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What Happened?

 

It was the second grade at a school in Nairobi—one of those lively institutions buzzing with the energy of young minds and big dreams. I can’t quite recall whether I was the class prefect or the class monitor, but I do know this: I was one of the two class representatives. And then there was Gideon. He was the other.

We were both bright students, consistently battling for the top spot at the end of each term. If I ranked first, Gideon would claim second, and if he ranked first, I’d take second place. Our rivalry was as fiery as it was fascinating, and the dynamic between us was electric. Looking back now, I wonder if we had a crush on each other or if it was just pure, unfiltered childhood competitiveness. Either way, we couldn’t seem to get along.

We quarreled constantly—petty arguments that felt monumental at the time. One day, it all escalated. I can’t remember what triggered the fight, but it was intense enough to push me to do something wild. Fueled by frustration, I grabbed my best friend Priscah, and together, we did the unthinkable: we ran away from school.

It wasn’t some grand escape plan. It was impulsive, reckless, and, looking back, kind of ridiculous. But at that moment, it felt like the only option. Priscah and I bolted out of the gates, leaving behind our classmates, our teachers, and the lingering echoes of my quarrel with Gideon.

The next day at school, the reality of my actions hit me hard. The punishment I faced was something I’ll never forget—it was the kind that sticks with you for a lifetime. And Gideon? I don’t even remember his reaction. But his name stayed with me, etched in my memory like a stubborn crease in a page of my childhood story.

It’s been 25 years since that fateful day. Priscah has long faded from my memory, her face now a blur. But the memory of that dramatic escape, the rivalry with Gideon, and the lessons I learned in those innocent yet intense years have stayed with me. Life was simpler then, but the emotions were just as real, shaping the person I’ve become today.

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Written by Nyabwete (1)

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