CHAPTER 4
The day of my departure arrived too soon. The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon as I stood at the bus station, my duffel bag at my feet. The air hummed with a mixture of excitement and apprehension from the other recruits around me.
Janeth clung to my arm, her eyes red-rimmed from a night of little sleep. “I can’t believe this day is here already,” she whispered.
I pulled her close, breathing in her familiar scent of coconut and jasmine. “It’ll be over before we know it. I’ll write to you every chance I get.”
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson stood nearby, their faces a mix of concern and resignation. To my surprise, Mr. Anderson stepped forward and gripped my shoulder.
“Take care of yourself, son,” he said gruffly. “Make us proud.”
I nodded, touched by his words. “I will, sir. Thank you for everything.”
Mrs. Anderson dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “We’ll look after Janeth while you’re gone. Just… come back safely.”
“I promise,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
The bus horn blared, signaling it was time to go. My heart raced as I turned to Janeth one last time.
She reached up, cupping my face in her hands. “I love you, David. Remember that, always.”
I kissed her deeply, pouring all my love and promises into that one gesture. “I love you too. Wait for me, Janeth.”
With a heavy heart, I picked up my bag and boarded the bus. As it pulled away, I pressed my face to the window, watching Janeth’s figure grow smaller until she disappeared from view.
The journey to the training camp was long and uncomfortable. I sat sandwiched between two other recruits, my mind filled with thoughts of Janeth and the life I was leaving behind.
As the familiar streets of Lagos gave way to open countryside, I fingered the small photo of Janeth I kept in my breast pocket. Her smile beamed up at me, giving me strength.
“That your girl?” the recruit next to me asked, nodding at the photo.
I nodded, unable to keep the pride from my voice. “My fiancée. We’re getting married when I return.”
He whistled low. “Lucky man. Hope she waits for you.”
His words sent a chill through me, voicing the fear I’d been trying to ignore. Would Janeth wait? A year was a long time. What if she met someone else?
I shook my head, banishing the thought. No, Janeth loved me. She’d promised to wait, just as I’d promised to return. Our love was strong enough to withstand this separation.
As the bus rolled on towards my new life, I made a silent vow. I would become the best soldier I could be, make Janeth and her family proud. And then I would return, ready to start our life together.
Little did I know, fate had other plans. Plans that would test our love in ways we never could have imagined.
The training camp loomed ahead, a sprawling complex of buildings and training grounds. As we filed off the bus, the reality of my situation hit me. For the next year, this would be my home.
I squared my shoulders, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For Janeth, for our future, I would persevere.
The first test of my resolve came sooner than I expected.
