Zainab texted me first.
I didn't expect it. We'd exchanged numbers casually, the way people do when they say "let's keep in touch" and never actually do. But she did.
'There's a play on campus Friday. You coming?'
I wasn't planning to. Didn't even know there was a play. But I said yes.
Friday came. I almost didn't go. Had editing work to finish. But Dayo covered for me, said he'd handle the revisions.
The play was in the arts theater. Small space. Wooden benches. The kind of venue that felt like it was held together by hope and duct tape.
Zainab was already there, sitting near the middle. I slid in beside her.
"You made it," she said.
I replied, "Barely."
The lights dimmed. The play started.
It was about migration. About leaving. About people who left their country looking for something better and found loneliness instead. It wasn't subtle. But it was honest.
One of the actors broke down on stage. Real tears. You could feel it in the room - everyone holding their breath.
When it ended, people clapped. Some stood. Zainab didn't. She just sat there, staring at the empty stage.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah." But her voice was tight.
We left with the crowd. Outside, the night was cool. Unusual for this city.
"You want to walk?" she asked.
I replied, "Sure."
We walked with no destination. Passed the cafeteria. The library. The chapel. Ended up at the football field. Empty. Dark except for one flickering light at the far end.
We sat on the grass.
"My brother tried to leave," she said suddenly.
I didn't say anything. Just listened.
"Two years ago. He wanted to go to Europe. Through Libya. My parents didn't know until he was already gone."
"What happened?" I asked
She replied "He got stuck. In Libya. For eight months. My dad had to pay people to get him back."
"Damn." didn't know what else to say other than that.
"He doesn't talk about it. What he saw. What happened there. But he's different now. Quieter." She said.
I didn't know what to say. So I didn't say anything.
She lay back on the grass. Looked up at the sky.
"Do you ever feel like we're all just trying not to drown?" she asked.
"Every day."
She turned her head toward me. "Then why do we keep pretending we're fine?"
"Because saying we're not doesn't change anything." I replied.
She smiled. Sad smile. "Maybe."
We stayed there for a while. Not talking. Just existing in the same space.
Eventually, she sat up. "I should get back."
"I'll walk with you." I said
We walked slower this time. No rush.
At her street, she stopped.
"Thanks," she said.
"For what?" I asked.
"For not trying to fix it." She replied calmly.
I nodded.
She hugged me. Quick. Unexpected.
Then she was gone.
I walked back alone, feeling something I hadn't felt in a while… Damn, I could hug a transformer rn.. lol
It wasn't like 'Happiness' was it? Naaah, Not exactly.
Just... less alone.
When I got back to the lodge, Kunle was up, frying eggs.
"Where you been?" he asked.
"Out."
"With the girl?" he asked.
"Yeah." blushed like a fool.
He grinned. "See you. Moving smooth.
"It's not like that." I said (Wanted to punch him).
"Not yet." he said.
I didn't argue.
We ate the eggs with bread. Watched some show on his phone. Laughed at jokes that weren't that funny.
For a moment, everything felt easy.
Then my phone rang.
It was the landlord.
I didn't pick up.
Kunle saw my face change.
"Rent?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"How much you still need?" he asked.
"A lot."
He went quiet. We both knew he couldn't help more than he already had.
"The gig will come through," I said.
"Yeah." The response he gave wasn't real tho
Neither of us believed it.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I kept thinking about what Zainab said. About drowning, about pretending.
I picked up my phone, started typing a message to her.
'You ever feel like soft moments are illegal? Like we're not allowed to just... be?'
I stared at it for a long time.
Then deleted it.
Some things you can't say.
Even when they're true.