CHAPTER ONE
Hi,
My name is Favour, a 16-year-old girl who hasn't found someone to understand me and like me for me.
I usually live my life to please my parents, and before I forget to tell you, my mum basically raised me; my dad wasn't around most of the time. So she carried the weight of me and my younger brother on her shoulders. Of course, being the firstborn is really tough, I have a lot of expectations to meet, maybe that is why I never found my place. Not that I am ungrateful, but I also get overlooked. No one really cares about me, maybe it's because I am a firstborn or I am an elder sister, but I just don't get noticed.
My mum works overtime, so I am left to take care of my brother alone. "Money on the table, food in the fridge" is what I often hear. I've gotten used to playing the role of mum at an early age.
We lived in a small house in a great neighborhood, with friendly faces, and a lot of smiles, but I wasn't really happy; it felt as if I had a weight on my neck.
No one ever listens to my problems and if I even try to talk about them, it feels like I am disturbing the person I am telling, so I have gotten used to bottling up my emotions or problems.
I went to this amazing school with nice facilities, and I had the best teachers. My classmates were nice, but I just couldn't flow with them, maybe because of how isolated I was.
I got average grades, and I wasn't social or sporty. But what I loved doing was reading, I enjoyed reading a lot, sometimes after school, I would go out and buy some books with my pocket money, I just found a safe space with those novels, I often read books about high school experiences, and I wished I could get my own, I didn't like how I was in high school, no friends, no talent and no life whatsoever. I had already given up on finding the one person I could call my friend until one day, a boy walked into the class and the teacher introduced him as a new student, at first I just thought Oh it's a new classmate no big deal, until I started noticing he was like me, he was strange, he wasn't like the other boys in class, he doesn't run out of class during lunch to play football or basketball, he hardly talks in class unless you are talking to him which is an attribute I very much posses, he loves his privacy very much. So I went ahead to talk to him, and my classmates were really shocked because I had never willingly talked to anyone before and I had been with them for years.
So I talked to him and found out his name is David, and he had this little voice as if he hadn't gone through puberty; he was so shy that throughout the time we were talking, he didn't for once look up. He was really strange and I felt even more eager to get to know him. So I started talking to him every day, from a "hi" each day to a "how was your day?" Our conversation length increased, and I started growing fond of him; it was as if we were meant to meet. After time passed we grew really close, we did everything together, he even started reading books with me, then one day while we were reading a book he asked me a question, he said "Favour would you be my best friend", At that point I froze, I never imagined I would have a best friend more of a best friend that is a boy, I had a lot of things on my mind that I didn't even realize I haven't given him an answer, then he called me back into reality and said "Favour would you" I was so happy that I started stammering the word yes with a little smile on my face, when I have him an answer he was so happy that he didn't know when he hugged me, it felt strange and unreal because I have never been this happy before so I hugged him back and that is when our friendship officially blossomed.
CHAPTER TWO
For the next month, David became my world. We were inseparable. He was the listener I desperately needed, the only person who understood the quiet ache of being Favour.
We shared secrets during lunch, spent hours in the library, and even started inventing our own stories to read to each other. I began to laugh more, and the "weight on my neck" finally started to lift. I was no longer just the overworked older sister who had no life whatsoever; I was Favour, David's best friend.
As time went on I stopped being the quiet shy girl to being the not so quiet girl, I talked to people more than before, I played with them, I even found out that I had other hobbies than reading, like, I found out I could play basketball which is really crazy because a few months ago I couldn't even touch a ball talk more of bouncing it. One day in class I was by my seat, talking and laughing when I looked at David staring at me like a proud father, I then went to meet him asking him why he was looking at me like that, he then said " Look at you, you were a caterpillar now you have come out from your cocoon and have become a butterfly" I laughed so hard, then it started to dawn on me that he was right, I have changed, I now have people I call friends and most importantly I have my best friend, then I didn't know when I uttered the word "Thank you", he said " why are you thanking me" then I looked at him and smiled then I said "you showed me what it felt like to be seen, to be heard, to be truly liked for who I was and for that I am truly grateful" he smiled back at me and said " you're welcome" then hugged me.
The next day was a usual day, and I came to class as usual excited to see David and to talk to my new friends but when I got to class I noticed that David wasn't in his seat, I asked around and they told me he was in the restroom, I was relieved because I thought he did come to school, an hour had passed and David didn't come back from the restroom so I became worried I asked around again and they said they haven't seen him, that is when I became impatient, I stood up and asked a boy in my class to go to the restroom to check if he was there and the boy came back and told me No, I was really worried so I started going around asking if anyone had seen David but all of them had negative answers so I asked one more person and he said he saw David going to the school nurse, I was flustered by the thought of David going to the school nurse, a lot of questions kept roaming in my mind, so I ran to the school nurse then I met David sitting on the bed with his head down, I was so relieved seeing he is okay that I ran to him and hugged him, he was really confused but before he could speak I asked him a lot of questions, "why are you here, what happened to you, are you hurt, where is the nurse" David was so shocked that he just stared at me, he then smiled and answered my question one by one " I was having a stomach ache so I came here, I was vomiting when I went to the restroom room, no I'm not hurt, she went to get the drugs I will use I've answered all your questions now are you okay" I was surprised that he was vomiting because he was fine the night before because we called each other and spoke for hours and he didn't tell me he was vomiting I then asked him if he was alright he smiled and nodded his head, I stayed with him till the nurse came with the medications and prescribed it for him, after that time I didn't want to leave his side, I stayed with him everyday till he finished his medications, then one day I saw David resting his head on the table, I rushed to him to ask him if he was alright, he then told me he had a headache and he feels dizzy, I was really worried that I ran to the school nurse to asked for medications for headaches and when I came back I asked him to eat something so he could take the medications after he ate I gave him the prescribed medication and after a while he was okay, days had passed and David was still showing different symptoms, so one day I came to school hoping to see David but I didn't see him, I asked around and they said he didn't come to school today, I then went to ask my teacher and she said David's mother called this morning saying she took David to the hospital, at that moment many thoughts were going through my head " if he alright, is the sickness that bad, I hope he is okay", for the next few hours I was really impatient I just wanted to go to leave the school and see David in the hospital, after school I packed my bag and ran to meet David in the hospital, when I got there I met his mum, I greeted her and asked if David was okay, she said David is okay that it was a slight fever, I then took a sigh of relief and I asked her where he is she should me the room he was in and immediately I saw him I couldn't hold my tears I saw drips they had given him and the ones they hadn't given him, I told his I was sorry that if I had know he was this sick I would've paid more attention to him instead of talking to my new friends, "stop crying favour, it isn't your fault and I really like that you are making friends, I like how you are not lonely anymore it makes me so happy, you have always been by my side and I really appreciate you for that" I smiled and hugged tight that I almost forgot the drip in his hand. After that, we talked a lot, and I gave him the recap of what he missed in school, then I told him it was late and I needed to go home, we waved goodbye to each other and I went home, at home I was still so worried about David but I couldn't do anything about it, the next day at school I took all the assignments that David missed and I brought it to him at the hospital, we both did the assignments together and told him I will come back tomorrow to see him, the following day I went to class and I saw David sitting on his chair I was so happy, I ran to him and asked him why he is here, "I was discharged this morning and I didn't want to tell you because I wanted to surprise you and before you say anything I am fine so don't worry", shouldn't you be at home, you were discharged this morning so you should be at home resting, " I have been resting for days I didn't do anything I just wanted to work, I am fine, I am very energized okay, I am okay" I was reassured but that didn't mean I didn't watch him everyday, the days after that I noticed he was so lively and back to his old self that I just had to let my guard down, weeks passed, even months and it was finally time for our final exam, I was so happy to finally finish high school and go to college, David and I have always dreamt of going to the same school, so we worked hard to do so, after our exam the next thing was prom, I have always imagined wearing a long dress and locked arm with my date or in this case my best friend, after our exam me and David had a talk on what to wear for prom, if we should match or not but David was acting strange then he looked me in the eye and said "what would you do if I died" , I was really confused because we weren't talking about death we were talking about cloth, I looked at him and said " why would you say that, is something wrong" he then said " nothing is wrong, I just watched on a video where a boy asked his best friend what she would do if he died and I thought let me ask you", I was reluctant and still wondering why that question tho but I answered him " what would I do if you died, well you won't die in Jesus name, but I would be myself again, I will cry a lot and I don't know, I won't be happy again", David sat there and I could tell something was wrong because I could see in his eyes that he was said, I asked him if everything was wrong then he said " everything is fine, I just wanted to know, but Favour if I wasn't with you please promise me you won't change, promise me you will remain just the way you are, promise you won't miss me too much", I was really confused because why was he saying all this things to me, is he planning on going to another school, is he relocating, many thoughts passed through my mind but I just had to say I promise, but before I could say anything he changed the topic and started talking about our prom cloths, I just had to leave the matter because maybe I was over thinking it.
💔 The Final Chapter: A Legacy Found
The following week was the week before prom I was so happy, I came to school on Monday morning ready to see David to talk to him about the dress we were wearing but I didn't see him, I thought nothing bad about it because it is a week to prom not many people would like to be in school, I only came because there was no one to say at home with me, Then when I got home the same day I texted David but he didn't reply, I felt that he was busy and that I would probably see him in school the next day, on tuesday David didn't show up, I just thought he had his reasons and I didn't think to much about it Wednesday came, and I was at hometrying to reach David but he didn't answer me, then I got worried, I called everyone but no one answered me. By Friday, the whispering had started. A group of girls looked at me with pity. I was really confused then the teacher pulled me aside. She spoke softly, her eyes kind, telling me David had been battling a long illness, something he had kept private. She explained that his family had moved him back home permanently this week, and that he had passed away peacefully the night before.
The news didn't feel real. I couldn't believe it, I then asked the teacher if it was the David I knew, she looked at me with a sad look and said yes, at that point, it felt as if my world crumbled, I asked again but he was okay the past few months why, No, how was he sick, the teacher then held my hand and spoke calmly and said, he has been sick for a long time, the times he didn't come to school he was at the hospital, I didn't believe it so I ran away and went to David's house and started knocking, I knocked till someone opened the door, then David's mum opened the door with her eyes red, it looked like she had been crying for a long time, then at that moment I knew that truly David was gone, my hands trembled and I couldn't stand so I fell on the floor, asking my self how I didn't know he was sick, why didn't he tell me, if I was a good friend, then David's mum came closer to me, picked me up from the floor and hugged me tight, I don't know if it was the warm embrace or the feeling of grief but I couldn't hold my tears back, I cried so loudly, I cried and I cried and I couldn't stop crying, them David's mum whispered in my ear " David wanted to tell you but he was afraid that his last moments would be full of tears, he wanted his last moments to be his happiest moments, that is why when you came to the hospital before David told me to tell you that he had fever, David truly loved you, he told me that leaving you was the hardest thing he could do, he said he is sorry for not being with you as planned and that you shouldn't change who you are just because he is gone", I was crying even harder, I couldn't stop then David's mum whispered again to me " stop crying David is in a better place , he would want us to be crying over him", I had to hold my cry and I looked up to her and nodded my head while my lips were quivering she handed a book to me and said " David once told me that you two loved writing books and reading it together, before he died he told me to give you, he said you should read it that it was his last book to you and that he is sorry for not reading it with you" with my hands still shaking I slowly collected the book I looked up to David's mum and said " Thank you so much, I am sorry for your loss" those were the only words that could come out from my mouth without me crying I was about to leave when she asked if I wanted to say at her house, I told her I really appreciate the offer but I really need to walk right now then I left, when I noticed I was away from the house I completely broke down, I collapsed, clutching the book his mum gave me, I couldn't believe that he was truly gone, I was really broken, I couldn't move, I was just thinking about different things, the person I love so much is really dead. I cried for hours then before I knew it a car stopped at my front and David's mum came out telling me to get in that she would drive me home, I couldn't stand up, my legs were still shaking, then she walked up to me and lifted me up by my shoulders, and put me in the car, the drive to my house were filled with tears, I couldn't stop crying while David's mum tried to hold her tears but I couldn't see drops of tears flowing down her eyes, when we reach my house I came down from the car and told David's mum thank you for the ride, she watched me enter the house before she could drive away, I went straight to my bedroom were I continued crying, I just stared at the book, I couldn't open it or read it, I was really hurting. The following weeks were a fog of grief and isolation, but this time, the isolation was different. Before, I was alone because I was hidden. Now, I was alone because the anchor of my new self was gone. I felt the weight on my neck return, heavier than ever, threatening to pull me back into the silence. I didn't feel anything again, I couldn't go to prom, I couldn't read the book David left for me and I couldn't apply to a university because the person I was excited to do it with was gone. Everywhere felt lonely, my brother tried to make me laugh but I just couldn't smile, I saw no meaning to it, I was locked up in my room and I couldn't go out, I felt that the world was unfair, the person who helped me out of isolation was gone and now I am back into the isolation than before.One evening, my mum found me curled up in my chair, staring blankly at the wall. She didn't offer food or money as usual; she just sat down beside me.
"Favour," she said gently, "I met David's mother once, just after he enrolled, I looked at her in disbelief. She laughed and said " you think I don't know about your life, why do you think your teachers never asked why your mum never came to the PTA meetings" I didn't think of that before but it suddenly occurred to me that not once did my teacher ask about my mum, My mum looked at me and continued what she was saying "She told me he was using his last few months to go to a new school, hoping to make one true connection before he got too sick to try and yes I knew he was sick but I couldn't tell you. I looked at her asked her why with my voice trembling, she said " I've always watched you, it may seem like I don't but I always see you, I saw how you were before David came to your life and I saw how you were after he came into your life and trust me there is a big difference, you were happy, and I know I wasn't around most of the time because of work but the times I was around, I haven't seen you that happy, so I couldn't tell you he was see because I didn't want to see that big smile on your face turn to a frown, so as I was saying she said meeting you was the happiest he had been in years."
My mum pointed to the book in my lap. "He came to you, a shy, quiet boy, just like you. And because he was quiet, you felt safe enough to talk. But then, you talked so much that he saw your true spirit. He gave you the chance to bloom, Favour. You are still blooming and I am sorry for making you feel like you are not seen even in your home, I will try my best henceforth to be there for you, I love you so much favour" "I love you too mum" Then she hugged me tight, maybe it was the comfort or the settlement but I felt at ease, as if half of the weight has been lifted, then my mum looked at me and said " so I'm going out to get somethings what would you like to have because you have not been eating and don't say nothing, you need to eat" I replied " Burger please" she laughed and said okay and left.
I looked at the book in my hands, David was gone, but the Favour he had met was still here. The girl who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, the girl who loved to laugh, the girl who finally came out of her shell, I suddenly had the courage to read the book, I took a deep breath and opened the book, and it says "Hi I'm David a 16-year-old boy, I am suffering from an illness and I was told I have two years to live, I told my mum I didn't want to say here again and that I would like to move to the city, my mum is so sad right now but she accepted, so my first day at the city, it is really nice, I love the environment, my mum is looking for a good school for me to attend because I told her I didn't want to spend my last days at home doing nothing, first day at school, everybody was friendly, and noisy except for one girl, I think her name is favour, she seemed lonely, I'm going to become her friend,