I woke up feeling lazy that fateful morning.
It was the happiest day of my life.
I was being inducted.
I am now a medical doctor.
After seven long years.
How I got through those years, I don't know.
It was tough.
It was sweet.
It was bitter.
But I made it.
I am here.
Mama and Papa were in town to witness their daughter declared a doctor!
The whole of Okwu must have heard their ears full. "Mama Doctor" in
town.
I am glad I made them proud.
I am proud of myself.
I made it!
_____________________________________
I made it!
_____________________________________
The induction ceremony is over and, it was as if the whole village was
there.
Papa, Mama, two of my younger ones, my aunty, her husband, all their five
children and of course Dani's parents. They were all there to celebrate with
me.
I was elated. I looked through the crowd, hoping to see Dani, but she wasn't
there. The first time I actually had reason to celebrate, Dani was not there.
It's been six years since I walked out of her house and vowed never to go
back there.
We see from time to time in town or whenever I coincidentally went to visit
my aunt's family and she also came to see her parents.
She always turned her nose up at all of us.
She now had a car.
She would come wearing her fancy clothes, shoes, bags and perfumes.
She won't even greet her elders properly.
She had become so full of herself.
We greet each other, but nothing much after that.
Did I tell you she now had her own car?
Or at least she now rides her husband's car.
She mentioned on one of those occasions that after her husband graduated
from the university, He decided to take his athletic career more seriously.
As a matter of fact, He had travelled to Europe where he runs short distance
and relay races. He even won a silver medal for one of the European countries
at the last Olympic games.
I was happy for her, she said they pay him in pounds, the standard of living
there was much better, and she and their son would be joining him soon.
And that's all she does when we meet.
Tell me about her husband's accomplishments, and of course brag about the
things he sends to her and her family. Not once did she ask about my progress.
I have accepted that our friendship was over. I have moved on.
The last time I saw her was over a year ago.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
As I arrive in Porthacourt, I'm hopeful. I'm sure that the land would yield
it's increase for me, Ifeoma....
I make my way straight to the UPTH where I'm starting my housemanship.
I am so excited to be out of Imo state at last, I had dreamt of coming to
Lagos, but the opportunity never presented itself.
Porthacourt is a beautiful city as well, though I hear the cost of living is
high.
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_________________________________________
"Here's your living quarters, you'll be sharing it with two other
female doctors. You have your bathroom and toilet to yourself, but you all will
be sharing the kitchen and living room." The kind HR staff member assigned
to take me to where I'll be living said in a soft tone.
"Oh. This is nice. Thank you ma."
"Don't call me ma, I'm Mrs.Smith."
"OK m..Mrs. Smith", I stutter.
She smiles.
"I hope you like it here. You can familiarise with your space since you
start work on Monday. Your colleagues should be back soon, I'm sure you'll get
along and they'll help you settle in. Though one of them seems troublesome, I
won't tell you which one." She rambles.
"This one na tatafo o." I thought while I just smiled sheepishly
and kept nodding.
I had to pretend I was interested in her ramblings, after all, it's better to
make friends than enemies; especially in an unfamiliar terrain. She might be
helpful.
#fiction
#friendship
#girlchild
#friendship
#girlchild
All rights reserved
Written By Tolulope
Fakayode-Faniran
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