EBIERE 3

'Good afternoon Sir, you said wanted to see me?'

'Yes, Ebiere welcome. Please sit.' Mr. Waziri, my course adviser was a fatherly figure and one of the most respected lecturers in the Department of chemistry.

'Your last semester result was poor. This is unlike you Ebiere. What I expect is for you to put all your efforts into maintaining your second class upper result, not dealing with a slack hand in final year.' He said staring sternly at me. After a long pause, he continued 'Is there any problem? Do you have something bothering you? You know you can talk to me.'

'There is no problem sir, I'll do better this semester.' I replied in a tiny voice.

'Please do. You are one of my best student, don't disappoint me. Remember that this is your last semester.'

I left Mr. Waziri's office and decided not to visit Chuka or take dope ever again. I tried and succeeded for two weeks, until the devastating news of papa's death hit me. I had to take something to numb the pain, to travel to a  world unknown. Chuka was always there to help out. 

Papa and I had been very close. As an only child, we had a strong bond that even mama was jealous. The sudden news of his death shattered me.

At the end of the session, my result paid the price. Ebiere, the bright girl who had vowed to leave school as the best student in Chemistry graduated with a second class lower degree. After all, I graduated. Chuka stayed back in school for two extra years and finally left everything behind with nothing to show that he was ever in the university.