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On some random day in 2020, D decided to apply for a Master’s degree at her alma mater. The same course. She did and started the program in 2021.
L, while thinking about her academic progression – also on a random day in 2020 – decided to apply for a Master’s degree at her alma mater. The same course. She did and started the program in 2021.
Growth had happened to D and L. However, it was more obvious in D. She had completely changed. L, already bad with retaining people’s faces in her memory, could never have recognised her.
On shocking thing happened. D and L got along really well. In fact, they went out of their ways to say hi to each other, shaking hands and hugging sometimes. Why?
May 13, 2022
In the second and final semester of their program, D, L, and another friend, K were hanging out in a classroom. Actually, L was seated in front of her laptop, trying to write one of her 500-Words-A-Day article. K and D were the ones discussing. L chimed in once in a while. As their talk moved from one topic to another, it naturally landed on their undergraduate days.
“I knew you very well then, naw,” D said to L.
“You did?”
“Yes, you were the HOC”
“Wow, I actually don’t even recognise you. Can I see a picture of you from then?”
“You that I really hated.”
This shocked L who responded by shooting up her head. Her eyes were open wide too. “You did? Why?”
“I begged you to collect my assignment, but you did not”
L’s mind was blown at this point. She struggled to remember this incident, but couldn’t even dig up a faint memory of that ever happening. “Wait, what happened,” she asked.
“I think you were in 400 level then. Dr N asked us to submit our assignments to you before 12 pm. I came around 3, and explained why, but you did not even listen to me. I had an awful mental cramp and that was the only reason I came to school. Even after explaining and begging, you did not even look at me. It really pained me ehn.”
L stood speechless for a few seconds. “Wow, I am so sorry. I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” D assured L. “When we started this program and I saw you, I was just angry. But, then, I saw the way you behaved, I just forgot about it. You’re actually nice.”
“Wow. I’m trying really hard to remember this. Why did I do that?” L thought aloud. Her mind and heart were flooded with many thoughts and emotions. Why did she act so callously? It was uncharacteristic of her. But, wait. D is such a good person. How did she let all of that just go? Since they started the program, L had no memory of D being anything but friendly to her. Respect.
End of story.
After this story, L picked up the phone and texted D another heartfelt apology, and thanks for friendship.
I wish my apology could be real, though. Although I do feel sorry about what happened, I can’t feel sorry about what I did because I don’t remember. Do you get? I really wish I could remember the incident so that I can ACTUALLY be sorry, not just think that I am.
It’s crazy how we could be well-deserved villains in people’s stories. The unfair side of this is that the villains don’t necessarily carry the burden of remembrance, only the person wronged does. Even more unfair is that the person that did you wrong probably won’t ever receive karma for that wrongdoing. Wait. Is that really unfair, though? Let’s just call it life.
D is a better person than me. She reached out to me on Wednesday to wish me luck on my exams and yesterday to ask how it went. The kindness overwhelms me.
D’s great personality has inspired me to share a few with you:
- Be kind.
- Learn to forgive.
- Give people second chances.
Items two and three particularly speak to me because those are very tough these days. However, experiencing forgiveness and a second chance makes me realise how incredible they are. What makes them better is that they were gifted to me even before I had a chance to apologise (I do not even remember the incident, so it may have been never).
Thank you, D. If you ever read this, know that you have impacted me with your genuineness.
These are 500 words (or more ?)! Talk to you tomorrow!
To understand this narrative, start from Part 1.