Where Stupid Starts?!

I walked to the side of my office where the shelves were located, grabbed off the tissue box and walked back to the table. I offered her the tissue, sat across from her and held her hand. She sobbed quietly and blew her nose frequently.

Maxine and I have been friends for a very long time. Ours is a very strange friendship. We do not hang out together or do any girly stuff together. However, because we both aren’t very open people, we confide only in each other, keep each other’s secrets and offer the best advice we can (after enough thought, of course).




We feel no shame in sharing our most stupid decisions and experiences. We do not look down on each other. We share ideas and even map up strategies for work but that is all there is and possibly all there will ever…….

“Tosin, do you know how many times I have made this same mistake?” she asked.

“It’s alright dear, you will be just fine”, I replied.

“Don’t you think I’m stupid?”

“No, I do not. You made a stupid mistake, yes but that does not make you a stupid person”, I reassured her as I squeezed her hand.

I could lie to her you know, say things to make her smile but it is of no use because she will beat herself up once she leaves my office. She might as well get it over with while I am here to pacify her.

I still had a few files strewn on my desk but it was okay to sit with her as I had done more than I planned for the day, besides, it was almost time to go home anyway. I held her hand for another five minutes and then let go.

“You know what girl? Go home, get good food, have a warm bath, cry some more and then watch this”, I said as I handed her the season4 of ‘Everybody Hates Chris’. She smiled a little and nodded. I walked her to the door and as she paused to look at me, I gave her a reassuring smile, a warm hug and a pat on the back.

When the door closed, I sighed and walked lazily to my desk. Come to think of it, is Maxine not stupid? Maxine is constantly having unprotected sex with her partner and countless times, she could have gotten pregnant and so many times, she had been lucky not to but now she is.

Now, you might say she is not a kid, why not get married? It is bad timing, that is why. Maxine is due to make Associate in one of the most prestigious law firm in West Africa and not only that, Jason, her partner is about to open up his art studio. Need I tell you that they are both working crazy hours right now to ensure they both reach their goals?

These two are highly ambitious people and there is no way they had give up everything or risk sacrificing everything at this critical point. I know Maxine is struggling because she is catholic and abortion is not an acceptable practice.

Usually, when Maxine has a challenge and I see her to the door, I would tell her not to worry, that I will think about it and give her an advice the next day. Today, I said nothing because I know it is not my place to advice her this time considering all at stake.

I shook my head and sighed, “Stupid! Stupid!! Stupid!!!”