After racking my brain for the past two days, I came to the crushing conclusion that I was powerless and useless. The article I had anonymously posted had been deleted, and all the content creators on TikTok who had talked about the case were issued warnings. They had to come forward and apologize, stating that they had misspoken and that the police and I had really come to an understanding. It was painfully obvious to me that someone with authority had swept everything under the rug, and I knew it was Filmon.
I suddenly made the decision to leave this place. If I stayed, I would either go mad with anger or do something I'd regret. I called Rwaki and informed her of my decision. I guess she could sense the heaviness in my voice.
"Where will you go? Will you be okay? At times like this, it's not good to be alone," Rwaki said, her voice laced with concern after she had arrived at my apartment as we sat on a sofa and had a chat.
"It's alright. I'll be teaching. It won't be lonely," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Which state are you moving to?" Rwaki inquired.
"Not a state. A country-China," I replied as I sipped my glass of water, the coolness doing little to soothe the lump in my throat.
"China? That's too far, don't you think? Think about it carefully, alright? I understand everything happening is too much, but don't rush into decisions," Rwaki urged, her tone gentle but firm.
"You know I love teaching. It's always been my dream. Gord Elementary denied my application, but another opportunity was offered to me," I explained, clutching the glass tightly.
"How could they miss out on a fantastic teacher like you? They'll regret it. Alright, I'll support you in anything you decide," Rwaki said, her voice softening. We talked some more, and before I knew it, evening had approached. I walked her to the door, hugged her tightly, and then prepared to go to bed.
The following day, I called Vice Principal Rose and told her about my decision.
"That fast? Well, I'm glad you've made up your mind. Let me get in touch with the people on the other side and get back to you," Rose said. I thanked her, and the call ended.
Since I had decided to leave, I had a lot to do: cancel my lease, arrange travel gear, pack up, shop for essentials, and more. Rwaki came over to help, and I decided to give her some of the things I couldn't take with me.
A week passed before Rose called again. Everything was ready, and my travel date was scheduled for Friday. I spent the remaining days bidding Danny and his friend group goodbye, bought flowers, and visited my brother's grave.
Pressing the flowers down, I sat beside his tombstone, the cold ground seeping through my clothes. "I'm sorry, Jason. I'm useless. I couldn't fight for you. I'll be leaving the country tomorrow, but on every November 5th, I'll be here to visit you. I know I'm being cowardly," I said, tears welling in my eyes.
After staying for about an hour, I got up from the ground and looked at Jason's smiling face on the tombstone before leaving. I didn't know what awaited me ahead, but staying in America would eat me alive, knowing my brother was lying in a cold grave while the one who harmed him walked free.
The following day, everything was in place. Rose had taken care of my passport, visa, and other necessary documentation. My Uber driver arrived on time and dropped me off at the airport.
As I sat in the waiting area of Delta Airlines, I looked down at the location of the area where I would be residing: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui Province. I had done some research about this place. It was said to have beautiful scenery, rich culture, and a simple way of life. My mood relaxed slightly. With all that had happened in my life, such a place seemed perfect for me.
I boarded the plane and took off. Since this flight would make stopovers, I knew it would be a long journey. I had brought my eye mask, which I put on mid-flight, and tried to make myself as comfortable as possible.
With the stops made, it was almost 18 hours later when I arrived in Beijing. Rose had been incredibly efficient and had given me the details of a hotel where I would spend the night. She was a lifesaver. It seemed the school really cared for its teachers, given the treatment I was receiving. After contacting the hotel, I settled in, took a bath, put on my bonnet, and immediately went to bed. I didn't have the energy to order food after the long journey.
A phone call woke me up from my sleep. When I opened my eyes, bright light was peeking through the curtains. It was already morning. I squinted and picked up the phone to answer. "Hello?"
"Kasi, thank God! I was worried something had happened to you. I called you multiple times, but you didn't pick up," Rwaki said, her voice filled with relief.
"I'm alright. Thank you for asking," I replied, my voice still groggy.
"No problem. Just call me if you're confused about anything, okay?" Rwaki said.
"Okay," I replied, a slight smile forming on my lips. She was always so caring to everyone around her. I understood why Jason had been smitten with her. It was just a pity things had turned out the way they did. The call ended, but before I could put down the phone, another call came through.
"Miss Kasi Williams? This is Yi Ren, the chairperson of Mingde International School. I wonder if you have arrived in China yet?" The man asked, his voice calm but firm.
"Oh, yes. I'm at the Jade Dragon Hotel in Beijing," I replied.
"That's good. Our representative will come to pick you up and help you reach us," Mr. Yi Ren said.
"Thank you, sir," I replied.
"No problem. It's what we should do," he said. The call ended, and I took a deep breath. I had to prepare myself-get ready, have breakfast, and wait for what would come next.
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