THE DAY I STAYED

The Day I Stayed by W NDUNGU There are moments when love asks a simple question with a difficult answer: will you stay, or will you run? Everyone else had already decided to go. I stood at the doorway, my hand resting on the cold frame, knowing that leaving would be easier—but staying would cost me more than I was ready to admit. The room behind me was filled with a silence heavier than noise. It was the kind that comes after panic, when fear lingers long after everyone believes the worst has passed. I was exhausted, afraid, and stretched thin. Every part of me wanted to follow the others out and breathe freely again. My mind listed every reason to leave. I told myself that I had done enough, that someone else could stay this time, that choosing myself was not the same as being selfish. Yet my heart argued quietly, reminding me of all the moments love had asked me to remain when fear begged me to walk away. I stood there, torn between relief and responsibility, knowing that whatever choice I made would follow me long after I stepped through that door. I took a slow breath and let the noise in my head fade. Without saying a word, I loosened my grip on the door and turned back into the room. It wasn’t bravery that moved me, but something softer and stronger—love that refused to abandon what mattered most. I sat down, steady and present, choosing to stay even while fear whispered that I should leave. The room responded to my decision before I fully realized it. The silence softened. What had felt heavy moments ago began to settle, as if my staying had given the air permission to breathe again. I noticed the smallest details—the quiet stillness, the warmth of presence, the reassurance that simply being there could matter. Time passed differently after that. Fear didn’t disappear, but it no longer ruled the moment. By staying, I chose connection over escape, care over comfort. And in doing so, I learned that love does not demand perfection—only willingness. When it was finally over and the door stood open again, I understood the truth I would carry long after that day. Fear will always offer a way out. Love offers a reason to remain. And sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is stay. © 2026 W NDUNGU. All rights reserved.