Thud!! That was the sound of me crashing to the ground at the mall: we had gone to restock supplies for the month. "Get me a juice pack" I said weakly. She immediately got me the first juice pack she laid her hands on. Few minutes later I was back on my feet "are you alright?" "I'm okay…. Thank you so much" "you are welcome love". That's all that was said until we were done shopping and headed home; "Driver, 47th street, please". We dropped off her stuffs at her place first and she followed me back to mine insisting, not to allow me go home alone.
"Olanna do you really not trust me enough to tell me your 'secret' or am I still that much of a stranger to you that you are willing to jeopardize your health instead of telling me the truth about your health status" she vented with so much fire in her eyes. I was shocked at the anger she exhumed she had not taken me by my full name in such serious tone until now. "Nothing is wrong with me" I managed to say "Really! Really!! So what do you call what happened at the mall? What new excuse are you going to dish out today?" she fumed the more. "Francie I told you that nothing is wrong with me. Why are you barraging me with all these questions?" "That's because you are lying to me. It's because you take me for granted. It's also because you think so little of me and this friendship" "ENOUGH!! Enough Francesca I've had enough of your criticism and taunting. I should let you in on my secret? I should tell you the truth about my health status? You want to know if I trust you." "Yes, yes Ola yes…" "Tell me!! What are you going to do if I tell you what really is the true state of my health? Will you proffer a cure or will you share the pain and shame with me?" "The only thing you will do is to always act pitifully around me and treat me like a child that can't do a thing for its self. News flash I don't need your help, I don't need anybody's help, I'm fine I'm absolutely fine!!" "No you are not Ola and it's okay to accept that" "I am. If I say I am fine then I am." "Ola I am your friend and you can talk to me about anything. I am supposed to be able to help you when you need it, of what use is this friendship if I can't fulfil my duty. You can't be the only one helping me out. Give me a chance to be your friend" "I don't need a friend….. Please leave, leave!!" "I will leave but think about it, you need me like I need you. Accept the fact that you need to open up to someone other than yourself, to lean on someone doesn't make you less strong than you are." Francie said shutting the door as she left.
I curled up in my bed crying as she left; she had pricked at the package I hoped to never open with her. That part of me locked away and hidden in the deepest part of me, that which has been ignored for a long while, have now been invaded. I hated the corner this illness has backed me into. I hated having a fight with Francesca but hated more the pity I saw in her eyes and heard in her voice. I was torn. I cried myself to sleep. As I slept I repeatedly heard the words try leaning on someone, it will ease the burden.
I slept for a long time by the time I woke up I was really tired and weak, I checked my blood sugar and it was quite low. I managed to reach for a candy stick and put it in my mouth. I regretted the things I said to Francesca and wanted to see her, I needed to speak to and apologize to her in person now that I am calm and collected but I can't reach her apartment in this state. So I picked up my phone and sent her a text asking her to come over to the house. I wasn't sure she would respond to my text but I kept my fingers crossed, I couldn't make dinner so I ordered dinner from an online vendor.
After waiting for an entire hour with neither a response to my text nor a knock at the door, I had lost hope I was convinced that she was really mad at me. I sat crying I didn't know what to do nor how to rectify this mistake that I've made, "I've lost the only friend I have." "I just lost someone that truly cares for me what do I do now" "I need you Francie I accept it! I need you please comeback I need you!!" "I am here Ola I never left and I never will" I ran to the door, threw it open and flung my arms around her. I have never wanted someone around like this. "Francie I'm sorry I didn't mean what I said earlier I was just frustrated" "I know Ola I never took it to heart. Let's go into the house before your neighbours start to wonder what's wrong"
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"I'm suffering from an illness called hypoglycaemia. It is when a person has very low blood sugar. My blood sugar is severely low; it has been like this since I was born that is why I always have one sweet product or the other with me. It isn't a habit as you might have assumed. When I don't take in enough sugar for hours, I collapse; that is the reason behind the incident at the exam hall last semester and mall this afternoon. I go on frequent check-ups to monitor it. Sometimes it goes down and stays low like last semesters episode. I have to take dextrose and glucose infusions at intervals to keep it stable and continuous intake of sugar daily" "my God Ola this is what you have been keeping all to yourself. This explains a lot, don't worry you are not alone I've got your back" she said as she pulled me into a long warm embrace "please don't treat me like a helpless person it stifles me" "who wants to treat you like one, girl I'm hungry let's make dinner I got stuffs for it" we burst into laughter "I already ordered dinner. I was scared you weren't coming after I waited and didn't see you" "you wish….I can never do that, anger never solves anything. We die here" "let's eat silly"
We had dinner, played some games, had a sing song, showered and watched a movie before going to bed. We had so much fun together. I was happy I had not lost my friend; the thought of it gave me the jitters. The events of the day made me thank God for the gift of her.
Today's lecture appeared to be more interesting than it usually is. At launch Francesca brought forth an amazing idea. "Ola we've been working our butts off the entire semester amongst all that has happened too. I want to treat you to something really nice and I have come up with a great idea for it too. What do you say we go for a picnic this weekend just the two of us and nature away from all the noise" "oh my god….. That's so sweet and thoughtful of you Francie. I'm so down for it. Where are we having it? What's the plan? What's the menu?" I asked with so much glee in my voice. Francie had just made me so happy. I loved that someone wanted to give a gift; yes I choose to call it a gift. I could see it in her eyes too she loved that I loved it. "Well I haven't chosen a place yet but I've checked out a few places." "Okay. It's not a problem well figure it out. What about our menu" I said with a big grin on my face. "that will obviously be left to our chef" she teased me