Nadia was sweet, always checking up on me, and every word she typed made my heart race.
But then, about a month into the term, things started to shift. Even for better.
One night, after we chatted for hours, she brought up the idea of us meeting in person. Wait what?
“Ashnaam,” she said. “I can’t wait anymore. I want to see you. I want you to come visit me in Mombasa.”
Her words sent a rush of excitement through me. Meeting her in person? I had only dreamed about it. But Mombasa? The idea of it seemed insane.
A 17-year-old boy sneaking out of school an army school in Gilgil to travel over 600 kilometers to see a girl he had never met. But she wasn’t joking.
She wanted me to go to Mombasa. She said she couldn’t wait to meet me in person, to go on dates, and spend time together.
And she wanted me to carry enough money to take her out and treat her well. I guess it’s because she didn’t have many such opportunities being a typical disciplined Mombasa girl.
“ When you come, make sure you bring enough money for our dinner dates, hotels and fun.
We can spend time at the beach, go out for dinner to Ukunda… just the two of us.”
I was blinded by my feelings. I was convinced that this was love, and that love could make anything possible.
“I would love to see you too,” I replied. “But it’s complicated. How would I even get there?”
“I know it’s far,” she said. “But I want you to come anyway. It’ll be worth it. Trust me.”
But while Nadia occupied my thoughts, something else gnawed at the back of my mind— Money. I had none. Also the idea of leaving the strict confines of my school was both thrilling and terrifying. I knew the consequences of getting caught were severe, but the thought of seeing Nadia, of holding her hand, of feeling her presence, was simply too much to resist. I began to plan, searching for a way to escape the school without being discovered.