As the night was approaching and everywhere was quiet, I was almost done cleaning my kitchen when my phone rang and was vibrating but didnt want to pick up until I was done with my work as I do not want to be distracted. After about thirty minutes, I finished my work, went into my room and picked my phone on the table, it was Racheal.
Rachael and I have been friends from the year 2020 and we both graduated from the University even though I graduated before her. Rachael doesn't call me like this except she needs something urgent.
Immediately, I called her back and after ringing thrice, she picked up. "Hello bestie," I said, as I was shifting the book and pen that was on the table just to find something busy with my hand.
Then, she spoke, but I could feel she was tired and wasn't herself. "Busayo, I'm so tired. I don't even know how to say this or where to start from."
"Just start from somewhere, " I told her while sitting and leaning on the chair, I was feeling the way she was sounding with her words.
It took some seconds before she began talking and heaved a silent sigh. "The NYSC posting is out and I was posted to the North - Gombe state which I never thought of. I was thinking it would be a close one like Oyo state. I'm afraid of the North and don't know how to survive. "
I saw she was not happy and sounded confused too. "Rachael, this is not too good and I knew you weren't expecting it. I remembered we were joking with something like this but I didn't expect it, but..."
"Aside from this," she didn't allow me to talk, her voice was shaky. "You know I said we are doing burial too. My grandmother's burial. It is in two weeks. They picked two different clothes and I must get them. I don't have money at all. My aunts and parents are taking the responsibility of the burial. It's not possible to ask anything from them."
At this point, I have changed the direction of how I was sitting and my back was resting on the chair so comfortably and I was waiting for her to finish speaking. I know she was going through a lot, no money, going to a far place and the burial, all these were happening at the same time.
"Rachael," my voice was low, "this is too much oo, but it's normal to feel worried. I understand this because it is something I have experienced before. During mine, all I did was to not get worried too much because I believed God and he did it. Don't worry about it."
"Busayo, what do you think I should do? She asked me, talking silently. "We are to resume camp next tomorrow and I don't have any savings. Nothing," she emphasised on the word.
"I get it, " I said, and at first, I didn't know what to say because it's not good discouraging her. "Maybe you should talk to them so they can help you. It's not wrong to ask for help because it will do something. "
"Busayo, I have thought over it but I don't think I can tell them anything. They have spent a lot of money already and I don't want to ask again."
"Rachael, trust me, they will understand. You seriously need help. Gombe state is very far oo" I was letting her know how the distance is.
It took some moment before speaking again, "Busayo, the journey would be far and I am afraid of the North. This will be my first time going to a far place and I don't know where to start from."
"I understand, " I said to her in a gentle way. "Do you remember how I was posted to the North during my time, how I cried because I never expected it?" She said, yes.
Then I continued, we did our grandmother's burial that time too and my family spent a whole lot of money and I didn't have enough with me too. Going to the North was never my plan and I couldn't do anything but I had faith and everything worked out fine."
I said all of these to calm her down and make her understand she's not the only person going through tough situations like this. "Don't be afraid," I continued, "Have you considered reaching out to anyone you know that is going to the North, I mean your fellow corpers so you don't have to be alone while travelling?
At this point, her voice was calmed and she said, "No, I don't know anyone going to Gombe with me but I will find out tomorrow."
"Rachael, don't worry. If you continue to worry till tomorrow, nothing will happen. Just take it easy and focus on this trip first. Faith doesn't mean having all the answers, it means to trust that everything will be sorted out, just don't feel bothered about this."
"Busayo, if only I had faith like you," she said as we both laughed, though I knew she was sad and frustrated.
"I know you do", I told her. "Getting to this stage has been God and He will surely come through for you. Just have faith and let Him do the rest. One thing I know is that faith can move mountains but we need to take a step first, like a push and that is something I am reminding you of."
She heaved a sigh and I could sense she felt good. "Thank you so much, Busayo. You are the best and glad that we talked tonight."
When the call ended, I sat quietly for a while, thinking about the whole thing and how unfair life can feel sometimes. I prayed for Rachael because I believe faith can move mountains. I was also happy I could encourage her also.
Both images were imagined with Meta AI
