The night Wambui came back

Wambui didn’t just leave my life—she vanished like a secret never meant to be told.

In high school, she was impossible to ignore. Bold, sharp, and unpredictable, she carried herself like someone who already knew the world beyond our small school. While the rest of us feared exams and strict teachers, Wambui seemed to fear nothing. She would laugh too loudly, question everything, and somehow still come out on top.

We became friends in the most unlikely way. I was quiet and careful; she was wild and daring. Yet, she chose me. Maybe she saw something in me I couldn’t see in myself. We spent nights whispering about our futures, promising we would never become ordinary.

But as our final year approached, something changed.

Wambui grew distant. She would disappear in the evenings and return long after lights out, her eyes glowing with a strange excitement. When I asked where she went,...