With a beautiful smile, I breath in the peaceful and quiet air in school. It was excursion day, and most of the students had gone, leaving the classrooms half-empty. I hadn’t gone, not because I didn’t want to but because I hadn’t even remembered to tell my parents about it. My mind had been so consumed with George, that nothing else seemed important enough to remember.

Still, George had gone for the excursion. Though, part of me wanted him here with me but from the gossip I overheard earlier, the excursion was to Mr. Fish water zoo, and everyone was excited about it.

I let out a quiet sigh and sank into my seat, the emptiness of the classroom with fewer distractions around, made me open my books to read but the gossip behind me was to hard to ignore.

"Even Chioma and Daniel are no longer together, they have turned into enemies." Felix whispered to his twin brother.

"Are you sure they were even together? What if he just gifted her and nothing else?" Francis argued.

But Felix shook his head and said, "It was an expensive perfume." He was just as convinced as I am. Then he took Francis out of the class to probably look for witness that proved his point.

The pages of my book stared at me, Arggghhh! how does Desire, Nafisa and Anthonia usually read this damn boring books. I dropped Economics and picked my Civic, there was no difference.

Exhausting and suffocating hours passed, some teachers that were around came to give a few questions to keep us occupied. When the closing bell finally rang, almost immediately, I jumped out of my seat and packed my books in my bag. On cue, students and teachers returned from the excursion, their voices filling the school with laughter and excitement.

George was somewhere among them, showing off their pictures, he didn’t even notice me. Quietly, I packed my bag and left.

That evening, reality settled over me. George would be leaving in less than two months, and then he would be gone. The thought refused to fade, so I needed to start learning how to live without him and the best I can do was to keep myself busy, helping my mum with cooking, cleaning, and running errands. Anything to keep my mind occupied, anything to stop myself from thinking too much.

The next day, when I returned to school, I spoke to only a few people and spent my little energy with George during break.

Even when the school organized Colour Week, everyone dressed up in bright outfits, laughing and taking pictures, I was unable to fully participate but I wore the colours, smiled when necessary. I was preparing myself for the day when George would no longer be there.

Eventually, the days moved forward. Whether I was ready or not, exams approached. I did my best and when the results were out, of course I didn't ace it but I passed.

The two weeks break we were given felt hollow. I could neither sleep nor eat well but I was brought out of my misery when school finally resumed, the only problem was that the SS3 students were starting their exams the following week.

My new reality was kicking in, George was leaving the school. He was leaving me forever.

Well, I couldn't pretend that I was fine but I still had other friends like Jerry, Bashir and new students were going to resume next session. I let out a breath of relief and mingled with my classmates. 

Weeks passed by, I knew it was only a matter of time before George and I drifted apart, since every other relationships in the school except Olamide and Nafisa were broken. It was as if they had their secret identity, they understood each other and even though Olamide was leaving, he was still living close so their relationship would survive. This is where I envied Nafisa, she was luckiest and somehow she knew how to balance her academics, unlike me.

"Finally. We are through with secondary school. Make we go scatter social media." Saheed and his classmates suddenly shouted in joy one afternoon as they signed out on their uniforms. It was a peaceful and beautiful sight. 

We all joined them and that was my silent goodbye to George.

Quick question:

Do you think Zara was handling her new reality well?

Thank you reading this chapter