Yinka and Sade no longer fought. But they didn’t talk either.

They passed each other in the hallway like strangers. Sometimes their eyes met, and there was a flicker of memory. But nothing more.

Nnenna remained Yinka’s only close friend, and their bond grew stronger with each passing day. They studied together, helped each other with schoolwork, and often sat quietly reading under the big tree near the library.

Then came the final exams, WAEC.

Everyone was tense. Teachers reminded them daily: “Your future starts here.”

Yinka took it seriously. She studied hard. Nnenna, too.

On the second day of exams, news spread like fire, Sade had been caught cheating.

She had hidden small pieces of paper in her sleeve. The invigilator found them during the English paper. She was sent out of the hall in front of everyone.

Yinka heard about it when she returned from her own exam. Her heart sank. Not because she felt glad, but because she knew how hard that moment must have been for Sade.

That night, Yinka wrote in her notebook:

“The path is not always fast. But it is fair.”

A month later, the results were released.

Yinka passed with flying colours. So did Nnenna.

They both ran home holding their result slips like treasure. Yinka’s parents were so proud, her father bought drinks for the neighbours. Her mother wept not from sorrow, but joy.

That night, as they sat outside under the stars, her mother said softly, “I always knew you would make it. You chose right, even when it was hard.”

Yinka smiled. She thought of the path. Narrow. Lonely. But bright.

Sade’s results were also known.

She had failed.

She didn’t return to school. Some said she had travelled. Others said she would try again next year.

Yinka didn’t know for sure. But she prayed silently for her.

Not in anger.

But with hope.

Because even broken paths can be walked again, if one is willing.