Ruth Nwachukwu @bethel

Last night was the hungriest I have ever been. I was deep in sleep when my stomach woke me up, demanding food like it was on strike. With no proper meal ready, I had no choice but to pour garri, mix it with milk, and drink it just to calm my belly. After finishing the cup, I lay back down, hoping to sleep, but the hunger refused to let me rest. It felt like my stomach was laughing at me, saying, "Is this all you’ve got?"

That was when I remembered my bottle of chin chin. I had misplaced it some days ago, and because I was hardly ever at home, I never had time to look for it. But last night, hunger gave me no option. I needed to find that chin chin at all costs. My body was weak, but desperation gave me energy. I turned the whole house upside down, searching every corner, opening every drawer, and checking under every table.

At some point, I started regretting my carelessness. If I had kept the bottle in a safe place, I wouldn't be suffering like this. The hunger was making me dizzy, and I felt like my strength was leaving me. My stomach kept rumbling, reminding me that time was running out. The struggle was real, and I was paying the price for my mistake.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, I found the bottle. I didn’t even wait to sit properly before opening it and stuffing my mouth with chin chin. I don’t think I could have survived much longer without finding something to eat.

For three months, a nice guy had been asking me out. I liked him, but I was already in a relationship that was not good. Even though I felt unhappy, I did not want to hurt my current boyfriend by breaking up with him. I stayed in the relationship, hoping things would get better.

I noticed that I stopped reaching out to my boyfriend. It felt like I was pulling away, but deep down, I knew I was unhappy. My boyfriend was still trying hard to make things work, but we had many differences. I realized I didn’t want to be with someone like him anymore.

One day, my boyfriend called me. He said he couldn’t keep trying to make the relationship work. I could hear the sadness in his voice. When he decided to end things, I felt as though I'm about to lose something special but on a second that thought this was all I have wanted and as a matter of fact I initiated the process.

Now that I was single, I felt free and hopeful. There was another guy who had been very interested in me. He treated me kindly and seemed ready to do anything for my happiness. I started to think that maybe he could be the right person for me.

I took a deep breath and decided it was time to say yes to a new relationship. I smiled at the thought of starting fresh with someone who truly cared for me. It felt like a new beginning, and I was excited for what was to come.

I got invited to a business seminar and decided to attend because I wanted to meet new people and learn something useful. It seemed like a great opportunity to expand my network and gather some fresh ideas. I arrived early, settled in, and listened attentively as the speakers shared their insights.

During the break, the organizers encouraged us to connect with at least two people. I stood there, scanning the room for someone who seemed approachable. Just as I was about to make a move, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, and to my surprise, it was Emma, someone I used to know from my old neighborhood.

Emma had been my neighbor back then, and I remembered how he would pray every night while playing his guitar. It was such a calming thing to hear, and I mentioned it to him right away. He laughed, saying he still plays but not as often. Seeing him brought back memories, and we started catching up on life.

From his appearance and the way he spoke, it was clear he was doing much better than when I last saw him. He seemed more confident and at ease. We shared a few more stories, and I couldn’t help but feel happy for his progress. Before the break ended, I asked for his contact, which he gladly shared.

It was a bright Monday morning, and I was excited but nervous. Today was my presentation day. I had worked hard on it for weeks and couldn’t wait to share it. Even though I had wasted extra time maybe to prepare harder and build this core confidence.

When I got to school, I took my seat in the classroom. The first few students presented, and I felt my excitement grow, and I can't wait to share my thoughts

Some part of me was already telling me that I might not present considering the number of students and the the little delay the lectures had, though they tried to catch up with time

He rushed through the presentations, and I waited for my turn. Just when I thought it was almost my time, the lecture said he couldn’t continue. He was too tired and promised we would start with me next week.

I felt frustrated. I had spent the whole day waiting, and now I had to wait even longer. I walked home feeling disappointed.

When I got home, I dropped my bag and lay on my bed. I thought about how I had imagined sharing my work. But then I realized I still had a week to prepare. I decided to use that time to make my presentation even better. Next week, I would be ready.

woke up early, feeling excited and ready for my trip. I had everything planned, and it seemed like the perfect day to travel. But when I got to the bus park, my excitement quickly faded.

The place was packed, and there were hardly any buses in sight. I found out that the holiday season had just ended, and everyone wanted to travel at the same time. The few buses that were there were taken in no time, leaving many people, including me, without a ride.

Before I could even reach the ticket counter, the last bus was fully booked. I stood there in shock as the driver closed the doors and drove away. My plans were ruined, and I had to postpone my trip until tomorrow.

Feeling disappointed, I walked back home, thinking about what the situation could be the next day. As I make my way home the feeling of the unexpected delay was just all over my head. Tomorrow was going to be another day to try again

What happened yesterday still makes me laugh when I think about it. I was on my way home from work when I noticed a woman selling star fruit by the roadside. I decided to stop and buy some. After choosing what I wanted and agreeing on the price, I brought out a 1,000 Naira note to pay. But as soon as I pulled the money out of my bag, a small boy grabbed it from my hand and tried to run away.

Before he could get far, a very muscular man who had been standing nearby stopped him. He grabbed the boy with so much force and even lifted him off the ground. I couldn’t stop laughing at how the situation was playing out. The man seemed ready to teach the boy a serious lesson, but I felt sorry for him. Maybe the boy was just hungry, I thought.

The 1,000 Naira was returned to me, and I quickly paid for my star fruit. I asked the woman to add a few extra pieces so I could give them to the boy. It felt like the right thing to do, and I wanted to let him know I wasn’t angry. The muscular man stood there the entire time, making sure the boy didn’t try anything else. He even gave him a few light knocks on the head to warn him not to misbehave again.

In the end, we all laughed about it, and the situation ended peacefully. The boy got some star fruit, the muscular man seemed satisfied he had done his part, and I left with my money and my fruit.

I always wanted to spend time with John, but we lived far apart. When I heard he was coming for Christmas, I was so happy! I decided to plan a picnic for us.

I thought about a nice spot by the lake, with tall trees around. I made a list of things to bring: a warm blanket, hot cocoa, and snacks. I even packed a small speaker for our favorite songs.

The day finally came. I woke up early, feeling excited. It was cold outside, which was a perfect weather for a perfect picnic I dressed warmly and took everything to the lake.

When I got there, I saw John walking toward me, all bundled up. His cheeks were red from the cold. We smiled at each other and hugged. It felt great to finally be together.

We sat on the blanket, drank hot cocoa, and shared stories. We laughed and talked about good times we had. As the sun set, the sky turned beautiful colors, and I felt really happy.

I played our favorite song on my phone, and we sang along. In that moment, I knew this was what I wanted a fun time with John, without any distance between us.

I had become very much uncomfortable with cooking for myself. This was unusual, as I typically only enjoyed food prepared by my immediate family. Before, I wouldn't even consider eating food made by anyone outside of my nuclear family.

However, my busy lecture schedule had disrupted my eating habits. I often found myself skipping breakfast and waiting until afternoon to eat. This had become a normal routine for me, and my body had adapted to it. Sometimes, I could even go a whole day without feeling hungry.

But when my friend visited, she expressed concern about my eating habits. She took the time to educate me on the potential health consequences of my actions. She warned me about the risks of stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal problems, which could arise from irregular eating and poor nutrition. Her words makea a whole lot of meaning, and I felt remorseful for my actions.

I decided then and there to make a change. I resolved to resume cooking my own meals, ensuring that I eat regular, balanced meals. If necessary, I would buy food that's easy to prepare, rather than relying on irregular meals or going hungry. I was determined to prioritize my health and avoid developing ulcers or other health problems.