Dreams to vows

Chapter 24: Friends

*"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new."* — Ursula K. Le Guin

🥂🥂

POV: Priscilla 💕💕

The sun poured through the large café windows, casting a soft glow over everything. The warmth from outside made me feel a little lighter, a little brighter—perfect for today. Ada, Tayo, and I had gathered for Ada’s farewell. Ever since her designs started getting the attentions of fashion icons abroad I knew a day like this was coming and I am so happy and proud of her. It was a day I had been excited for, but now that it was actually happening, the excitement came with a bittersweet tinge.

"New York," Ada said, her eyes twinkling as she sipped her iced tea. "Can you believe it, Pris? My designs—*my* designs—are going to be showcased in one of the top fashion houses in New York."

I smiled at her, trying to keep the strange heaviness in my chest from showing. "I can believe it. You've been killing it for years, Ada. It's about time the world caught up to your genius."

Ada's smile grew even wider. She was glowing with excitement, her hair styled in large, bouncy curls that framed her face perfectly. She wore a sleek white blouse and high-waisted pants, effortlessly chic as always. Everything about her screamed success, and I was so proud. Proud and, if I was being honest, a little envious. But it was a good envy, the kind that pushed me to work harder, to believe that I could achieve my own dreams too.

"You better remember us when you're this big-shot designer," Tayo chimed in, laughing as she raised her glass. "Front-row seats to all your fashion shows."

We all laughed, but the reality of what was happening was beginning to sink in. Ada was moving to New York. It wasn't just a quick trip or a short-term gig—it was the next chapter of her life, and it was taking her halfway across the world. It wasn’t easy to process.

"You know I’ll never forget you two," Ada said, her voice softening as she glanced between us. "We’ve been through so much together. From our broke university days to this... whatever this new phase of adulthood is."

We laughed again, but I could hear the emotion in her voice. This wasn’t just a goodbye—it was the end of an era for the three of us. Tayo, Ada, and I had been inseparable since university, even as our lives had started pulling us in different directions. Ada had always been the artistic one, with her head full of dreams and designs. Tayo was the pragmatic one, the one who kept us grounded. And me? Well, I was still trying to figure out my place.

"We’ll miss you so much," I said, reaching out to squeeze Ada's hand. "But we’re so proud of you. You’ve always been the ambitious one, and now look at you—heading to the fashion capital of the world."

"To us," Tayo raised her glass, breaking the heavy moment. "To our friendship and all the late nights, tears, and laughter. We made it through, and we’ll keep making it, no matter where we are."

We clinked our glasses, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. The three of us together, celebrating not just Ada’s success but our friendship—our bond. Yet, even as I smiled and toasted, a strange feeling lingered inside me. I had been feeling off all day—actually, for the past few days—but I shrugged it off.

It wasn’t anything specific, just this persistent tiredness that seemed to settle into my bones. I had been working hard, pushing myself with my freelance business, trying to keep up with everything life had been throwing at me. But as we laughed and talked, I couldn’t shake the sense that something wasn’t quite right.

"Pris, you okay?" Tayo asked, her eyes narrowing in concern as she looked at me.

I blinked and quickly smiled. "Yeah, just tired. It’s been a long week."

Tayo gave me a knowing look, like she could see right through me, but she didn’t press. She had always been good at that—reading me without making me uncomfortable.

Ada launched into a story about her upcoming plans, and I tried to focus on her words. She was talking about finding an apartment in New York, about the fashion shows and collaborations she was excited for, but my mind kept drifting. I felt lightheaded for a moment, the room blurring at the edges, but I snapped myself out of it. *Come on, Pris, it’s just fatigue,* I told myself.

I pushed through, smiling and laughing when appropriate, but by the time the waiter brought us our desserts, I could feel the exhaustion settling in deeper. My body felt sluggish, like I was walking through water. Still, I didn’t want to ruin the mood. This was about Ada—her achievements, her success. I wasn’t about to make it about me.

As the afternoon turned into evening, we stepped out of the café. The air was cooler now, a gentle breeze brushing against my skin. Ada was still beaming, her face glowing with excitement as she hugged us one by one.

"This isn’t goodbye," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "Just… see you later."

I hugged her tightly, my heart aching in that way only friendship can. "You’re going to kill it in New York. And when you do, we’ll be there to cheer you on, front row."

She laughed, but there were tears in her eyes. Tayo hugged her next, and then we stood there for a moment, not quite ready to let go. The reality of her leaving was sinking in, and I didn’t know how to feel.

"We’ll video call every week," Ada said, her voice trembling slightly. "And you two better come visit me soon."

"We will," Tayo promised, and I nodded, though I felt a pang of doubt. Would we be able to keep up with weekly calls? Would our friendship change once Ada was in another time zone, living a completely different life? I didn’t want to think about it, but the thought lingered.

After one final hug, we watched Ada drive off. I stood there for a moment, staring after her car, feeling a strange mix of pride, sadness, and something else I couldn’t quite place. My heart felt heavy, like I was saying goodbye to more than just Ada.

"Ready to go?" Tayo asked.

"Yeah," I said, my voice quieter than usual.

As I walked toward my car, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I stopped, gripping the side of the car for support. Tayo didn’t seem to notice, thankfully. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. It was nothing, just the fatigue catching up to me. But as I started the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t just tiredness. Something was wrong, but I brushed it off. I didn’t have time to be sick or worried. I had too much to do.

With one last glance at the café where we’d made so many memories, I drove off, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that this strange weakness was only the beginning.