I was very sure my whole body regretted going with me on that early morning. The weather was cold, and my legs were already complaining. My sneaker laces were almost coming off, and my hands were almost tired from carrying my bottle of cucumber water. Turning back at that moment felt like I was a loser, and as far as I knew myself, I wasn't one.
The street that morning was lonely apart from a man across the road sweeping his com-pound that early in the morning. And Taiwo, my neighbor, whom I had secretly decided to emulate and join on her regular early morning jog.
Her ponytail bounced with every step, her bottle of water dangling in her hands, her sports wear hugging tightly to her body, revealing every perfect curve. I was in love with her shape. A fit lady who could fit into any dress. The perfect model for a fitness advert. She was nothing like me. I was careful about the kind of dress I wore.
I had watched her for months from my curtain every morning as she passed by until I finally told myself to stop watching her and join her.
This was the third day and I still found it hard to keep up like her. Just a few steps and I was already panting like a tired generator with my tongue sticking out and sweat dripping down my body like a tap was let loose.
Finally, I gave up and decided to rest for a few minutes. Luckily everywhere was still a bit dark. Nobody would see me in my weakness. I sat on the pavement catching my breath when I saw Taiwo already jogging back. I tried to hide my face but she had already seen me.
“Hey?” She stopped and called out to me.
I forced a smile. "Hi."
She looked at me, surprised, then concerned. "Are you okay?" She asked. I noticed she wasn't even breathing hard.
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m good...,” I replied, still trying to catch my breath.
She offered me her water bottle. “Here?”
I shook my head up, resisting her offer at the same time raising my bottle up.
"First day?"
"Third."
She smiled. “I remember my first week too. I fainted.”
I tried to laugh but choked hard on my saliva. I quickly dipped some water. "Sorry. But some-how I feel relieved knowing that. I almost fainted today."
She laughed. "Well, that was until I learnt the trick. You've got to walk first before you fly." She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, in this case, run".
She sat there with me for a few minutes as we discussed relevant and irrelevant things. Within those few minutes, it felt like we'd known each other for a long time.
Then she stood up. “Come, let’s walk small. Unless you've got to be at work this morning."
I smiled and stood up. "Public holiday, remember?"
"Sadly I still have to be at work."
I raised a brow. "Where's that?"
"Not like that. I'm my own boss. I run a fashion house. So no days off for me unless I say so."
We walked side by side down the street. Past my house and the new bakery that was yet to open. Past market women setting up their wares by the roadside. She didn’t rush me. I asked when I was tired and felt like going back. And I, on the other hand, felt walking was easier than jogging. I didn't feel my body shaking. We walked until the sun came up. Then we turned back and walked home.
When we got to my gate, that was when it felt like I had finished a marathon.
“So, tomorrow?” she asked. "This time we upped the game a bit." She stretched her fist for a bump.
I nodded, still breathing fast. “I'm game.”
Then she turned and jogged away. I stood there watching her.
Maybe I wasn't fit for the leaf I had taken out of her book yet. But I was confident I would be soon.
