Lila sat by her window, her legs tucked beneath her, a book resting gently in her hands.
The sun was setting over Nairobi, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, and the
city hummed with its usual rhythm of cars honking, street vendors calling out, and the
distant sound of music from a neighbor's radio.
Her room was a reflection of her: warm, inviting, and just a little chaotic. A bookshelf
overflowed with novels and self-help books, a guitar leaned against the wall (a relic from
her brief attempt to learn), and a framed photo of her family sat on her desk. In the
corner, her cat, Milo, dozed lazily on a cushion, his tail twitching as he dreamed.
Lila loved this time of day. It was the one moment when the world seemed to pause, and
she could lose herself in a story or one of her soulful r&b playlists as she danced around
her cute little apartment. But today, even the words on the page couldn't fully distract
her.
Her phone buzzed on the windowsill, breaking the silence. She glanced at it, her heart
sinking as she saw the name: Daniel.
Daniel: Hey, babe. Sorry, I can't make it tonight. Something came up at work. Rain check?
Lila stared at the message, her chest tightening. This was the third time this week he'd
canceled plans. She typed out a reply, deleted it, then typed another.
Lila: It's okay. I understand.
She hit send before she could second-guess herself. But as she set the phone down,
she couldn't shake the feeling that she was always the one understanding, the one
adjusting, the one waiting.
Daniel had been sweet at first, charming even. But lately, it felt like she was the only one
trying. She'd listen to him talk for hours about his dreams, his frustrations, his day. But
when it was her turn, his eyes would glaze over, or he'd check his phone, or he'd cut her
off with a joke.
"You're too much, Lila," he'd said once, laughing, when she'd tried to explain how she felt.
"Always so deep. Can't we just have fun?"She'd laughed too, brushing it off. But the words had stuck with her, like a splinter she
couldn't quite remove.
The sound of an ambulance siren wailed in the distance, pulling her from her thoughts.
She leaned out the window, her eyes following the flashing lights as they sped down the
street. Without thinking, she whispered a prayer.
"Please, let them be okay." It was a habit she'd had for as long as she could remember.
She prayed for strangers, for friends, for anyone who might be hurting. It was her way of
holding onto hope, even when the world felt heavy.
Milo stretched and padded over to her, nudging her hand with his head. She scratched
behind his ears, smiling as he purred.
"Must be nice to have absolutely no worries in this world, huuh? You can just eat, play,
sleep and repeat without any stress? But at least you appreciate me sweet lil boy?" she
said softly.
Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from her younger sister, Leila.
Leila: Lila, I need help with my rent this month. Thanks. You're the best! Mwaah
Lila sighed, her thumb hovering over the screen. She'd already lent Leila money last
month, and the month before that. But how could she say no? Leila was just starting out,
trying to find her footing in the city.
Lila: Okay. Let me know how much you need.
She set the phone down and leaned back against the window frame, watching as the
last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the buildings.
Her mind wandered to her dreams, the ones she rarely shared with anyone. She wanted
to build something meaningful, something that would leave a mark. Maybe a business
that empowered women, or a foundation that helped underprivileged kids. She wanted to be on the cover of Forbes, not for the fame, but to prove that kindness and ambition
could coexist.
But sometimes, the weight of it all felt overwhelming. The constant giving, the endless
understanding, the quiet sacrifices.
Milo jumped into her lap, purring loudly, as if sensing her thoughts. Lila stroked his fur,
her gaze drifting back to the city outside.
"One day at a time, right?" she murmured. " I hope tomorrow will be better and easier on
me, coz I'm just a girl you know?" she sighed, closing down the book she had opened
but couldn't read.