The days blurred into each other — a long stretch of papers, pencils, and prayers.
Morning after morning, Rita lined up with the others, heart hammering as invigilators handed out thick stacks of question papers.
Mathematics came after English.
It was harder than Rita expected. She stared at the algebra section for long minutes, her mind blank except for the ticking of the clock.
When the paper ended, the faces around her told the story: some looked crushed, others hopeful.
Rita wasn't sure how she felt.
Then came Basic Science.
Diagrams, labeling, short answers.
This time, Rita found her rhythm — facts came back to her faster. She wrote until her fingers cramped.
She caught a glimpse of Anne after the paper — their eyes almost met — but Anne turned away too quickly for it to mean anything.
Social Studies was a whirlwind of events, dates, causes, and effects.
Rita scribbled until her wrist ached, barely pausing to breathe.
Evelyn was seated far away during that paper, but even from across the hall, Rita could feel the wall still standing between them.
Home Economics. Business Studies. Religious and Moral Education. French. ICT.
One after another, they came — and one after another, they passed.
Some papers left Rita feeling strong, her chest lifting with quiet pride.
Others left her numb and shaken, second-guessing every answer.
Through it all, the silence between her, Anne, and Evelyn stretched wider.
They shared the same halls, the same exam rooms, the same tired lunches under the trees.
But they didn't share words.
Not yet.
By the last day — after the final bell rang for the last subject — the whole school exploded into cheers.
Students threw their notes into the air, hugged, cried, and shouted at the top of their lungs.
Rita stood in the middle of it all, her bag slung over one shoulder, watching it happen like a dream.
She had finished the BECE.
She had crossed the mountain she once thought she couldn't climb.
But as she looked across the courtyard, searching for Anne, for Evelyn, a hollow ache tugged at her chest.
Success didn't feel as sweet without them by her side.
Still, Rita smiled faintly to herself.
One battle at a time.
Maybe now that the exams were over...
Maybe now she could find a way to fix everything else.