The Locker Room (A tale of a black girl) by Ezesinachi Bernice

I quit, I quit!! Someone shouted in the locker room. Couldn't pick the voice and I wasn't sure who made that comment so I just continued walking by.
I QUIT!!!! The voice resounded. Who could that be I thought but this time I had to pause because I could hear the pain in the stranger's voice. This time I stood still to listen in order to know what really was going on. Then I heard sounds like someone hitting metals with bare hands and also the sound of items falling on the floor. This time, I was certain where the noise was coming from. It was the locker room, I rushed there only to see a colleague venting her anger on the locker doors. It was Bisi (a very cheerful and hospitable personality)

I was surprised on seeing her there, a moved to her and asked her
"Bisi what's the matter" but she didn't respond, she was just so lost in her thoughts and the next word she uttered as though it was in deep soliloquy is: "I'm just so tired, I can't do this anymore. Quitting is the only option for me right now I just can't deceive my self further".

I went closer to her, held her hands but she throws my hands off hers and moves backward.
Bisi: "I don't care what my friends would say, I also don't care about what my Facebook friends say either, I'm tired so I quit. My family may call me a quitter but that's their own opinion because I have made my decision, I'm leaving".

In bewilderment I asked her where she's leaving to but her response amazed me.

Bisi:" I'm leaving this God forsaken hell hole na,
Me: Is this place now a hell hole, what's wrong with you?
Bisi: Yes, in fact of course yes.
Me: (her tautology made me pause a bit) but why? I asked, I had never seen someone so frightened, her hands as though she had carried a very hot slice of yam from a boiling pot, I took up her hands and this time I held her very tightly and this made it impossible for her to refrain her hands.
Several thoughts fluttered in my mind, had she murdered someone, what could be the reason behind her wanting to quit. What would push Bisi so hard to a point where she breaks down as though she had no bones.
(She's still mute, and that deepens my fright)
(You know this mind of ours behaves in a very funny way, it became to read into millions in a second trying to find a logical explanation for this dilemma, the more it persevered in trying to figure out the problem,the more my mind imagined the worst of all things).
From my experience I have come to understand the power in a hug, so I grabbed Bisi and hugged her tightly, that even air would find it difficult passing through our embrace. Suddenly I felt something on my right shoulder, where Bisi's head had been leaning on, a drop of tear, so hot like water that had been over boiled. I could tell that the hug had worked to an extent, now it appeared as though Bisi was going to bulge out the reason for her pain, this she did not express in words but by further letting out more tears. Her tears made me feel weak inside, I almost wanted to tell her I knew what she was going through because my life had been one hell of a crazy ride but the way she cried, made me feel like I didn't know even a pinch of what she was going through. I had never seen someone as depressed and shattered as Bisi. Her tears could be likened to a metaphor of a fallen world or a world conquered with earthquake which would be far from my actual reality. What could have been her story and so called hidden reality.
The only words I remember uttering at that time was, "its okay Bisi, stop crying the world hasn't ended".
I guess those words were just to make her feel better but it wasn't working, she cried her heart and livers out.
A part of me felt like leaving her in that room to continue her tears since my persuasions and talks for several minutes had yielded no results but I didn't move an inch from her, I stayed by her side. That's what neighbours do and that's exactly what I did, stay put still she's ready to talk.

Bisi, you are paid well right? you have everything you need here, so why quit? I asked but no response came forth.

She (Bisi) doesn't utter a word and so I'm yet to get the answer to my question.

Only God knows what's on Bisi's mind. I'll try to find out her reason for wanting to leave and I'll get back to you

Watch out for the next episode.

Note:

Don't be the reason why anyone quits.
When people give up on themselves, don't give up on them and never call them names. The fact that they failed doesn't mean their failures. You owe everyone a duty of care, care for your friends, colleagues and even your enemies.
Your care may go a long way in helping someone come out a depression or recession.

I'm Eze Bernice and I care a lot about you. Stay blessed.
Please feel free to share your story on the comment box ,your story can save a girl out there, I love you to comment, resteem until every girl girl gets to know Bisi's story.

Pictures gotten from Google, story written by Ezesinachi Bernice