While in high school, I had a friend who we always did everything together. We sat and played together every time. His name was God’swiil. He was intelligent, clean, obedient and respectful to everyone. He was from Akwa Ibom state. He was a native of Ibiono Ibom LGA. He was fair in complexion and short. He was a Christian. He liked playing football, volleyball, table tennis and draft. He was a member of the press club. Though he was sometimes shy, he could speak in public, write and represent the class in any quiz competition. He was so brilliant. Whenever the entire class was always been punished because of one person, he was always upset and tried to prove his innocence.
Everyone in my class liked him. He never looked down on anyone or bullied. He was loved by all the teachers in school. We gave him a nickname which was “IBEBS”. It was gotten from his middle name which was Iberedem. Every term, he always came out the overall second in the entire class. We sometimes caused trouble in the class together. He always stood up for what was always right. He never cared about what people said about him. He paid less attention to thing that never matters. He had a dream to become an engineer in future. He also wanted to be the school’s head boy when he gets to senior class. He was a motivational speaker and an activist for what was always right. Some people did not like him due he was kind, gentle and simple to understand.
When we got into our SS1, we were separated to different arms but it never affected our friendship. He ended up in the science class while ended up in the art class. He was so good in science and always came out the overall third in both art and science class. I was proud to have him as a friend. He helped me with my math assignments and always taught me to how to solve some difficult problems. He was my second teach in school.
In SS2, precisely our third term when we about to write our mock exams which will take us to the next class, SS3. It was the beginning of the term, we did not see him school for two weeks. We decided to make enquires of his where about. We found out he was sick and was in the hospital. We all wanted to visit him but were not allowed, only the teachers were allowed to go see him. We were told that he was getting better. They class kept praying for him every time.
On a Wednesday morning in the month of July after devotion, the Vice Principal said he wants to talk. He begin reminding us of our registration fee for our exams and told us to pay before the deadline date comes. He also told us to read our books and to be well behaved students in school. Then, the shock came. He told us that God’swill was dead. We could not believe our ears when the news came. He said, he died the night before the following morning and was to be buried on that Wednesday. He consoled us and picked some of us to go for the funeral. For the first time in high school tears rolled out of my eyes. It was as if the whole world had ended or stopped moving. I began to recall all the memories we share and the times we spent together. I could hear his voice in my head ring loud, his image appearing before my very eye. For the first time I knew how to loss a love one felt like. Till now, I can’t forget him because he made be who I was and he was my best friend.
I greatly miss him. Sometimes, I do sit and remember him, his smile, voice and his face. I wished he never died, I wish he was alive.