Life, they say, is unpredictable. Things can change so quickly, either for good or for bad. So many things happen without warning, and one can never be completely certain about what the next moment holds.
Life had always found its sweetness in the three trios, fondly nicknamed T³. They were not twins, but they were three different worlds that came together, met each other in school, and eventually became close friends.
Funny enough, all three of them were chocolate complexioned, with almost the same body size and structure size 8, to be precise. One could hardly tell that they were merely friends. With all these similarities, they looked so much alike that people often mistook them for triplets. But they were actually friends who had found safety in one another and decided to walk the path of friendship together. They had known each other almost all their lives, from their creche days through high school, and they seemed inseparable. Now, together in a higher institution, their lecturers and friends admired their relationship. Their friendship had even extended to their families, as their children had brought them together.
Their names were Annie, Ruth, and Charis. They were from the same tribe, but their personalities were remarkably different. Annie was the most academically brilliant of the trio. Her studies always came first before anything else. Ruth was intelligent too, but she did not learn as quickly as Annie. She was always willing to read, but because she understood things at a slower pace, she often spent more time studying. Then came Charis, who was completely different from the other two. Averagely intelligent but extremely smart, she was more of a business icon than an academic enthusiast. She was always looking for opportunities and knew how to turn ideas into something profitable.
Despite their differences, they worked together as a team to ensure that their academic performance remained above average. One thing they had in common, which perhaps brought them together, was that they were all free-spirited, focused, and always willing to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.
Throughout their stay on campus, they stood by one another. Annie always came through for them academically, while Charis, being the wealthiest of the trio, supported her friends financially and constantly brought business ideas they could benefit from. Ruth, in her own way, was always there to encourage and support them. People admired their friendship because it was genuine and beautiful.
Eventually, they graduated from school with good grades. They had already made plans for the future. They would apply for jobs in the same firm or establishment or, at the very least, live in the same state after completing their national service. They wanted to remain close so they could always be there for one another. They had planned everything carefully, thinking they could make their future unfold exactly as they wanted. Maybe that was what they wanted, but it was not what nature had planned.
The NYSC posting list was to be released on Friday of that same week. Like every other Friday morning, the day began normally. The only unusual thing was the weather, which seemed undecided about whether to bring down sunshine or rain. Like other young graduates waiting anxiously for their posting letters, the trio also waited for theirs.
Unlike many others, they were not afraid. They had already worked things out. They believed they would be posted to the same place.
Earlier that morning, Ruth had jokingly asked, “What if they post us to different places?”
Charis immediately countered the thought. “Never. I have the surest plug in town.” she bragged.
They all burst into laughter.
For them, that Friday was supposed to be nothing more than another ordinary day because they were confident that everything would go according to plan.
But no, they were too confident.
The posting letters were finally released that evening. Charis was the first to break the news to them.
"They had been posted to different states." She told them
At first, Annie and Ruth thought it was another one of Charis's pranks. But when they saw the letters for themselves, the laughter disappeared. They were shocked. They were sad.
Earlier that same day, the man who was helping them with their posting had assured them that everything would work out. Only to be disappointed by the posting letters. NYSC had separated them.
All their lives, they had gone to school together and faced almost every phase of life side by side. They had imagined that the pattern would continue if not forever, but at least that they would build their careers, chase their dreams, and experience the next chapter of their lives together. But alas, life had other plans.
The night before their departure felt like a sour love story.
They promised to check up on one another as soon as they arrived at their different destinations. They ate together, as they always did, perhaps for the last time in a long while. They talked and gisted until midnight, laughing so hard at one another's jokes. Yet beneath all the laughter, their minds wandered across many thoughts, on how they would navigate unfamiliar environments alone.
The morning of their departure eventually came. At the park, they bid one another farewell. Each one sat inside a different taxi, trying to be strong, but their emotions betrayed them. Tears freely rolled down their cheeks. Of course, they would dearly miss each other's company. Life continued. They kept in touch despite the distance. They called, and checked up on one another, and remained present in each other's lives.
Their separation taught them an important lesson: Distance is not necessarily a barrier to communication, love, or genuine friendship.
Two years have passed since NYSC took them to different states. Now, they are preparing for a reunion. This time, however, they are not returning with the intention of remaining together forever. The years apart have taught them how to live independently, build their own lives, and navigate the world without constantly having the others beside them. Their bags are fully packed. Each one is preparing to find her way back to her friends.
Life may have separated them, but it could not separate the friendship they had built over the years.
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