My secondary school crush was sitting next to me in our faculty's orientation class in my first year in the university. This can’t be true! With my head spinning, I asked “Senior Shola is this you?”...and the rest is history. Three months after we met, I started feeling funny; I noticed I was getting clumsy, easily tired, I had reduced appetite and light headedness. I couldn’t go to class for a week or so. After a week absence in class, I eventually mustered my strength to return. After the first class, while waiting for the next lecturer to come in, I decided to get some fresh air outside the classroom as I was feeling dizzy. I got up from my seat and everything goes blank...that was the last thing I knew.

I was rushed to the university's Health Centre where my doom was pronounced. Being a Christian school, my parents were informed and were asked to pick me up for adequate medical attention, and family care. My father was an upright deacon in the church and an assistant Manager of the most famous bank in town. My mom was a choir leader and a high school principal. The indignation I had for myself for breaking their trust in me and for repaying their efforts with an unintended pregnancy was very deep and overwhelming. I asked God for forgiveness and death.

I couldn’t stand my family members’ presence and I gave up hope for the future. I hated my life and the baby growing in me. The silence in the car as we drove home was deafening and unbearable. I prepared myself to face the worst. Just as we stepped out of the car, my mom gave me a beating of my life and dragged me inside. My parents demanded a full explanation about my pregnancy saga. With a bleeding mouth and a spinning mind, I recounted the story. My mom busted into tears before I finished telling my silly story. My parents and siblings were devastated. The church summoned my parents for questioning and eventually suspended them from public ministrations. I became the hot topic in our community and I brought great shame to the family.

My friends deserted me like a plague. I was alone in the dark, cold and scary world I found myself. I had no right to complain, do I? One evening, two months after my shameful return from school, Aunty Sheba, my mom’s best friend visited my mom and she was brought to my room. "Hello Grace, how are you today? Can you give me a few minutes to chat with you?" She asked. I reluctantly agreed. She smiled over me and hugged me. Though it felt strange but that was what I needed most. I busted into tears in her arms and I told her I was deeply sorry. She replied, “Of course, I know dearie. Okay now face me, Grace. Would you like to spend few weeks with me in Ikorudu?" With a teasing smile and a raised up arm she added - “I promise you will enjoy it” I immediately asked if she had informed my parents. I was glad when said she nodded "yes".

That was the turnaround my life needed. Aunty Sheba was my Angel. She loved me and gave me a second chance to prove myself worthy of her love. I understood what forgiveness and acceptance means. I tasted grace at the verge of my hopeless. Looking back today, I could see what difference a small act of kindness (rooted in the understanding that a mistake is not enough to tag anyone as a failure) has made in my life.

There are young people around us now, looking for people to give them another chance in life. A little gesture of a simple smile could go a long way. Your words of affirmation, words of wisdom with a little persuasion, and your little penny could do the magic of life transformation. Aunty Sheba is long gone, but her memories are blessed. What on earth will you do to make someone’s life worth living? Be an Angel to someone out there!