It was 7 p.m., and the bell rang, signaling the start of night prep. My classmates were filing into the classrooms for three hours of silent study, but I had other plans. The school, Koelel High School, was — a military-run institution tucked inside the Kenya Army barracks, perched on a cliff (This is where Kenyan hip-hop star Esir Mmari lost his life when he was involved in an accident. He was with Nameless who survived).
Curfews were enforced, and sneaking out was a near-impossible feat. But I had no choice. Nadia was waiting for me in Mombasa. The thought of her was all I needed to keep going, despite the risk.
Few minutes past 9, I carefully slipped out through Wangari Maathai dormitory, using the cover of darkness to move through the barracks undetected. My heart raced as I navigated the narrow path that led down the cliff. I had to make it to Kikopey, a small town about six kilometers away, before the night fully settled in. If I made it there, I could grab a matatu to Nairobi and begin my long journey to Mombasa.
As I made my way down the steep slope towards the cliff’s edge, my eyes darted back and forth, scanning for any signs of movement. The darkness was my ally, but I knew that the night watchman was always on patrol. I heard his footsteps approaching from behind, and I froze.
The watchman’s flashlight swept across the ground, illuminating the path ahead. I ducked behind a large rock, my breath held tight. The light passed over me, but the watchman didn’t see me. I waited a few moments before continuing my descent. Few steps ahead was a spot where few weeks back, I lost a friend and desk-mate Norman Njagi who fell from the cliff, I made a quick short dua for him and continued with my journey. May he continue resting in peace.