Chapter 1— Where It Began
Honestly, I don't know exactly when it all started going wrong.
It just did.
Maybe it was a series of small decisions that meant nothing at the time. Maybe it was the people I met, the things I wanted, or simply the girl I was when I stepped into that new world.
But if I had to take you back to the beginning, it would be here.
A teenage girl enters college, excitement bubbling inside her at the thought of meeting new people and, finally, escaping the prison she had called home for years.She didn't know then that freedom could be both a gift and a trap.
Resumption came.
My mother's words still rang in my head.
"Remember where you're coming from. A lady's virtue is her virginity."
My pastor's words followed closely behind.
"Make sure to represent God in school. Ask Him to direct and guide you so you won't make mistakes."
And then there was my father's cold gaze as I packed my bags and bid everyone at home goodbye. I felt reluctant to leave, yet strangely excited at the same time.
It's all going to be fine, I reassured myself. I bet I'll meet exciting people.
The first day in school went by so quickly.
Registration was exhausting, and by the time I finally settled into my room in the hostel, evening had already crept in. I was the second person to register for the room. There were supposed to be four of us.
Once I finally lay down on my bed after unpacking, everything I'd been holding in came rushing back.
I missed my mum.
I missed my younger sister and brother.
I missed all my friends I'd left behind at home.
The thought of what tomorrow held was even more overwhelming. Rather than let my mind wander too far into those thoughts, I closed my eyes and surrendered to sleep.
Morning came quickly.
I'd barely slept, and the dark circles beneath my eyes made that painfully obvious.
I was awakened by the rustling and movement around the room. When I opened my eyes, I saw two strangers going about their morning routines, getting dressed and preparing for the day.
For a while, I pretended to be asleep.
I watched them carefully from beneath half-closed eyes until I eventually got tired of pretending. I faked a yawn and a stretch before finally sitting up.
I felt their gazes on me immediately.
There was eagerness in their eyes—and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Hiiiiii, good morning!" one of the girls said cheerfully, breaking the tension.
"Good morning," I replied, my voice stiff as I tried my best to sound friendly.
It wasn't working.
"I'm Tolu, your roommate. I moved in late last night, but you were already asleep," she said with a small smile.
"I'm Beauty. We met yesterday, but I'm not sure you remember me," the other girl added.
"I'm Precious. It's nice to meet you guys," I responded after a brief silence.
"Are you going to class? What department are you in?" Beauty asked as she tidied her hair and adjusted her thick glasses.
"I don't know anything about my classes, actually. I don't even know how to navigate things."
My throat tightened as the reality of being completely on my own hit me. I could feel tears beginning to gather at the corners of my eyes.
"Then come with us," Beauty said, as though it were the simplest thing in the world. "I heard all the freshers have the same timetable. We should have the same lecture schedule. Maybe you'll meet some of your coursemates in the hall and talk to them."
Relief washed over me almost immediately.
I climbed down from the top bunk and hurried into the bathroom to wash up and get dressed.
"You never told us your department," Tolu chirped as Beauty locked the door behind her and we waited for her.
"Oh, yeah. I'm in the Department of Veterinary Medicine."
"Ehhhhhh, you're in Vet?!" Tolu exclaimed loudly.
Beauty walked toward us with the same look of surprise on her face.
"We have a scholar in our room o!" she teased.
I laughed, finally beginning to loosen up.
"Nahhhh, I'm not a scholar," I protested.
And just like that, the awkwardness began to fade.
We walked down the corridor, dropped the key at the porter's station, and headed toward the lecture venue with Beauty leading the way.
I didn't know it then, but those two girls were among the first people I would meet in a place that would change me in ways I could never have imagined.
