THE WALL AROUND HIS HEART

After my call, Daniel didn’t say anything for a long time.

I could hear him breathing.

Finally, he asked, “Did you meet Bisi?”

“Yes.”

Another silence.

“I wish you hadn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted you to know me for who I am now.”

I held my phone tighter.

“Daniel, your past is part of who you are.”

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

He sighed.

“I’ve spent one year trying to become someone Grace would’ve been proud of.”

“And?”

“I still don’t think it’s enough.”

His voice sounded tired.

Not physically tired.

The kind of tired that sleep can’t fix.

The next day, we met behind the fellowship auditorium.

For the first time since we’d started dating, neither of us knew how to begin the conversation.

Daniel eventually spoke.

“I need to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For letting you walk into my life without telling you about Grace.”

I shook my head.

“I would’ve understood.”

“I wasn’t afraid you’d leave.”

He looked at the ground.

“I was afraid you’d look at me differently.”

I walked closer.

“I do look at you differently.”

His shoulders dropped.

“But not the way you think.”

He looked up.

“I understand you better now.”

His eyes became watery.

“I don’t know why you’re still here.”

I smiled.

“Because everyone has a story they’re ashamed of.”

He laughed quietly.

“You really believe that?”

“I do.”

For the first time in days, he smiled properly.

It wasn’t a big smile.

But it was real.

Over the next few weeks, things slowly settled.

The anonymous messages stopped.

Bisi never contacted me again.

Classes became more demanding.

Mid-semester tests were approaching, and campus suddenly became quieter.

Even Teni spent more time reading than gossiping.

One evening, the four of us, Teni, Daniel, me and a few fellowship friends, studied together in the library until it closed.

As we walked out, Teni whispered,

“I like this version of him.”

“What version?”

“The one that’s finally honest.”

I smiled.

“So do I.”

Daniel heard us and laughed.

“I hope you’re saying good things.”

“We are,” Teni replied.

“But don’t let it enter your head.”

He placed a hand on his chest dramatically.

“I’ll remain humble.”

We all laughed.

It felt good.

For the first time in a long while, life felt… normal.

Too normal.

Looking back now, maybe that’s why I didn’t notice the small changes.

Daniel became busier.

His internship applications.

His final-year project.

Extra shifts at work.

Sometimes we’d only exchange a few messages all day.

I understood.

Or at least I told myself I did.

One Friday evening, I surprised him at the café where he worked part-time.

He looked genuinely happy to see me.

“You came.”

“I brought food.”

He smiled.

“You didn’t have to.”

“I know.”

We sat together during his break.

He looked exhausted.

There were dark circles under his eyes.

“When last did you sleep properly?” I asked.

He laughed.

“I can’t remember.”

“You need to rest.”

“I’ll rest after graduation.”

“That’s not how life works.”

He smiled.

“See why I like you? You sound like my mother.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Before his break ended, he reached into his bag and handed me a small envelope.

“What’s this?”

“Don’t open it now.”

“What is it?”

“A letter.”

I laughed.

“A handwritten letter?”

“I know. Very old school.”

“What if I want to read it now?”

“Wait until you get to your hostel.”

I nodded.

When I got back, Teni was asleep.

I quietly opened the envelope.

Inside was a folded sheet of paper.

At the top, in Daniel’s handwriting, were the words:

‘For the woman I’m praying will become my wife one day.’

My heart almost stopped.

My hands trembled as I unfolded the letter.

Before I could read the first paragraph…

Someone knocked loudly on our hostel door.

It was almost 11 p.m.

Teni woke up immediately.

“Who is knocking by this time?”

I folded the letter quickly.

The knocking became louder.

Then a voice shouted from outside.

“Amara! Open the door! Something has happened to Daniel!”

My heart sank.

Without thinking, I rushed toward the door.

What do you think has happened to Daniel?

To be continued…