As I pushed open the principal’s brown wooden door and was walking out, I heard a familiar voice call out my name. I turned my face in the direction of the voice and before I could say a word, Sandra made a run and gave me a tight squeeze. I nearly lost my balance.
“Jesus! You almost stepped on my toes,” I said feigning annoyance.
“What’s up with you, Amy?” where’s Sam?
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Sandra asked.
“I mean, the principal is currently having a meeting with all science students”
“Ohh, so have you sorted out everything?”
“Huh?”
“Amy, tonight’s prom” Sandra cried. And I can’t wait to be proclaimed the prom queen as I walk upstage to receive my crown.
“As you walk upstage with your chubby stomach, huh?” I mocked.
“I hate you,”
“I love you, ” I said grinning. No one can take the crown from you. If it’s yours, then it’s yours.
“And it will be mine” Sandra exclaimed.
“Yes, my queen.”
Sandra was the perfect definition of being delusional. She was so-so; was neither ugly nor beautiful. She had a belly, fat the size of a pregnant cow and every time she was bare, her belly drooped like an old woman’s breast. Regardless, Sandra was still my best friend and if getting the crown made her happy, I was ready to support her fully.
“So have you gotten the perfect shoe?” Sandra asked.
“Well, yes, but I’m not keen on going to prom anymore.
” For what reason exactly?” See, Amy, tonight’s is the last you’d ever see everyone, so make it a memorable one”.
“That’s my point, Sandra,” I said. Do you think we’re gonna work after school?
“Sorry, who’s we?”
“I mean Sam and I. Do you think there’s the slightest bit of hope for our relationship to survive after prom tonight?”
“You worry too much, Amy.” We’re having fun tonight. Whoopee! More importantly, we’re going to make memories”.
“Sandra, I’m dead serious!” I uttered, putting up a hard face. I’ve been thinking lately. The thought of losing Sam after school makes my heart ache. I’m scared.
“You’d have to have that conversation with Sam not with me”. “You and Sam would have to sit and talk it through”.
Sandra was right. I needed to have that conversation with Sam. Well, on a few occasions when I had been alone with Sam, I had brought up the matter but he had shrugged it off. Over time, I have learnt that to save yourself from pain, you’d have to let sleeping dogs lie. And so, Sam’s indifference to my emotions was a huge red flag that I was willing to ignore.
The Prom starts at 7 pm and we had less than five hours to be ready. We both walked to our hostels and started to get everything ready; starting from having a warm bath, styling our hair to putting on light make-up. Sandra got a red ball gown while I went for a black one to complement my white strap heels.
By 6:40 pm, Sandra and I had made our way to the hall where the prom was to be held. Prom began and with every minute that passed, the hall was fuller. Sandra had run off in search of votes to get her the crown and so, I sat alone. I kept rolling my eyes in search of Sam and in the next minute, he was right there at the door smirking at me. He walked up to me.
” Amy,”
“Hi, Sam,” I replied.
“You’re so pretty,”. He took my left hand in his and gave me a peck on my left fingers. That single gesture made me blush like a woman who had just been given a ring by her man.” I wanna show you something outside,”.
” Hmm, like a surprise?” I asked smiling.
“Umm…well, yes,” he replied.
And so, with my hand still in his, we stepped out of the hall and took a stroll. It was a little dark but I felt safe with Sam. We found a tree trunk where we both sat closely; his right hand wrapped around my waist and my head on his shoulders. We said absolutely nothing to each other; no conversation, just enjoying the moment that might forever be the last. I was pretty sure Sam had the same thought running through his mind; the thought of if this moment would be our last.
After what seemed like forever, Sam released me and brought out a beautiful trinket which he put around my neck. It was a beautiful feeling.
I turned my face to look at him. His eyes glimmered in the dark. I suddenly had an irresistible urge to kiss his soft lips smiling at me. But I didn’t. I only spoke.
” So, what’s gonna happen to us after tonight ?” I asked, still looking into his eyes. I wanted to see every expression on his face.
” You know we could still work out right?”.
“And what if we don’t ?”
He looked away and that was all I needed. Somehow, I realised that silence was better than making promises. In the long run, unfulfilled promises from our loved ones hurt the most. I felt like we were still too young to make promises. We still had our future ahead of us. Though, I knew it was the end of our relationship, I would never in a million years regret knowing Sam.
It had become darker. I felt Sam’s hand around my waist again and I in return, laid my head on his shoulder. I could feel my eyes becoming watery and all of a sudden, those tears fell. It was then that the saying, love hurts, made sense to me.
Written by Favour Bello