Episode 20: Walking Back Into It
577 Words
The next morning came too quickly.
Ehi didn’t feel ready.
But she got up anyway.
Routine.
That was how she survived.
One step.
Then another.
Don’t think too far ahead.
Just move.
She stood in front of the mirror.
Paused.
For a moment—
She almost didn’t recognize herself.
Not because anything had changed.
But because something had.
Inside.
She looked away.
Grabbed her bag.
And left.
The walk to school felt longer.
Heavier.
Like every step was leading somewhere she didn’t want to go.
And yet—
She kept going.
Because stopping wasn’t an option.
It never had been.
When she reached the gate—
She slowed.
Just for a second.
Then—
Voices.
Laughter.
Movement.
Everything normal.
And somehow—
Not.
Ehi walked in.
Head down.
Like always.
But it didn’t feel the same.
Because now—
She knew.
They would look.
And they did.
Not everyone.
But enough.
A glance.
Then another.
Then a whisper.
“She’s back.”
Ehi kept walking.
Don’t react.
Don’t confirm it.
Don’t—
“Ehi.”
She stopped.
Of course.
She turned slowly.
Daniel.
Already there.
Waiting.
Like he knew she would come.
“Hi,” he said.
Simple.
Normal.
Like nothing had happened.
Ehi nodded slightly.
“Hi.”
Silence.
Then—
“You didn’t answer my message.”
Her chest tightened.
Message.
She hadn’t even opened it.
“I was busy,” she said.
A weak excuse.
Daniel didn’t call it out.
But he didn’t accept it either.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Again.
Always that question.
Ehi nodded.
“Yes.”
Another lie.
Daniel studied her.
Carefully.
Like he was trying to decide something.
Then—
“Walk with me.”
Not a question.
Ehi hesitated.
Every instinct told her—
No.
Don’t make it worse.
Don’t draw attention.
Don’t—
But her feet didn’t move.
And somehow—
That felt like an answer.
Daniel waited.
Didn’t push.
Didn’t rush.
Just there.
Steady.
Ehi glanced around.
People were already watching.
Of course, they were.
That hadn’t changed.
Nothing had.
Except—
Now she was aware of it.
More than ever.
“I can’t,” she said finally.
Her voice ,low.
Careful.
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Because of them?”
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Daniel looked around.
Then back at her.
Something in his expression shifted.
Not frustration.
Not confusion.
Decision.
“Okay,” he said.
But his voice was different now.
More certain.
More grounded.
“Then I’ll walk with you.”
Ehi blinked.
“That’s not better.”
“It is for me.”
That wasn’t the point.
That made it worse.
“Daniel—”
“Ehi.”
He interrupted gently.
But firmly.
“You don’t get to disappear because other people are watching.”
Her breath caught.
That word again.
Disappear.
The thing she had always done.
The thing she was trying to do now.
“I’m not disappearing,” she said.
“You are.”
Quiet.
Certain.
And this time—
She couldn’t argue.
Because part of her knew—
He was right.
Across the courtyard—
Amara stood.
Watching.
Of course.
Always.
Her gaze didn’t move.
Didn’t soften.
Didn’t hide.
Because now—
There was nothing subtle left.
This was open.
Clear.
And unavoidable.
Ehi felt it.
That shift.
This wasn’t just tension anymore.
It was turning into something else.
Something bigger.
And for the first time—
She wasn’t sure she could control it.
- Writer
