Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
❦
Imani woke up to the soft chime of her alarm clock. The clock on her bedside table blinked 6:00 am. It was the first day back from the October half-term, and the anticipation of returning to school hung in the air. She had gone to bed early the night before, eager to start the day refreshed.
As she fumbled to silence her alarm, Imani's thoughts drifted to Jobe. They had planned to meet before school, and she had sent him a message the previous night to confirm that he had landed safely from his family trip. However, her phone remained silent, devoid of any reply.
A hint of nervousness crept into her as she scrolled through her messages, searching for Jobe's response. Nothing. She shook off the unease, attributing it to the early hour, and proceeded to get ready for school.
Imani found herself seated in her form room, surrounded by the familiar faces of her classmates. The classroom buzzed with chatter about the half-term adventures. Yet, there was an absence that Imani couldn't ignore – Jobe hadn't walked through the door.
Growing more concerned, she discreetly checked her phone beneath the desk, hoping for a message from Jobe. The screen remained blank. As the minutes ticked by, worry etched itself across Imani's face.
Unable to wait any longer, she composed a message to Jobe, her fingers tapping the keys anxiously.
IMESSAGES Jobe 💋
Yesterday 6pm hey jobe has your flight landed?
Today 11:05am hey j, are you okay? why aren't you in school?
She sent the message and anxiously awaited a reply, eyes flickering between her phone and the classroom door.
The teacher began the lesson, but Imani's focus wavered. Her mind raced with possibilities. Had something happened during Jobe's trip? Was he okay? The unanswered messages weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow over the excitement of the first day back.
Imani tried to concentrate on the lesson, glancing at her phone between each passing minute. The anticipation in the room heightened as Jobe's absence became more apparent. The minutes turned into an agonizing wait, and the unanswered messages echoed with unspoken questions in Imani's mind.
