HER SIDE OF THE STORY

The smile on Daniel’s face disappeared.

“Sandra,” he said quietly. “This isn’t the time.”

She folded her arms.

“No. It’s the perfect time.”

Students were walking past us, but none of them paid attention. To everyone else, we were just three people having a conversation.

My heart was beating so fast I could hear it.

Daniel looked at me.

“Amara, don’t do this here.”

Sandra laughed.

“See? That’s exactly what he always says.”

I frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

She took a step closer.

“You think you know him because he’s always carrying a Bible and serving in fellowship.”

“Sandra…”

“No, let me talk.”

Daniel sighed and looked away.

Sandra turned back to me.

“When I met Daniel, I thought he was the perfect guy too.”

I remained silent.

“He was kind.”

She counted on her fingers.

“He prayed.”

“He remembered birthdays.”

“He made me feel special.”

She paused.

“And then one day, he completely shut me out.”

I looked at Daniel.

He still wasn’t saying anything.

Sandra continued.

“He has a habit of carrying everyone’s problems on his head until he starts drowning. Instead of talking, he disappears.”

My eyebrows came together.

“That’s why we broke up?”

She nodded.

“We weren’t shouting or cheating on each other. He simply stopped letting me into his life.”

Daniel finally spoke.

“It wasn’t like that.”

She looked at him.

“Then tell her.”

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Sandra smiled sadly.

“Exactly.”

She looked at me one last time.

“I’m not here to stop you from liking him.”

She turned to leave.

“I’m just saying… don’t fall in love with the version of him he wants you to see.”

Then she walked away.

For almost a minute, Daniel and I stood there in silence.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said.

I looked at him.

“Is she telling the truth?”

He rubbed his face.

“Part of it.”

“Which part?”

“I do shut people out.”

“Why?”

He looked exhausted.

“Because I don’t like people seeing me when I’m struggling.”

“Daniel…”

“My dad lost his job during my second year.”

I blinked.

“I started working evenings just to help my mum send money home.”

I had no idea.

“I couldn’t keep up with school, work, fellowship, and a relationship.”

“So you pushed Sandra away?”

He nodded.

“I thought I was protecting her.”

“And were you?”

He laughed bitterly.

“No.”

I didn’t know what to say.

For the first time, I realized that life wasn’t as black and white as I’d always believed.

Sometimes people hurt others without intending to.

Sometimes good people make bad decisions.

That night, I lay awake thinking.

About Daniel.

About Sandra.

About trust.

Maybe there wasn’t a villain after all.

Maybe there were just broken people trying to survive.

The next morning, my phone rang.

It was Mum.

“My daughter!”

I smiled.

“Mummy.”

“How are my studies?”

“They’re going well.”

“And fellowship?”

“Very well.”

“You’ve made friends?”

“Yes.”

“I’m happy.”

There was a short silence.

Then she said something that caught me off guard.

“Amara.”

“Yes?”

“Never let loneliness make decisions for you.”

I sat up on my bed.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “It was just on my heart while praying this morning.”

A chill ran through me.

We talked for a few more minutes before ending the call.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said.

That afternoon, Teni dragged me to a departmental hangout.

“I need fresh air,” she insisted.

“I have an assignment.”

“You’ve been reading since morning. Come and see human beings.”

The event was lively.

Music blasted from speakers.

Students laughed, danced and took pictures.

It wasn’t really my scene, but I was enjoying watching people.

Then I heard someone behind me.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

I turned.

Daniel.

He was holding two bottles of malt.

“I guessed you wouldn’t want alcohol.”

I laughed.

“You guessed right.”

We found a quieter corner and started talking.

No pressure.

No relationship discussion.

Just normal conversation.

As the sun began to set, he looked at me.

“I meant what I said yesterday.”

I knew exactly what he meant.

“I like you, Amara.”

I swallowed.

“And I don’t expect an answer today.”

He smiled gently.

“Take your time.”

I looked into his eyes.

Everything about him felt sincere.

But Sandra’s words echoed in my mind.

“Don’t fall in love with the version of him he wants you to see.”

And somehow…

I was no longer only afraid of getting my heart broken.

I was afraid of making a decision that would change both our lives.

Just then, Daniel’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His face changed immediately.

He stood up.

“I have to go.”

“What happened?”

“It’s… family.”

“Is everything okay?”

“I’ll call you later.”

He hurried away before I could ask another question.

As he disappeared into the crowd, I noticed something strange.

He wasn’t going toward the school gate.

He was walking toward the female hostel.

And a few seconds later…

A young woman ran up to him.

Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him.

I couldn’t see her face.

But I saw Daniel hug her back.

My heart sank.

Who is the woman Daniel hugged? Are you beginning to trust him more, or do you think Amara is ignoring too many warning signs?

To be continued…