The prompt for this week talks about Firsts and with it, I choose to talk about my first day in school, alone. Some people might have read bits and pieces about how I cried on my first day in the university but I would use this opportunity to share the full story.
When I got admission at first, my dad followed me for some of my registrations, and ensured I got a dorm room I was comfortable with. So, after about three days of having my dad escort me around the school, and being Friday, I wasn't going to be needing his help for the weekend. I told him I could continue doing things myself. I was going to move into the hostel that Friday afternoon because one of my roommates told me she was going to move in that day as well. So, I believed all was going to be well, and when my dad dropped me off at the school's gate, I happily waved him and dragged my box along.
I wasn't even up to thirty steps in, I saw my roommate. This girl was on her way leaving. I asked her where she was headed, because there was definitely no way she was breaking her promise of us staying together that night right? began apologizing that she decided to stay at her aunt's place that night and would even be attending classes from there for half that semester. Mortified would be an understatement for what I felt. She continued talking, apologizing between sentences, and even had the audacity to tell me that the room's fan needed to be fixed, so she kept it under her bed just so it isn't stolen. I stared at this girl who after failing to keep her promise was telling me to keep the room's fan safe for everyone.
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While she talked, I turned back for my dad but he had left already. I stared at my phone. I didn't want to call him because there was once a time I begged them I wanted to leave for a boarding school and become independent. I can't remember all she said but I remember standing with my box, at the middle of the walkway, watching her retreating form, and hearing people mutter 'Fresher don resume', 'fresher don finally bring load come' around me. I heaved a sigh, and made my way to my hostel. I got there and the porter asked if any of my roommates had resumed. I told her 'No' and she asked me to go drop my bags and pointed a room, I was to stay with another girl.
I dropped my bag, and I wandered around the hostel for about thirty minutes, making sure to avoid the girl's room because I didn't want to appear like someone who didn't even ensure to put everything in order due to fear, before leaving for another person's room. I later went to her room but because I was in a haste to leave my room, I forgot to bring the necessary things I needed for the night.
It was getting dark before I realized it and seeing how the girl didn't give me any attention, I couldn't ask her to follow me downstairs. So, I went to my room alone to take my things. As I bent to take something, I had a feeling someone was looking at me from different sides in the room. I turned my head left and right, looking to ensure that I wasn't being watched by whatever entity. There was even a time I turned around and bent over a bed, to ensure there was nothing staring at me from under it. A dilemma that was.
I eventually got what I needed from my room, went back to the girl's room, ate, rinsed my cup and kept it on the table by my bedside. I couldn't afford to go to my room alone that night anymore. Fast-forward to around eight, the lovely girl I was paired with, dressed up and left the room. Dear dear, little Oluchi was in a transfix. I waited few seconds after her departure and sat at the corridor. Luckily, my parents called then so we talked. I didn't tell them anything about all that had happened. I only assured them that all was fine and we ended the call.
After a while, the girl came back and entered her bed. Her presence, a source of comfort, I went back in. Lying down there in bed, reflecting on whatever it was, I began crying. The type of cry where tears were the only physical evidence. I cried myself to sleep, in silence and the next morning, thanked the girl and zoomed off to my room. Luckily, I had a friend who came with me from home so we both spent that day with each other. One of my other roommates came that night and from there, my stay became more bearable.
Don't even ask me how I remember all this because my answer will definitely be that little details stick to my head. So, if I tell you I cried my first night in the university, this is my story.
Thanks for reading.