Beverly was engrossed in her studies at the library, with only a few days remaining before her exams were over. While she was studying, she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up from her laptop to see her best friend standing there, eyes filled with worry and tears. Slowly removing her earphones, Beverly could see the concern on her friend's face. Not only were tears evident, but her friend also appeared defeated.
Calling out softly, Beverly said, "Stacey," conveying with her eyes that she was there for her friend to talk.
"He's gone, Bev," Stacey replied, breaking down completely, leaving Beverly puzzled as to who she was referring to. Beverly embraced her tightly as Stacey cried out. Beverly only managed to reassure her by saying, "It's okay, my dear, it will be fine.Shhhh."
Although Beverly wasn't sure what she meant by those words, she knew they were what her friend needed to hear at that moment. As Beverly tried to comprehend everything, Stacey withdrew from her grip.
"My dad was doing well, but now I have to come to terms with living in a world where he no longer exists," Stacey confided, tears streaming down her face. Seeing her friend in pain, Beverly stood by, her own eyes now filling with tears. She had never expected that Stacey's loss would be her father. Beverly knew how much Stacey cherished her father, and the thought of her living in a world without him was devastating. As she wiped her own tears away, Beverly gazed at her friend once more."
"Is your father deceased?" Beverly blurted out, unable to find the right words to say. She felt a deep sense of grief, as though her heart was being stabbed repeatedly, especially thinking about how Stacey had wanted to make her father proud by graduating. Stacey remained silent, tears streaming down her cheeks like a river. Beverly thought back to her own loss when her father passed away. Despite not having a close bond with him, she had wanted him to see her success. She recalled the brokenness she felt at the time and how her childhood friend had supported her. She knew she had to be there for Stacey now and tried to hold back her own tears.
"Let's sit down," Beverly told her friend, who obeyed.
"I remember how I felt when I lost my father. I was young, in the middle of exams, just like you. I had dreamed of pursuing my education with both parents alive, but God took my father away from me. I had to learn to live without him at a young age. My dad was the breadwinner, and my mom was a housewife, so you can imagine how tough life was for us. But look at me now. I won't lie. There are still days when I cry alone. The pain is endless, but it will get better with time," Beverly shared with Stacey.
Stacey watched her friend, amazed at the strength she seemed to have in living without her father.
"I want to go home now. I need to see my father. He's not really gone," Stacey sobbed, her voice wavering. Beverly was taken aback, feeling defeated as she had hoped her words would offer some comfort. She reached out and held Stacey's hands, telling her to look at her.
Squeezing her hands, Stacey said, "I understand your pain, but we need to focus on studying for tomorrow's exam."
Stacey forcefully pulled her hands away from her friend. "Can't you see? Why are you so focused on exams, Beverly? I thought I could rely on you, but all you care about are exams when I've just lost my parent," she said with frustration, standing up as Beverly chased after her.
"Stacey, stop. I'm not just thinking about exams; I'm thinking about your future. Tomorrow is your final paper, and you can't miss it no matter what. Your dad is no longer here, and going there early won't bring him back," Beverly explained as she tried to comfort her friend.
Unable to talk , Stacey broke down in tears. Beverly held her tightly, refusing to let go. Eventually, Stacey calmed down and rested her head on Beverly's chest.
Beverly questioned why Stacey's family had shared the news at that moment instead of waiting until after the exams. As she pondered this, her phone buzzed with a news notification: "DOCTOR WILSON DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT."
Dr. Wilson was Stacey's father, and the news confirmed why Stacey got to know about that earlier because her parents wouldn't have told her, especially knowing that she was not done writing her exams.
"Have you spoken to your mom?" Beverly asked, concerned about Stacey's family.
"I tried calling, but she didn't answer. Mike has been calling me non-stop, but I'm not in the right state of mind to talk to him," Stacey replied.
Mike, Stacey's fiancé, had proposed before her last semester, and they planned to marry after her graduation. He was well-known in Stacey's family.
Despite not knowing if Dr. Wilson was alone in the car, Beverly suggested reaching out to family members or Mike for support. Stacey broke down again, and Beverly comforted her before receiving a call from an unknown number.
"Hello?" Beverly answered, unsure of who was on the other end.
"How are you, Beverly? This is Mike, Stacey's fiancé. I've been trying to reach her, but her phone isn't working. I assume she's seen the news about her dad," Mike said, concern evident in his voice.
Relieved to have someone to talk to, Beverly explained Stacey's state to Mike. He wanted to speak with her, and Beverly handed the phone to Stacey.
In a tearful conversation, Mike comforted Stacey, ensuring her mother was safe and promising to be there for her after her final exam. Though still devastated by her loss, Stacey found strength in knowing her mother was okay and resolved to focus on her studies and future, determined to achieve her goals.