My night was lit

I analyzed every of the options available to me and I decided to go to bed with the belief and expectation that I would sort out the pressing issue that was disturbing me the following day.

Earlier in the day I had gone to the bank to withdraw an amount of money sent to me to bail me out of my dire financial situation by my aunt but unfortunately the money hadn't been credited to my account despite being told earlier that she had been debited.

No food and no money while I have an all important test the following day. It's either I meet someone to lend me money, visit the grocery store to make a purchase on credit or endure the long night and sleep till the following day. I decided to go for the latter. I don't like being indebted to someone and I do everything possible to avoid it.

I went to bed earlier than usual and in my efforts to force myself into a sleep, a call came from Victoria, a classmate and a good friend. At the point of picking her call, my belly was rumbling, making some noise depicting emptiness.

In her usual manner, Victoria had called to enquire why I wasn't in the students common room to read for the test.

"What's happening bro? You sound like someone that woke up from sleep."

"I am fine. I am about to sleep." I responded, trying to hide my situation.

"Are you prepared for our CHM 303 test tomorrow?" She asked with the conviction that sleeping at such a time was unusual for me.

I decided to open up to her. "I have some challenges in joining you to read tonight."

"Can we meet and talk now?" She requested.

"Alright." I concurred.

I went down to meet her standing at the entrance of my block. The stress over me was obvious and my eyes were red.

"What's the problem please?" Victoria asked while we trekked a few meters to a concrete seat in order to sit and talk.

"I don't have the energy to read tonight." I began. "My aunty sent money to me and I have not been credited till this moment. Nothing is left in my kitchen and no inner strength to propel outer productivity."

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"I don't want to bother you because I know that this period is hard for all of us."

"I need to buy a candle to illuminate my space and read. Can we go together?" She demanded.

What compounded many students' problem that period was that the power had been off for more than a week. The transformer supplying power to the hostel was faulty and we were told that it needed to be replaced. When I heard of it, I knew that we were in for a long journey because prior to that period, it took the power holding company days to fix a repair problem. Now talking of total replacement, it might take weeks if not months. Students now use candles and phone lights to read at night. I am allergic to reading with a phone light. The only option available for me to read was to buy a candle and that remained secondary to putting something in my stomach that night.

We got to the store and Victoria bought some groceries for herself. I was standing about a meter behind her. She turned back and asked me to order everything that I needed that night to feel good. I demanded snacks and a candle.

Dissatisfied with what I ordered, she told the shopkeeper to give me some measures of rice, oil, tomato paste and other ingredients.

"You need this to care for yourself tomorrow before you sort out the issue of the money that you are expecting with your bank."

Victoria returned to the common room while I rushed back to my room to drop my goods and take my snacks before joining her.

Her intervention didn't only energize my weak muscles and soul, it also lit up my night so that I could read and prepare for my test.

The following evening, we were together in the common room yet again. My account had been credited earlier in the day. We decided to walk up to the shop to get candles for the night.

While at the shop, the shopkeeper acknowledged the receipt of payment of an amount of money from Victoria.

"I got the money you transferred but it is short of #100 from what you are supposed to pay." The shopkeeper stated.

They spent a few minutes explaining to each other the actual amount that Victoria was owing. During the course of their conversation, Victoria mentioned the things that I bought the previous day in order to reconcile the debt amount. It was eventually clear to both of them that Victoria sent the right amount.

"Do you mean all that we bought yesterday were on credit?" I asked her on our way back to the common room.

"Yes." She responded. "I was broke too that yesterday but I wasn't happy with your situation. Well, that's by the way. Everything has been settled. Let's go and read."

I was astonished at her kind gesture and sacrifice. I was scared to go into debt to feel comfortable but someone else did that for me. It was an experience that I will never forget.