There's No Tomorrow For Me

Sometime Ago

Dear Nneoma,
I'm hoping this letter will be able to say what I'm finding difficult to say. I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and I like you a lot. I have liked you for a long time. And I just don't like that you are beautiful. I can't really explain it but I like watching you talk, when you laugh, it's music to my ears. I've never felt this way with any other girl and that's why it's taken me a long time to say it.
     I didn't know how to approach you because I find you very intimidating but I summoned the courage to write this letter during the holiday and I plan to personally give it to you on the first day of school. I'm not really expecting anything from you. I just wanted you to know I liked you a lot.

Yours sincerely,
Jerry Obi.

Jerry read and reread his letter over and over again. He had promised himself that he wouldn't change a single word or attempt to rewrite the whole thing for the eighteenth time once he got to school. Now here he was, sitting alone in his new classroom on the first day of school after the long vacation. It was the start of a new session and he was now in JSS 3. It was high time he let Nneoma know he had feelings for her. Feelings that had refused to go away—but only grown—since JSS 1.

He had chosen to sit in the front row where he knew she would most likely choose to sit. And he had purposely come very early to school, in a bid to have some alone time to brace himself for what he was about to do. And if he was lucky, Nneoma would be the second person to arrive, they would be alone and he would give her the letter before anyone else showed up.

But Jerry waited and waited, all to no avail. He sat there and watched as the classroom filled up with classmates who had a lot of stories to tell about their holiday. Even Teju came and joined Jerry in his wait. Teju had been the one to give him the letter idea and they had planned everything together down to the way Jerry would deliver the letter.

They sat there until the bell for the morning assembly and everyone began making their way outside. Teju kept reassuring his friend and giving reasons as to why Nneoma wasn't yet in school. He'd even presumed that she was having period cramps.

“If she doesn't come today, there's always tomorrow,” Teju had said, patting Jerry's shoulder.

Jerry didn't know how to feel about that. On the bright side, if she didn't show, he would have more time to prepare and brace himself. But then again he'd already made up his mind to get it done and over with on that first day.

They were still walking to the assembly with Jerry lost in thought when Teju called out to Dami who was right in front of them.

“Dami!” He called and she turned around. Jerry raised his head, half expecting to see Nneoma next to her but she wasn't. “Where's your friend”

“Oma?” Dami raised her brows, folding her arms and looking from Jerry to Teju. Jerry found the floor much more interesting.

Oma was short for Nneoma. And that was basically was everyone preferred to call her except Jerry who thought the full name was better.

“Yes, Oma. Where is she? Is she not coming today?” Teju asked all at once.

Dami paused, maybe for dramatic effect but the boys stared back at her expectantly.

“Oma has changed schools. She's not coming back.” Dami dropped the bomb, turned around and continued walking like she hadn't said anything.

Jerry's shoulders visibly fell in disappointment. Teju could see the light go out in his friend's eyes. Neither of them knew what to say at first.