Thursday
June 15 1963
"Como estas Thelma?"
"And what's that?"
"How are you Thelma?"
"Oohhh.... I'm fine" She answered
" Reply in Spanish,i have taught you that"
" Estoy bien"
" Good...Well,we are done for today. I'm very proud of you Thels, you really are a fast learner". I said gathering my writing materials.
"Thanks a lot Rev.,for your time and lectures".
" Anything for a friend"
" Friend?"
"What?" I asked her.
"Nothing,was wondering if i was just a friend to you".
" Okay. More than that, you are my sister".
But sadly she scoffed at me and stood up to leave. I noticed the pain she tried to conceal and i held her wrist to stop her from walking away.
"What's wrong Thels?.Did i say anything wrong?"
" It's nothing"
But i wasn't convinced,she knew it and i wasn't about to lay her off that easy,not till i find out what was bothering her.
"Really sure, I'm fine"
"Stop it Thels...Just stop with the sarcasm.... Now, what's wrong with you?"
" Okay.... Honestly it's nothing. I was just angry that the lectures had to end so abruptly,i wanted to learn more".
I laughed so loudly,letting go of her wrist at the same time.
"I'm sorry Thels, but I'm traveling today and i don't have much time anymore... Besides we have been on this for the past two hours, aren't you tired?".
" It's okay...A donde vas?
"Voya Owerri"
"Bien....Bon voyage then"
"Ahhh!... That was French ma'am"
" I know I know"
She merely smiled and led the way out of the church premises.
"I will see you when i come back tomorrow right?"
" Si"
" Alright then...Take care"
"Yeah, you too"
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I should have ended it right then,if only I knew there was more to what she told me,if only i was given a second chance to turn back the hands of time,if only i knew that we don't write our destinies,if only i knew that the past gives birth to our tomorrow,if only i knew that just one mistake can change our lives,a lot of if's.
If only i had pushed harder,then maybe just maybe we wouldn't have found ourselves in the state we were in.
