Operation; Dilemma || A Short Story

010

Chapter 10: Tip of the iceberg.

Can't wait to start school again! How about you?

✨ Kenechukwu Orji ✨

I and Harmonie were in the library as I tried to explain to her, what our topic is about.

".... so, we'll then explain to them how and why we can reduce mental health problems in the society, I really like the topic, you know. It's so realistic and—"
I stopped abruptly.

Harmonie had her hand under her chin, staring with no focus on the door.
Although she's a pretty golden brown skin girl, she looked genuinely sad.
She looked, incomplete.

"Harmonie?" I called.

She jolted back to reality, and then she wiped her face.

Wiped her face?

"Harmonie, are you crying?"
I asked.

She tried to hide it behind a smile. "I'm not crying. Why would you think that?"

I shook my head slowly at her and in pity.
Softly, I held her hands, causing her to look at me in confusion and relief.

"Sunbeam. Relax. I know you're used to being perfect, and I know that perfection is therapeutic for you, but the sun doesn't shine everyday, and we're human beings.

You don't have to be so up tight all the time. Now, tell me, what's wrong?"
I asked her.

She looked uncomfortable at that question and she looked away shyly.

"I'm–i. I am. I can't–. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, I can't tell you anything."
She said to me with slight guilt.

"It's alright. What do you want me to help you with?"
I asked her.

She thought for a few minutes, then her eyes lit up like a light bulb...

"I think I need a hug."

I chuckled, as she hugged me and I wrapped my arms around her.

We pulled away and we were silent for a while, before she turned to look at me.

"Why does Kamsi hate me?"
She asked.

I shook my head at her.
"Kamsi doesn't hate you. She's just a tough cookie who doesn't like the idea of getting hurt."

"But the looks she gives me.."
She trailed off, shuddering.

"I'm sorry. I can talk to her, if you want?" I asked her.

She shook her head.
"No need for that. I can talk to her when I want."

She stood and began packing her books, just as a pill fell from her bag.

"Um, Harmonie," I called as I bent up to pick the bottle.

It was a bottle of purple pills.

"Kenechukwu give me that bottle." Harmonie snapped.

I had never seen her so angry before, and it surprised me.
I still kept my eyes fixated on the bottle, in shock.

The bottle could not have been anything good. From the guilt and fear in her voice and the odd colour, it couldn't have been anything good.

"Harmonie," I called when I found my voice. "What is this?" I asked softly.

However, she snatched the bottle from my hand, her hands shaking.

Even though the glare she gave me could kill, I still maintained her gaze, I still needed to know.

"Harmonie Ugonwa Oluebube," I called firmly, not ready to get angry.
"What is that bottle?"

"Stop asking questions you don't want the answer to."
She snapped.

Her voice was soft and shaking. Her eyes held pain I had never seen before.

"Are you supposed to be using hard drugs?"
I asked her, in a whisper.

"Why because I'm the golden girl? Because I'm so perfect that you all think I don't have problems?" She snapped again, her voice firm and harsh.

"This is a hard drug." I told her, stating the obvious.
"It can kill you." I whispered.

"It's not that dangerous."
She whispered, her facade falling. "It can't kill me. It makes me happy."
She said and sunk down on her chair.

I knelt to her level in front of her fallen face.

"It starts from these things, sunshine. It can't hurt you now. It can only hurt you in the long run. If you rely on it for happiness, you'll eventually not be able to live without it."
I calmly explained to her.

"I just want to be happy." She muttered.

I sighed. "You don't need drugs to be happy. You need God."

"God?" She asked and let out a humorless chuckle.
"God doesn't listen to the likes of me. He doesn't. Do you know how much I pray to him? Do you know how much I've been begging him?"

"Anyone who diligently seeks him, will find him."
I told her.

If only I knew the troubles coming after that, maybe I would not have been so optimistic.

Maybe.