good advice, why did you leave me at this point. I can't stand it. I need to talk to someone, but what if they see me differently, what if they see me as weak. What if they tell others?" These questions and more agitated her mind.

The days that followed seemed worse, the test results were released with an 'F' boldly attached to her Matriculation Number. She was chased from the Office when she tried to plead with Mr. Musa. As though that wasn't enough, she got into a nasty fight with Timi, her arch rival. Timi had made fun of her using her test score and reading out loud from her so precious friend her diary in class.

"She was fined and was asked to pay damages to Timi at the Security Center, after signing an undertaking to be of good behavior.

"But why am I being punished? We both were involved in a fight," she asked but the words made no effect on non of the officials. But they had told Timi to greet her parents instead, with broad smiles.

Walking back to her residence was even more difficult than she thought; it was as if everyone knew what had happened, with her dress partly torn and her hair completely undone. "Maybe Timi is right, Maybe Roland left me because I'm a failure, I attract only bad things to myself and those around me. No wonder no one wants to come too close to me" She continued to ponder. The voices in her head kept growing louder. All she wanted at that point was a quick and easy way out.

A passer-by heard choking sounds coming from Ronna's room and alerted her neighbours and landlord who after knocking several times with no response broke in only to find her unconscious on the floor beside an empty insecticide bottle.

She was rushed to the school sick bay but was transferred almost immediately to a specialist hospital in the state capital. The timely intervention of the doctors on duty revived her. It was on her second day in the hospital that she saw on the bed next to her the lookalike of Lisa. When she had enquired from the nurses the identity of the lady, she was told she had lost her memory due to a fatal accident she had while trying to escape from the hands of suspected kidnappers. All indications proved it was Lisa. But if this is Lisa, whose corpse was she called to identify some weeks ago.

Ronna was later assigned to a counsellor as part of her treatment.

"Miss Ronna", Dr. Ebi started, after listening patiently to her story. "You know you have no reason to kill yourself for all that happened. As a matter of fact, you should have talked to someone about what you were going through. By the way, how often do you eat and how healthy are your meals?"

"Twice a day at most. About it being healthy, I can't really say." She said.

"Do you engage in any sports, or carry out exercises of any sort?"

"No, Ma"

"Do you know that for you to overcome this phase, you should eat healthy meals at least twice a day? Exercise regularly, observe your proper rest, sleep when necessary, engage in positive thoughts. Funny as it may sound, you do need sunlight also. And most importantly, socialize more, talk to people more. 'A problem shared they say is a problem half solved,' so talk with someone. If you're not comfortable with them, see your counsellor in school. Now that you know your sister survived, what do you think would have been her fate if you were dead?"

Ronna could niether answer nor stop the incessant flow of tears from her eyes.

"As a consolation, your lecturer, Mr. Musa was sacked today after being set up by one Miss Sandra, from your department. Apparently, he gave her similar conditions, but she devised a plan towards disgracing him. Now you can confidently sit for your exams.