CHAPTER 5 : THE LETTER
706 Words
The principal’s office was quiet that morning, the only sound coming from the rustling of papers and the ticking of the old wall clock.
Mrs. Okon sat behind her desk, brow furrowed as she read the anonymous letter she had pulled from the suggestion box just moments before. The words were sharp, almost too calculated. It accused Wali of corruption, manipulation, and deception. The letter claimed she had forged parts of her application and coerced teachers into giving her better grades.
Mrs. Okon tapped her pen against the desk.
Something felt off.
She had known Wali for years—since junior secondary school. She remembered the girl who quietly picked up litter after assemblies, who volunteered in the library without being asked, who once donated her entire prize money from a debate competition to fix broken desks in her class.
Still, a principal had to be fair. She folded the letter and slid it into a file, then called a staff meeting.
By the end of the day, a few teachers were discreetly asked for feedback on Wali’s behavior and academic record. The response was unanimous—Wali was hardworking, respectful, honest. Not one of them believed the claims in the letter.
But then came the unexpected.
A second letter arrived two days later.
It was also anonymous—but this one was different.
It wasn’t against Wali.
It was about Hajjo.
The second letter detailed how Hajjo had been overheard boasting about how “someone like Wali didn’t deserve the scholarship,” and how she had “plans” to ruin her cousin’s reputation. It mentioned a conversation near the science block, and even cited the names of two girls who had allegedly heard the remarks.
Mrs. Okon blinked.
She now had two letters, both clearly tied together—and the second had specific names.
She called the girls in. Cautiously.
They squirmed under her gaze, but eventually admitted what they knew: they had indeed overheard Hajjo say she was “planting something” that would “finish Wali for good.”
Mrs. Okon leaned back in her chair, her suspicion now confirmed.
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That evening, Wali stayed late after school, helping the librarian alphabetize a new donation of textbooks. She hadn’t heard about either letter. Her world had become small again—books, routines, quiet acts of survival.
As she stepped outside into the golden twilight, the principal’s secretary approached her.
“Mrs. Okon would like to see you.”
Wali’s heart stuttered.
She entered the office, palms sweating.
“Sit down, Wali,” the principal said, voice gentle but firm. “I need to talk to you about something important.”
Wali sat, back straight, prepared for the worst.
Mrs. Okon didn’t speak for a moment. Then she opened a file, pulled out two sheets of paper, and placed them on the desk.
“I received these letters,” she said. “Both anonymous. One accused you of very serious things. But the other... exposed what appears to be a setup.”
Wali stared at the pages, not understanding at first.
“I don’t know who wrote the second letter,” Mrs. Okon continued, “but it was brave. And after speaking with staff and witnesses, I believe that someone tried to sabotage you.”
Wali’s breath caught.
Sabotage?
“I thought you should know that the matter is being taken seriously. The school board has been informed. There will be an inquiry. In the meantime…” she hesitated, then added, “I want you to keep your head high. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
For the first time in weeks, Wali felt her shoulders lighten.
But the twist wasn’t over.
As she left the office, still stunned, she passed by a group of students near the courtyard. One of them—a quiet boy from her literature class named Idris—looked up and caught her eye.
He gave a small nod. Almost imperceptible.
Later that evening, Wali found something tucked into her locker.
It was a folded note.
“Not everyone who watches stays silent. Some of us fight back in our own way. —I”
She stared at the message, heart pounding.
Idris?
Had he written the second letter?
- Writer
