Mindviewers Stories

I woke up for school, but this day was different. I had an exam that I was really worried about. As I got out of bed, I remembered everything that happened the night before—a mix of studying, dinner, and trying to finish my homework before going to sleep.

When I looked in my closet, I had a big surprise. My white shirts, which are part of my school uniform, were all dirty. I realized I had worn them all the day before, and the shirt I planned to wear for the exam was still stained. I started to feel panic rise inside me.

I thought hard for a solution. I remembered the sweater I borrowed from a friend. It could hide the messy shirt! But when I looked for it, I saw that it was too long for me to wear over a wet shirt, and I couldn’t return it in bad condition. My heart sank even more.

Feeling desperate, I rushed to the wash basin and scrubbed the shirt as fast as I could. I hoped it would get clean and dry quickly. But as time passed, I grew more anxious.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I looked at the message and saw that the exam was postponed! I felt a mix of relief and frustration. I had spent so much time cleaning a shirt that I didn’t need to wear anymore.

Even with the news, I still needed to go to school, so I put on the wet shirt and ran out. The outside air was chilly, and I felt nervous about how I looked, but I tried to smile as I walked to school.

As the day went on, I felt tired and kept thinking about my choices. When I finally got home, I felt sick from the cold and the stress of the day

The snake bit the hen, and with the poison burning in her body, she sought refuge in her henhouse.
But the other hens preferred to expel her so that the poison would not spread.
The hen limped away, crying in pain. Not because of the bite, but because of the abandonment and contempt of her own family at the time when she needed them most.
So she left... burning with fever, dragging one of her legs, vulnerable to the cold nights.
With each step, a tear fell.
The hens in the henhouse watched her go away, watching her disappear on the horizon. Some said to each other:
— Let her go... She will die far from us.
And when the hen finally vanished into the immensity of the horizon, they were all sure that she had died.
Some even looked at the sky, hoping to see vultures flying.
Time passed.
Much later, a hummingbird came to the henhouse and announced:
— Your sister is alive! She lives in a cave far away from here.
She recovered, but lost a leg from the snake bite.
She has trouble finding food and needs your help.
There was silence. Then the excuses began:
— I can't go, I'm laying eggs...
— I can't go, I'm looking for corn...
— I can't go, I have to take care of my chicks...
So, one by one, they all refused the request. The hummingbird returned to the cave without help.
Time passed again.
Much later, the hummingbird returned, but this time with painful news:
— Your sister has passed away... She died alone in the cave... There is no one to bury her or mourn her.
At that moment, a weight fell on everyone. A deep lament filled the henhouse.
Those who were laying eggs stopped.
Those who were looking for corn left the seeds.
Those who were caring for the chicks forgot about them for a moment.
Regret hurt more than any poison. Why didn't we go before?, they asked themselves.
And without measuring the distance or the effort, they all set off for the cave, crying and lamenting. Now they had a reason to see her, but it was too late.
When they got to the cave, they didn't find the hen... They only found a letter that said:
"In life, many times people don't cross the street to help you when you're alive, but they cross the world to bury you when you die.
And most of the tears at funerals are not from pain, but from remorse and regret."...

There is the particular lecturer that loves giving class work, which is to be done in a 20 leaves exercise book and submitted right there in the class. The book is to be used for all the class works he will give, and will serve as the continuous assessment at the end of the semester. And for this reason, no one dared to miss his class, I have never missed the class, of course you don't want a mark to pass you by, and so seriousness is vital.

The class work the lecturer gave, I couldn't finish the work on time, because of the limited time that was given, I had to submit like that and the result was very poor. It was our first time, and we learnt we had to be fast while getting the classwork done. I had to read and study ahead of what will be taught in the next class, so that I won't waste much time when the class work is given. That's to show that I was willing to make a big difference this time.

The next class came, and as usual, the lecturer gave us class work, and since I went there prepared, I didn't waste must time doing it. I finished early, and compared my work with my coursemate that sat close to me, I was sure that I was correct, to the extent I was even making corrections for my coursemate. As usual, the lecturer told the course rep to go round and collect all the exercise book. I closed my book and was ready to submit it.

The course rep got to where I was seated, and collected from the people that sat close to me, he suddenly got distracted when he was about to get my book, he turned to look at something, and by the time he turned back to me, he refused to collect my book, saying he has passed my seat already. I was shocked, I have never had any problem with the guy before, so I wondered why he did what he did. I called out to him again, and he refused to answer me.

I walked up to the front where he was handing over the books to the lecturer, but the lecturer returned me to my seat, refusing to collect my classwork. I was very angry why the course rep did such a thing to me. Immediately after the class, I confronted the course rep and asked why he did what he did, he said I should not be angry, that he didn't see me. I didn't believe him, someone that replied me is now denying not to have seen me.

I was still pained by what he did, and so I avoided him. Classwork was given again in the next class, I did it and made sure I submitted it this time. Surprisingly, after it was marked, and the course rep brought the book back to us, the lecturer had marked the previous classwork that I didn't submit, and graded me the full mark, together with the current work, something I didn't expect. I was very happy. Since everything was now fixed, I decided to let my beef with the course rep go, hopefully he won't repeat such again.

I came across some freshers (newly admitted year one students) in school today, and what I heard them go through was just too much. Right from the day I entered the university, I have always done all the online printouts and processes by myself, so I have the full knowledge of how to do everything, including payment of school fees. The only money the cyber cafe has gotten from me is printing money.

Today I met some freshers lamenting about the bulky fee they are to pay, to get started with the university. The owners of those cyber cafes should be driving in SUVs, if actually they are extorting that much from students. They told the freshers to do online clearance of 7k, but there is nothing like online clearance in our university, it's just a format to get free 7,000 naira from freshers. Also acceptance fee of 4,500 naira, but also there is no acceptance fee in the university.

Also, Jamb admission letter of 4,500 naira, but the money to be paid on the portal to jamb is not mor thank 2,000 naira and some minor charges, so why charge that much. Also, Jamb original result of 4,500 naira, but on the portal, it's not more than 2,000 naira. Through means like this and other numerous means, they have extorted more than enough from the innocent and fearful freshers. I think I was the only exception, because I did everything by myself, so I never needed their services.

I told the freshers that there is nothing like acceptance fee and online clearance in the university, and that they only needed to print the jamb admission letter and original result, and then generate remita to pay school fees next. I offered to help them do all those things right there without charging them, they didn't trust me, so they refused. The native freshers believed so much in the cyber cafe guys, and preferred the extortion way.

I left them and went my way, immediately I got home, my neighbors gisted me about how three freshers were scammed by a cyber cafe. The cyber cafe collected almost 200,000 naira from the three of them to pay their school fees, but they didn't pay the school fees, and the innocent freshers didn't know. On finding out some days later that the fees wasn't paid, they went back to the cyber cafe, but couldn't find anyone. Just because the people don't have any knowledge of what is to be done, they have capitalized on it and extorted excess from them. Knowledge is power, it's not a lie. In life, even if it doesn't concern you, or it's not your field, just try and know little about it, it will help you.

Last Saturday was declared a sanitation day in the compound I live, one of the tenants, a guy had been appointed by the landlord, to be in charge of the sanitation of the compound. So the guy is literally the one to fix the date for the compound cleaning, and anyone who doesn't participate in the cleanup will be fined. Even with the fact that I got home late that Friday night, I still had to make sure that I was involved in the cleanup.

We decided to fill and level the road in front of the compound, there were too many pot holes, rainwater became stagnant there, often producing unpleasant smells. As we were filling up the place, one of our neighbors who drives that road decided to appreciate us, and brought us some amount of money and a bottle of alcoholic drink. The tenant in charge of the sanitation collected the money and the drink went round.

I was expecting him to use part of the money and buy juice, for people like me that don't drink alcohol, but the guy started behaving somehow. He started saying that with or without any money, the cleanup would have still been done, that the money should be forgotten about. The other tenants disagreed with him and told him that it's a different case, someone appreciated the whole compound with the money, and it's not right for him to make away with it, just because he's the one in charge.

At the end, it led to a serious quarrel, and fight almost broke out, before the guy angrily remitted the money. The money was just 5k, in my mind I was wondering why a guy like that will behave in such a way, even with people that are older than him. The money was meant for everybody and he wanted it all for himself, how? Why? The guy is bigger than 5k, he just a bed frame, and a brand new foam, and using iPhone 11, he's rich, yet he still wanted to rob the masses of just 5k.

I fear human beings, just so full of greed and not contented no matter what they have. And if this type of person should enter a political office, you can imagine the tragedy, everybody were very displeased with the way he behaved. The money was sha used to buy meat and cook pepper for everybody.

Last night, my husband accidentally knocked a wine glass over and it smashed to pieces on the floor. I wasn’t there to see him do it but I heard the crash. He proceeded to clean up and checked for pieces and after being satisfied that he’d got every piece he went to bed for the night.

Now, I tend to get up and do random things at night around the house, so I got up and went to the laundry room. As I went through the kitchen, I saw a couple of pretty nice size pieces of glass.
Honestly, my first response was irritation… I mean it seemed so careless, and what if one of the boys would have gotten up and gone to the kitchen and stepped on a shard? I was becoming increasingly upset when I heard in my spirit a voice of correction saying,” Aren’t you the helpmeet?”

With this rhetorical question I understood that I should be glad that I was up to pick up what he missed. I re-swept the floor and began moving things around incase pieces had managed to ricochet off somewhere else. I found quite a few.

This is marriage. Our spouses may not always get it right even with their very best efforts, but a true helpmeet sees where there is lack and makes up the difference.

It’s not always time to complain, sometimes it’s time complete.

Cc

Daily Juice

You don't have to dim your light so that others can shine brighter; shine and be different, they'll come to the brightness of your rising. All you see is not all there is.

Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. Be comfortable with who you are, the uniqueness is on you. You don't need to be someone else. God knows what to do with you to lift you up. Your situation didn't meet God unawares.

You failed does not mean God has left you. But one thing you must not do after God has lifted you, raised you and promoted you is, never become promoted away from God and His house that God and His house now become small in your eyes. Remember, you were lifted to lift others!

I had enough of the rats disturbing our compound, so I decided to take my revenge. I bought a few rat traps, hoping to teach them a lesson. That night, before going to bed, I carefully placed the traps in different corners, places where I had seen them pass before. I smiled to myself, knowing that by morning, some of them would be caught. Finally, I went to sleep, feeling satisfied with my plan.

Around midnight, I woke up because I needed to use the toilet. After easing myself, I remembered the traps and decided to check them. To my surprise, none of them had caught anything. I felt disappointed but told myself it was still early. I checked the time—it was 12:14 AM. With nothing to do, I went back to bed, hoping for better luck by morning.

By 5 AM, I woke up again and went to check the traps. This time, things had changed. Some traps had been moved, one was empty, and in another, I saw two small rats caught together. I stared at them, watching them struggle, their tiny bodies shaking in fear. For a moment, I felt a little pity, but then I reminded myself of all the nights their family had disturbed my sleep.

No matter what, I couldn’t let them go. I had to make an example of them so that the others would learn. I took the trap outside and made sure they would not come back to cause trouble. It was a small victory, but at least I could enjoy some peace for a while.

It had been a long and tiring day. As a member of the student electoral committee, I had spent the whole day sorting votes, moving up and down without rest. By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted. But hunger doesn’t wait, so I went straight to the kitchen to cook. I decided to make rice and stew, something quick and filling.

To save time, I prepared the stew first so that once the rice was ready, I could eat immediately. Everything was going smoothly, and soon, my rice was done. I was relieved, knowing I could finally enjoy my meal. But just as I was about to take the pot off the stove, the handle broke! It happened so fast, and before I could react, the pot slipped from my hands.

My heart sank as I watched my precious rice spill all over the floor. I stood there for a moment, shocked and frustrated. This was the last thing I expected, especially when I was so foolishly hungry. But I wasn’t about to let it ruin my mood. Without thinking twice, I grabbed a plate and started scooping the rice from the floor. Hunger had no shame, and at that moment, neither did I.

I served myself a full plate and left the rest on the floor. Right now, my only focus was refueling my body. I sat down and ate in silence, recovering my lost energy. The mess on the floor could wait, first things first. By the time I finished eating, I felt much better. Only then did I finally get up to clean the rest.

I was thinking this evening, and I thought about how I performed academically when I was still with my parents until I moved out independently to study in my 300 level. I noticed a significant difference in my academic performance, and now I could understand why. Back then, while I was living with my parents and siblings, I usually turned off the light at night before sleep. Most times, I drank coffee in the morning. However, after I moved out, I cut down on my coffee intake, and there was usually light—my light was on 24/7. I hadn’t known that this was affecting me, particularly my memory consolidation and retention, until I read an article recently about how these little things can impact memory retention and cognitive functions.

In addition to the insights I gained from the article, I realized that exposure to blue screens also significantly impacted cognitive function. I became increasingly aware of how much time I used to spend on my phone and other screens, prompting me to dive deeper into this topic. I wanted to enlighten others about the myriad of ways these small factors can affect memory and overall physiological functions.

First and foremost, exposure to blue light interferes with our sleep patterns. This disruption not only hampers our ability to fall asleep but also disturbs our circadian rhythms during the night. As a result, this affects memory retention. Interestingly, while coffee can enhance brain retention to some extent, it is also crucial to recognize the importance of quality sleep and the darkness we experience during that rest.

Understanding these connections has been enlightening, and I think it’s vital for everyone to learn this and keep it in mind.

It was the eve of Christmas, while other family members went about doing their last minute shopping and preparations, Ada sat at the backyard of her father’s compound, chin on hand, lost in thought. As tears flowed freely on her face, she remembered her last conversation with Victor, her ex-boyfriend.

Victor didn’t have much but he took care of her and her five siblings who depended on her for their upkeep, since their parents didn't have much. Ada had been the breadwinner of her family since she was 18, and when she met Victor she thought she had met a life saver or an angel because he took up the burden of taking care of her and her family. Ada then relaxed and only focused more on loving him and doing his bidding.

One fateful day, Victor had had enough and he started lashing out on Ada at any slightest provocation, on further interrogation, he shouted at Ada and said her family members were parasites who were out to suck him dry with their unending demands. Ada cried her eyes out at this revelation, but Victor was no longer having it so he told her he no longer wanted to have anything to do with her ever again. This broke her down emotionally and broke her spirit because she thought she had found the 'one' in Victor.

After much efforts to win Victor's heart back, Ada finally summoned courage and left the city to clear her head. She had been in the village ever since almost withering away because of her constant tears and depression.

She finally returned to reality and vowed within herself that she was not going into another relationship until she gets a job and is able to stand on her feet financially, after all Victor had moved on and had even gotten married to someone else, who she heard was rich and doing well for herself. With this new resolve, Ada wiped her tears and went to bed, because it was already evening.

After months of job hunting and doing menial jobs to survive, Ada finally got a well paying job and was able to take care of her folks back home. On one occasion, a colleague of hers jokingly said he was going to get her a husband, and that was how he introduced her to Richard.

Ada made sure she wasn't dependent on Richard for anything because she didn't want history to repeat itself. In fact she made sure she got things for Richard instead and even cooked for him with her money. Even when Richard would insist on giving her money Ada would reject it, saying she really wanted to do it. In less than a year, Richard knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Ada, and wasted no time in popping the question. They both got married in an intimate wedding ceremony, with friends and family members present. And after the ceremony the first gift Richard got for Ada was a brand new car. Even though Richard is a generous man, Ada still makes sure she contributes her quota to the family and does her best for her siblings as well.

Yesterday, one of my friends called me, saying he wanted to break up with his wife. I was surprised because they are both still very young, not even up to 20 years old. Sadly, this kind of situation is becoming very common in my area. I decided to hear him out and asked him why he was considering such a big decision.

He explained that the main problem was a lack of respect from his wife. According to him, she would wake up in the morning and start eating without even greeting him. This kind of behavior hurt him deeply, and over time, he became fed up with her attitude. He felt that she didn’t regard him as her husband, which made him believe the marriage was no longer working.

After listening to him, I could tell he was angry and frustrated, so I advised him not to make a decision in the heat of the moment. I reminded him of their baby and how important it was to think carefully before breaking up their family. I told him that sometimes it’s better to talk things through and try to fix issues rather than give up too quickly, especially since they are both so young and still learning about life and relationships.

In my opinion, many young couples today are not fully prepared for marriage. They rush into it without understanding the responsibilities and sacrifices involved. It’s sad to see them struggle with things that could be resolved with proper communication and patience. I just hope my friend takes my advice and gives his marriage another chance.

The church TV stopped working, and everyone, including my leader and the media unit, believed it had a major fault. I was given the task of repairing it, and we planned to get it done on Tuesday. But on Sunday evening, I had this thought to go and check the TV myself on Monday, just to confirm it wasn’t working before we started repairs.

On Monday, I went to the church and got the keys to the media room. The person who was supposed to help me couldn’t come because of exams, so I was left alone with two problems: how to start the generator and how to fix the TV. I didn’t know much about the generator, but after about five minutes of trying, I figured it out, and the gen started running.

With power available, I focused on the TV. I pressed all the buttons I could find, trying different combinations, but the screen remained blank. I was about to give up when I decided to check the TV manual, something I should have done earlier. That’s when I discovered a hidden button at the back, bigger than the others. I pressed it, and to my surprise, the TV came back to life!

I couldn’t believe it. The problem was as simple as pressing the main power button, yet everyone thought the TV was damaged. If we had called a repairman, he could have easily charged us a lot of money for something so small, especially if he wasn’t honest.

Recently, I decided to try making egg stew after watching a YouTube video about it. I’ve been getting tired of eating the same local foods all the time, so I wanted to try something different. Egg stew seemed like a good place to start. I bought carrots, green beans, and all the other ingredients I needed, excited to prepare something new.

When I got home, I played the video again to follow the steps properly. That’s when I realized the process was way too long for someone like me, who was already hungry and had little patience to begin with. The chopping, stirring, and waiting was just too much for me at the moment.

Hunger was winning the battle, so I boiled one of the eggs I had planned to use for the stew, ate it quickly, and decided to forget about the whole recipe. Cooking something new would have to wait for another day when I had more time and less hunger.

That night, I settled for the easiest meal I could think of, palm oil rice. It wasn’t fancy or new, but it was filling and quick to make. Maybe someday I’ll revisit the egg stew idea, but for now, I’ll stick to what doesn’t leave me starving.

It was just one of the regular Sundays, and I had returned exhaustively from church after spending several hours there. After lying alone for a bit, I had planned to cook, but I was so tired and felt fatigued that I decided to visit my cousin, who had prepared some good food for us. I went there with hope.

I tried calling her several times, but she wasn’t picking up. I was anticipating that, hopefully, she might have some food remaining to share. I hastened my steps, ignoring my neighbor, who was a good person and someone I was supposed to inform before leaving my room. But I didn’t, because I was stubborn and more focused on getting some food.

I had not eaten since morning, and spending all that time in church made things even harder. Finally, I arrived at my cousin's place, and thank God! She had prepared some African salad (abacha).

I've been noticing my neighbor for quite some time now. For nearly two weeks, he’s been wearing these same shorts, day in and day out. He’s a good friend, and I’ve tried to advise him told him it would be a good idea to wash them at least once. But he just won’t do it. He wears those shorts to run errands, to the school to pick up things, and even to meet his lecturer. It seems like there’s nothing he hasn’t done while wearing them, and the fact that he hasn’t washed them still amazes me.

It makes me reflect on the kind of people we’re fostering in this community. What values are we instilling in one another? It saddens me to see individuals, particularly younger ones, who don’t prioritize hygiene or personal maintenance. It feels like there’s a lack of awareness or appreciation for self-care, and I can’t help but wonder how this affects the community as a whole. Sometimes, it’s these small habits that reveal so much about a person’s values and upbringing.

There’s a saying that men are dirty, and while I’ve always found that hard to believe, this particular guy is testing my patience. I’ve tried to advise him countless times because we’re close friends, but he just wouldn’t budge. It’s like he has this attachment to those same green shorts that he wears day in and day out morning, afternoon, and night.

Honestly, if you happen to see any guy walking around in green shorts, it might just be him. If you do, feel free to call out to him and ask if his name is Kingsley. He could very well be the one I’m talking about. I just wish he’d realize how off-putting this is and take the simple step of washing his clothes. It’s baffling and a little concerning, especially seeing how it reflects on personal care and hygiene. It's a reminder of how important it is to take pride in ourselves and our appearance, not just for our sake but for those around us as well.

I have wasted the entirety of my day behind my screen, pressing and punching away all my stress and anger from the week. I just learned how to play the FIFA World Cup game on my phone, and even as a girl, I couldn't fathom how I would become so obsessed with it. I feel a bit bad for myself, knowing that this obsession has distracted me from many things—like reading my books, working on my projects, and meeting with my staff.

It's hindered a lot, yet here I am, still glued to my screen. Even after writing this, I plan on going back to continue playing FIFA. I know that some people would advise against spending so much time gaming, but for today, that doesn’t matter. I’m going to play this FIFA game to the end. Who knows, tomorrow I might decide to stop or I might not. But right now, I’m certain that I have wasted my day.

A friend of mine came over to advise me to stop playing this game, suggesting that as a gay person, I should invest my time in other activities. But honestly, I couldn't care less. I'm so obsessed with this FIFA game that I can’t even think straight at the moment. After I finished my evening meal, it felt like nothing else could compare to the enjoyment I get from playing.

I find myself wanting to argue with my friend about the value of gaming. There’s nothing inherently wrong with spending a day immersed in a game, right? Sometimes, all anyone wishes for is to enjoy themselves peacefully, without feeling any guilt. Sure, that guilt lingers deep in my heart, but still, I can't help it. All I want to do is play this game, and for now, that's all that matters to me.

As I watched students rushing around, I felt a wave of memories wash over me. Just two years ago, I was one of those nervous second-year students, studying hard for a tough exam. Many students had failed that course, and I remembered how stressful it was.

I saw my classmates flipping through textbooks and writing notes. They looked stressed, and I felt some sympathy for them. I remembered all the late nights and cups of coffee I had gone through to prepare.

Let's go back to the main business of the day as I wouldn't want to waste my entire morning on things that wouldn't benefit me. Just then the memories of a senior colleague who happened to be of a great help and assistance during those hard times and how we had grown close while studying together.

Feeling inspired, I decided to talk to some students nearby. I walked over to a group at a table covered with books. “How’s the studying going?” I asked with a smile.

They looked surprised. One student admitted, “It’s overwhelming. This course feels impossible.”

I remembered those feelings from two years ago. “I know how you feel,” I said. “But it’s manageable. I got through it.” I shared some powerful mnemonics that will help them remember some important points, and I left them with some tips on staying organized and taking breaks. Their faces brightened, and soon they were laughing.

After a good chat, I wished them luck and went to my usual study spot. I didn’t get my favorite table, but I felt good for helping others who were facing the same challenges I once had.

As I opened my textbooks, I felt a boost of energy. I thought about how important it is to encourage each other. Today was about more than just my studying; it was about building a supportive community. With that in mind, I dove into my work, grateful for how far I had come.

Today, I was supposed to cook dinner, but I just didn’t have the energy to prepare anything. So, I decided to go to a restaurant for some food. I wanted to enjoy fried rice and chicken. It sounded perfect for the night.

As I was about to pay for my meal, I found out that the ATM machine wasn’t accepting any cards. I felt a bit worried because I didn’t have cash. The only options were to find a nearby ATM to withdraw money or to make a transfer with my phone. But, unfortunately, I didn’t have my phone with me.

Just as I was thinking of leaving to find an ATM, I heard someone call my name from behind. It was an old friend! He had also come to the restaurant to get food. We hugged and shared some nice pleasantries.

After chatting for a bit, my friend surprised me by saying he would pay for both our meals, even though I didn't ask him to. I felt grateful and happy. It was such a kind gesture on his part.

With my friend covering the bill, I was able to enjoy my dinner without any stress. We sat down together, talked about old times, and enjoyed our meal. It turned out to be a lovely evening after all

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.

It was just three days until our next exam, and I decided to go get a haircut. A friend of mine decided to accompany me, so we went together. When we arrived at the barbershop, there was blaring music that made the atmosphere lively and entertaining. The place was well lit with white walls, creating an alluring sight.

The barbers had two other customers who were already seated and getting their haircuts. We took a seat on a comfortable sofa while we waited for our turn. The sofa was so cozy that you could easily fall asleep on it. There was even a charging socket nearby, so you could plug in your phone while waiting.

My friend and I were having fun, chatting and laughing until it was finally my turn. I left my phone on the couch and walked over to the barber’s chair. He greeted me with a friendly smile and started trimming my hair, engaging in light conversation as he worked. I could see my friend occasionally glancing at his phone, and the upbeat music provided a great backdrop to our experience.

As I relaxed in the chair, I felt a sense of relief from the upcoming exam stress. Once the haircut was finished, I looked in the mirror and felt a wave of confidence wash over me.

When I returned to the sofa, I reached for my phone, only to find it missing. A knot of anxiety formed in my stomach. “Hey, have you seen my phone?” I asked my friend, who looked up with a puzzled expression.

searching his face to see if he was tricking me, maybe hiding my phone just to get me anxious. But he looked so innocent, wearing a genuinely bewildered expression. Even so, I couldn't help but pester him. “Come on, just bring out the phone so I can pay for the haircut, and then we can get going,” I insisted.

He stood firm, adamantly denying that he had taken my phone. After some back-and-forth, with hesitations and arguments, it became increasingly clear that he truly hadn’t touched it. My heart sank as I realized the worst: my phone was actually gone. It had been stolen.

I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I took a deep breath and made my way back to the barber. “Excuse me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “I think my phone has been stolen. Did anyone see anything?”

Unfortunately, the barber's response was far from reassuring. He couldn't provide me with any reasonable or responsible reply. I could see he was busy, but the lack of help was disheartening. In that moment, a heavy sense of loss settled in. I knew I had lost something tangible, something that held not just value but many of my personal memories and contacts. I could already feel the dread creeping in, knowing there was no way I would be getting it back.