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I felt like no matter how much I tried, no matter how much I gave, I would never be good for anyone. So I stopped trying. ~ Joel Edochie (ISSY-easy).
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Joel hated himself. He cursed his very existence and the biology behind his every breath exchange. Sometimes he did wish he could just die, but fate has always been against him.
His late mom had spent years trying to mould him into a different man. Into a better person. Not one that would disrespect any human feeling, especially a female's. And he had just thrown all that away by allowing his pent-up anger get the best of him.
Staring down at his palms was like looking in the mirror. The scars that marred them — and even his body — all represented the pain he has had to go through all these years, and their numbers told of how much
Opeoluwa was a sucker for novels and only Joel knew that. After being mocked countless times by Jessica and Grace about it, she decided to let everyone — except him — believe she had quit reading. Even in school, whenever anyone (aside their small clique) saw her with a novel, their eyes popped out of their sockets. She hated that. She hated the look they gave and the memory of it. It reminded her of whom she used to be: the clumsy girl who couldn't even tie her own shoelace. She despised that girl.Sniffing, his stomach grumbled, and he set the book down. Luckily, he had packed a few fast food options. His options lay between pasta and noodles. Pushing up his lips in thoughts, a finger tapping his chin, he heard Opeoluwa speak as she entered the living room.“Where did all that cold water come from?&rdquo
¶¶We all had demons we dealt with. But it felt like no matter how hard we tried, we'd never be able to outrun them. ~ Jessica Badmus¶¶“Put him on the bed,” Martin's mom — Miss Adekunle — instructed Bankole. “This boy will not kill me.”Martin was slumped over Bankole's back. For someone as slim as Martin, he sure had Bankole barring his teeth, causing his breathing to be ragged. One slight misstep and one of the two would be rewarded with a serious concussion.Fixing his grip around Martin's thighs while muttering from one cuss word to another, Bankole managed to rest him on the bed without slamming him.“Thank you so muc
A wave of emotion flashed through Bankole's deep brown eyes as his chest rose and fell, right eyebrow raised high.“I'm sorry. I just... I shouldn't have.”The door swung open and Mrs. Mary stood at the doorway, a tray of covered plates in her hands. The two turned to her and she regarded them with a perplexed look that made her small eyes squint in scrutiny. Then, suddenly, she began surveying the room.“I told you to leave your keys behind, so I can clean this place,” she said, moving to the table.When she reached there, she elbowed some books to the floor. “Look at all these books,” she said, setting the tray on the table.“I'll clean i
¶¶There's a call I have refused to answer for years past.It is the call of anger and hate.I have refused their outstretched fingers because both lead to misery.And misery I strongly dislike. ~ Isabelle Onyenorah¶¶“Why did it have to be a girl? Why? I like Juliet o, but why couldn't she have born boy for us (why didn't she birth a male child)?”It is believe that words are a greater weapon when compared to a sword. They don't prick the skin or cause one to bleed, but its aftermath is much greater than physical harm. One bad word can prompt one to fall from a tall building at will. One good word was enough to make o
¶¶Pretty brown eyes;a deceptive smirk;and a bold presence that could not be ignored. ~ Amberdorn.¶¶Loveth was particularly chatty and quite friendly. She had also witnessed the incident that happened that morning and wanted Isabelle to know how much she respected her for her actions.“I am SO happy I'm no longer the only one who sees the truth in this school,” Loveth had said as they exited the bathroom.They had escorted Isabelle there, and as much as Isabelle liked the new friends, she wasn't so sure she shared their idea of bravery.“But... What if I get into trouble for
¶¶ In a room wherepeople unanimously maintaina conspiracy of silence,one word of truthsounds like a pistol shot. ~ Czeslaw Milosz¶¶The school's hall was crowded with students at every corner, all waiting for the orientation to begin. Extracurricular activities that Thursday afternoon had been scheduled for an orientation, specially for the new students. Turns out all these had been announced by the principal that morning, but Isabelle had heard none of it as she was focused on dulling the snide comments from the students. No matter the angle she looked at it, it still made no sense that Olabisi and her friend wanted to beat her up for slapping Joel. She had, after all, stood up for the girl. But as it turns out, the two upheld Joel's self-esteem than theirs.“Let's sit here,” Emily said, snapping Isabelle out of her thoughts.The seat Emily had picked was at the back of the hall, and Isabelle wondered how she'd see the speakers at the front of the hall.“Isn't this too far?”
¶¶There is a waywhich seems rightto man,but its endis the wayto death.~ Proverbs 14 vs 12¶¶Martin's car came to a stop and Emily bid the girls (Jessica and Grace) goodbye before getting in.School ended a few minutes ago and Isabelle had been in a haste to get home. Emily understood she was scared to face Joel and his friends after what she did, but what Isabelle didn't know was that they didn't care. Though it came as a shock, every one of one them approved of what Isabelle did. But her friend wouldn't believe so and even denied Emily the chance to convince her.The car picked up speed as Emily cleared her throat.
Martin held the door open for Emily as they walked out the diner, and she rewarded him with a smile, her phone interrupting with its unexpected ringing."Fuck," she muttered when she saw who was calling (her aunt) and repeated the cuss word when she saw the time.It was already a few minutes past five."What is it?" Martin asked."Nothing. I've got to go. Duty calls." She shook her phone at him."Okay. But why don't I take you home?"Emily grimaced. Since her aunt was already calling, she had a feeling the woman was almost home. Even if she wasn't, Emily still had to go pick her cousins.Surely, there was no denying Mercy