Phee's pleas

Chapter Thirteen

Phee straightened her clothes on herself for the millionth time, letting out a sigh and hoping it would calm her nerves. Today was the day she would be going back home and announcing to her parents that their daughter was now a drop out.

"Phee, don't think so badly of yourself please. I know this conversation is one that might not go so well but you did what was best for you. Godforbid, imagine if you'd gone on and you killed yourself due to the depression?", Mariam cut into her thoughts.

Phee's face went down. If only Mariam knew how close she'd been. She knew she'd been beating herself up. She really didn't have to do it. By the time she had the confrontation with her parents, she'd be so beat up that she'd be wanting relief. Right now, she needed all the positivity she could get.

"Thanks Mar", she finally replied

"Come here", Mariam signified for a hug. Phee moved towards her friend and leaned into her embrace, enjoying the warmth of her friend around her.

Her phone rang out and she lifted her head and turned to her phone to check the caller and when she saw it was her aunt calling, she left the embrace and picked up the call.

"Good morning aunty. Are you outside now?"

"Yes. Oya come outside fast"

"We're coming, we're already ready", Phee chuckled and then cut the call. She turned to inform Mariam that they could leave but Mariam had already picked up her bags.

"Oya, time to go", Mariam moved past her. She hefted the rest of her bags and then moved towards the door. They walked the distance to the gate in silence until they'd both gotten to Phee's aunt's car and loaded her boxes into the boot of the car. Mariam wasn't going to follow Phee to confront her parents. They'd discussed it and after a lot of arguments (mostly from Mariam), they both agreed that Mariam's presence would do more harm than good. Also, if Phee's parents said anything hurtful in a fit of rage, Mariam was sure to clap back even worse.

"Thank you so much for this past few weeks Mar, you don't know how much you've helped me", Phee said almost in tears.

"Uhn uhn sis, I know what I've done and I know you'd do the same for me", Mariam replied sassily.

"Goat", Phee chucked.

"The G-O-A-T that you loveee", Mariam trilled.

"Guyyy, you no well", Phee replied, almost bursting into a fit of laughter. She suddenly realized that Mariam did it on purpose so she could be less tensioned and she felt a burst of joy within her. She didn't have a lot of friends but she was grateful to have Mariam as her own person. She squeezed Mariam one last time before letting go.

As her aunt drove away from Mariam, she knew she was making the right decision. This was not the beginning of a new trajectory in her life, but it was definitely a turning point.