Drowning

The beginning

I wished Daniel could come back. But that wasn't going to happen, as he was long gone and perhaps resting in paradise.

Daniel was a final year student when we started dating, while I was in my second year at the same university. He had an athletic build even though he wasn't so good at sports. His favourite sport was football, which he had described as "the sport meant for boys" to which I agreed, because at that time, girls rarely played football. It all started on the fist day of my end of semester exams, I had previously done an overnight reading so as to prepare myself adequately for the exams, even when my mum warned me sternly never to engage in such an act. All my roommates left the hostel early enough in order to catch-up with some early morning campus gist, which on such days would be key to the day's exams. I was left alone in the room to do my dressing. The staying awake of the previous night was beginning to have effect on me as I struggled to keep my eyelids open. The sleep crept Its way slowly into my eyes, as I was soon asleep. Daniel had a sister who was also my roommate. As he usually did every morning, he was there to check she had gone to class, while leaving the room, he heard my snore and came to check who it was, he tapped me gently after which I sprang up, picked up my backpack, and headed for the lecture room where my exams were to take place.

After the completion of my exams, I requested Daniel's number from his sister who didn't hesitate to give it to me. I equally called him, thanking him for being there at that moment and also labelling him a 'God-sent'. The exams were over, and it was vacation period, we met again at the cafeteria where he asked of my social media handles. He also informed me of his willingness to engage in a relationship with me.

We started talking during the holidays, as I was quite naïve during our conversations, but I found him to be very interesting, and even went on my first date with him. It was my first time of being in relationship, and I didn't know what going on a date felt like so I was quite simple with my outfit putting on a Jean jacket and Jean skirt, while on my feet was my white Nike sneakers. We had a meal at a fast-food restaurant which we enjoyed deliciously and then proceeded to the Genesis cinema for a movie. That night was one of those that lingers in my memory till today. After a long day, we had ride home in his blue Toyota Camry car, the first stop was at my house where we only shook hands before he drove off.

Holiday was coming to an end as I prepared for a new year in the university which would make it my third year. But Daniel was preparing to go for his NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) program after which he would proceed to taking up the executive role at his father's company. Of all the intrinsic values Daniel possessed, his ability to freely interact with people irrespective of their societal status was what i found intriguing.

"your ability to condescend when talking to people will take you far in life" was one of his regular quotes anytime he tried advising his sister who was so full of herself.

School resumed in earnest, as i reminisced on my holiday happenings, I couldn't hide the excitement of me going on my first-ever date with Daniel, so I shared the gist amongst my friends, to be specific my inner circle friends which consisted mainly of my roommates, and particularly Thelma who happened to be Daniel's sister. She didn't seem happy about it as her gestures portrayed her inner mind even when she smiled exposing her crystalline teeth.

As usual, academic activities resumed as I also tried engaging in some extra curricular activities which would make a great deal, as I was known to be a bookworm. Of all the associations I was willing to join none seemed appealing to me, so I rather opted to join the alumni of my high school (Royal college old students association). I felt so happy to know that I would have something doing when not reading. The president of the association was Roberts, a former high school bully who claimed to have changed. It was quite interesting to know that over two hundred students from my high school were attending the same university with me, as we tried rebuilding past relationships (friendship).

It was a Wednesday evening, and I was set to attend an on-campus fellowship, and as I was about picking up my Bible from my bedside table, a statement struck me.

"Sharon I would like to go with you" Thelma indicated.

For a moment I thought it was a joke, but them I saw her dressing up so it became clear that it was no joke. My surprise here was worth it because Thelma was someone who had never attended fellowship for once since I got to know her. I still wasn't convinced as I kept on thinking about why she offered to go with me for fellowship. The fellowship didn't take much of our time since it was done on a weekday. We began trekking back to our hostel in the silence of the night. We were soon at the college's garden that had in it a Gargoyle shaped fountain which produced sparkling pure waters. The rustling of leaves at night could be heard miles away due to the serenity of the compound at night.

"when did your date with Daniel take place" Thelma asked.

"on a Tuesday" I replied sharply.

My instincts were right as I had earlier expected something of such to happen. Days turned into weeks, and we were almost close to having a students conference which was hosted by the school and the students union on every tenth of February when we heard of the retirement of our English professor, professor Umar. This came as a challenge to me knowing that one of the lecturers I loved dearly was leaving. In acknowledgement of his good works at the school, the students union on behalf of the school threw a retirement party, with the conference also taking place later on. I didn't like the fact that I would have to continue the rest of my academic journey with a new English lecturer.

But then, within a few days we had a new English lecturer who went by the name; professor Donald.