Prix Littéraire Rumuri

“The Strength of Love”

by Privat Nindorera

Stormie, a seventeen-year-old girl, was a student at a certain boarding school far from her native village. She was in Second Form Arts. Caroline, her mother, was illiterate. Fortunately, Stormie had a very good reputation in her neighborhood, to such extent that not only her immediate family but also her neighbors appreciated her good manners.

The husband of Caroline, Mr. Constantine, who had died before their girl grew mature, was an educated man. He used to be a teacher at a school where Stormie studied before she was sent to the secondary school. Constantine had introduced Stormie to high quality education because he wanted her to become a great woman, highly esteemed in society as well as the intellectual world. Unfortunately, he died before his project could be realized.

After the death of her father, Stormie stayed with Caroline, who also loved her and demonstrated it with deep, openhanded deeds. She expected her child to be a great woman in school and in their society. Henceforth, despite the loss of her husband, she did her best to create all the required conditions so that her daughter could study with the minimum of worry. Stormie was still young and likely to be the hope of her family. Her mother always provided her with enough school materials. Stormie was always well dressed and as sweet- smelling as her wealthy schoolmates. Even during holidays, she was acquitted of house work for the sake of her intellectual enhancement. What little work she did was accomplished in the morning. Her mother provided her with such freedom so that she could concentrate on the school-related activities for her progress. Consequently, regardless of her fatherlessness, Stormie led a prosperous life like other school friends, even those from wealthy families.

Stormie was a very beautiful girl. Most of her male classmates were attracted to her loveliness. Even her fellow girls would speak well about her. Both in class and outside during breaks, she could never be alone. Many of her classmates and those from other classes used to visit her desk. With their messages, everyone wanted to get close to her. From the many messages of consolation she did not cease to receive, Stormie felt relieved of the death of her father. In addition to the sympathy messages they brought her, however, her male classmates were also attracted to her beauty. Most of them wished to have a love relationship with her. One of her male friends, Kendrick, tried more than others to earn her high regard. He would visit her frequently, either in class or during their free time. To prove his regard for her, he tried to offer her more presents than others could. He began to bring her sweet messages to attract her attention to him.

“Oh, Stormie, you are so beautiful,’ he told her. ‘Do you fancy that? No one is like you”.

“Thank you, Kendrick for your sweet words,’ Stormie reacted. ‘But it’s not extraordinary. It’s just the grace of God”.

“You outshine all others for me”. He cherished her. “That’s the sincerity of my heart”.

“Drop it, Kendrick”. She replied, bowing down her head. “I don’t want to submit myself to such a mockery. I am aware that I am a lowly girl, and nothing more than that. Let other girls be told those words and be at the center of your attention. But let me, a poor girl, go through life near to the ground, as I am doing”.

“I don't know how to prove to you the great message of my heart. How much I love you, Stormie! I'm crazy about you”.

“Please, stop saying those untruthful words. How can you be interested in a girl that life has reduced to rubble, Kendrick? I know you are enjoying excellent life”.

“You’ve been making me burn with desire, pretty girl. How can I tell you? Believe me, please. We're meant for each other”.

“Thanks for the reviving words you never cease to bring up. But I am too lowly to attract the consideration of the wonderful guy that you are. How can I get such sympathy, Kendrick?”

“If only you would let me show that I love you from the bottom of my heart!” he said tenderly, with a smiling countenance.

Stormie was not accustomed to such talk. Now she was facing a lot of it. On the one hand, it was distracting her from concentrating on her studies. On the other hand, she was getting skilled in such conversations with boys. Most of the male classmates who came up to her wanted to express their admiration of her attractiveness. They could not let her ever be free to deal with her school activities. Whenever a teacher was absent, the girl received visitors at her desk. Her male classmates rushed to her to talk with her. She was too shy to take much responsibility for her school success and intellectual growth. Without realizing the danger that such messages could pose to her development, she gave room to those distracting solicitations. In fact, she was not just gaining boys’ admiration at that school; even guys from other surrounding schools came up to her. It was like a competition for that young schoolgirl. Everyone tried to demonstrate their power and incomparability with the aim of earning her esteem, to the detriment of other guys.

With her male classmates vying for a relationship with her, she found herself in an enjoyable and also complicated situation. Presents from different love fans were continuously offered to her. She considered this situation in two different ways, according to the consequences it could produce. On the one hand, it was helpful to her, since the economic situation was not comfortable in her family. Stormie needed to be assisted for affection and finances. The death of her father had created a huge gap, both in her affection and in the economic status of her family. Her mother struggled for her wellbeing. From a shallow, small-minded point of view, the admiration of her classmates was like reparation for her fatherlessness. On the other hand, the presents could not be received without causing a certain impact, be it harmful or not. Providing Stormie with care was not just an empathetic deed. Every guy also had an intention of winning the “competition”. Some of those young guys’ faded out progressively. Some lasted for days, others months. Only Kendrick persevered beyond them. Even though he was one of them, he increasingly accelerated his actions with firmness. He could neither sleep nor slumber until he achieved his objective. He was always thinking about how to get the girl’s admiration and enter into full love with her to the detriment of the other guys’ attempts. By multiplying get-together opportunities, he was able to talk to the teenaged girl. He stole her heart with sweet words. He was progressively getting her high regard oriented towards him.

“Stormie, you are dressed to kill”, he would say tenderly embracing her. “You overwhelm me today. What a shining uniform!”

“Thank you, Kendrick”, she responded. “I like your encouraging words. They reach even to the bone. But aren’t all uniforms the same?” she asked with an affectionate look.

“Do you know, Stormie, I feel something for you. Every day, you are unsurpassed; you never cease to bring innovative surprises”.

“Thank you, brilliant guy. You, too, look breathtaking!” she responded in a humble voice. “I like that style of yours. How strikingly handsome you are!”

“I am pleased to hear your sweet voice addressing me. May you consent to have a talk with me for a while”? I've had a crush on you for a long time,’ he whispered in a voice of feigned humility.

“What’s that you want to tell me, Kendrick? Here I am and I'm listening. Please, say it; I am longing to hear it!”

“Truthfully speaking, I love you with a terrible love. I'd like for us to get together. You’ve burned my heart for days, months, oh Stormie…!”

The young girl did not know what to say, so she kept silence. Was she troubled by Kendrick’s message? Perhaps, but she was also seriously touched. Kendrick could not bear her persistent silence. With the aim of making her react verbally, he tried to insist. The girl had kept all her words in her heart and therefore, she could not hide her emotions. Tears streamed down her face.

“I love you, too”, she uttered in a humble voice. “Thank you for the concern. I can no longer deny what I feel for you”.

“Draw close to me now, Stormie. We're perfect for each other”, he told her, dragging her to himself by the arms.

They hugged each other tenderly and exchanged amorous kisses. Thereafter, they held each other’s hand with endless, quiet smiles. While Stormie was still awe-struck in Kendrick’s arms, the latter began to sing to her an improvised song of love he was inspired to compose. With gesticulations, he sang it as though he had prepared it intentionally in advance.

You make me feel strong again.

Who else could quench the thirst of my heart?

Without you I’d dwell in unending pain.

My days could be no more than a little part,

But what could they for me contain,

Were you not close to mine heart?

No joy could my soul ever embrace,

With you placing me on a test.

Now that I have ever won the race,

Among those who tried to come first,

Let mountains sing of the providence

That has carried me to the prominence.

You turn me inside out by your beam,

Your kisses reinforce my valor again.

You bear the end result of my dream

Of the dense undertaking of my brain.

Let the deep sea shout for joy to rejoice

And the sky above increase the voice

Forever I am your lover,

Forever you're my lover,

We're never-ending soul mates,

We are sweet on each other,

O Stormie, oh my Stormie.

Stormie was paying special attention to Kendrick’s verse to her. She felt awestruck by the sweet words she heard him articulate. The light in her face showed how she was being drowned by the praise song of her new love. She was being taken into another mood by the sweet words of Kendrick. As soon as he had finished chanting the verse, she gave him some questions on that amazing praise song.

“You made me lose my self-control, Kendrick. What a professional singer! For how long have you been a singer like that?”

“I can't help singing when you are by my side”, he declared, gesticulating. “It’s a day of celebration. This is a song dedicated exclusively to you, my dear. This is the expression of my heartfelt thankfulness to you”.

“Thanks, dear. I am really pleased with it. How lucky I am that you are mine!”

“Wait and see. The most excellent is to come. The future will reveal surprises”.

“I really like your sweet voice so much. You are the leader of the singers’ world, the leader of the best performers”.

The bell rang and they went to their respective classrooms. They set another appointment for the next pause and said goodbye to each other. Their faces revealed the contentment of their hearts. Both of them were happy and smiling. Their classrooms were facing each other, with Stormie’s desk by a window. Kendrick could see her back when they were in their respective classes.

This new relationship transformed Kendrick’s way of life. He remained in the same mood even when the teacher was in the class, giving a lesson. He was frequently absent-minded when the teacher asked him to answer a question. His fellow students began to make fun of him. Kendrick found himself in a situation where he could not follow lessons easily. His mind was on one hand present and on the other absent. The consequences of his distraction were detrimental to his studies. He was failing in most of the tests that followed the day of his commitment to Stormie. Both the students and the teachers were surprised by what was happening to him. But most of his fellow students thought they knew the cause of his progressing scholastic failure. The incessant meetings with that girl could not pass without notice.

Contrary to Kendrick's case, her new intimacy with a boy did not produce any harmful consequence to Stormie’s studies. She was one of the most intelligent girls in her class. Despite the reduced time for reviewing coursework—most of her free time, she was disturbed by male classmates and unable to find a way out of that situation—she managed to take up the second place in their class. She kept herself committed to her obligations. She also considered her familial condition. Her mother occupied an important place in her life projects. For that reason, she wanted neither to be ashamed of bad results at the end of the year, nor to disappoint her dear mother who was struggling for her intellectual development. Besides, she was in competition for first place. Therefore, she held to her principle of hard work despite all kinds of hindrances. Moreover, she did not put aside her new companion Kendrick. Her results in class were not weakened by the new atmosphere of love. But she kept up remarkable progress in the eyes of all beholders.

Both classmates and teachers saw Stormie committed to her studies and making noticeable progress. However in her interior, she was also very cheerful to have a boyfriend like Kendrick. This situation relieved her of her fatherlessness and invigorated her spirit. She thought of him with high consideration, especially for their future life. She adored him without reserve.

Despite the relations she entertained with Kendrick, she could not stop other guys from coming to her. She was coveted by many boys. Some of them were aware of her engagement to Kendrick, but some others were not. Fortunately, this situation did not result in significant drawbacks regarding her school results.

But for Kendrick, who was in his final year, it was not easy to do well without much concentration. He was not as successful as Stormie in her class. He had problems with many of his courses. He hardly ever did well in most of his examinations. For him, lower class achievement required more dedication to studies. In the third term, pupils needed to work hard in order to improve their results. In fact, any ultimate course perfection was only possible during that third and last term. However, for Kendrick, serious study would have prevented him from zealously pursuing Stormie’s admiration. Thus, he dedicated all his free time to her. He always did his best to have something to impress her with so as to draw her thoughts to him.

The third term was about to be completed. The examination period was at hand. Kendrick realized that he was tumbling down in the scholastic domain. Nonetheless, he was aware of the good reputation of his girlfriend concerning the results of her class work. In fact they knew each other’s scholastic abilities. They increased their opportunities of meeting. They had many things to talk about as new, intimate friends nearing the end of the school year. In fact, they needed to know how to remain in touch with each other after their imminent separation.

Multiplying opportunities of their being together, they were driven by a three-sided motivation. First, in view of the fact that Kendrick was in the final class, he wanted to reinforce his presence in the heart of Stormie before their probable future estrangement. He sometimes feared that Stormie would forsake him, once he was not in the vicinity of her sight. He knew that his girlfriend was coveted by many of his fellow male students. Secondly, they were altogether aware that their home villages were not in close proximity to each other. Kendrick came from the northern province of the country, whereas Stormie was born in a province positioned in the heart of the country. Furthermore, they had no cell phones to be able to talk to each other from afar. Thirdly, for Kendrick, success in his studies was not yet guaranteed. In short, he was still wondering if he would pass or not. He knew that his performance was not comforting. Considering Stormie, who was very intelligent in her class, he judged himself unworthy of her on an intellectual basis. Since he was not doing better in class, he was trying to restore confidence that Stormie would stay in love with him despite any challenge that would arise. For him, it was a way of checking the intensity of the love she bore for him. ‘Is she really able to tolerate my failure, if I fail?’ he asked himself relentlessly.

Because he feared to see himself forsaken by his dearly beloved, Kendrick could not stop purposing in his heart some way to remove any doubt about the level of her affection towards him. That is the reason why many opportunities were created to meet with his girlfriend.

The school year was coming to an end. On the notice board, the first results displayed were of the senior class. Suddenly, Kendrick saw a classmate coming to him with good news. He announced him that he had passed. Because of the fear that had seized him, he didn’t believe the news. So he hurried up to the notice board to make sure himself. In fact, he really had passed, but by a hair's breadth. This achievement satisfied him because he'd had little or no hope after how poorly he had done all through that last term. He could not help dancing and singing of the acquired success, since he was very fond of such hobbies. His classmate wanted to know why.

“What's up with you, Kendrick? What’s motivating such unusual dancing of yours?” they asked him, astounded at his dancing.

“Why do you pretend to know that I have passed? Do you think I was expecting it with assurance?” he replied, with arrogance.

Assuredly, the passing was not the unique motivation of his joy. He was mostly stimulated by the relationship he had built up with Stormie. ‘She will be forever bound to me, this is another step forward to win her’, he cheerfully reasoned.

In reality, most of the senior class had passed. The jury had been very sympathetic during deliberation. Kendrick was one of those who had benefited from the kindness of the jury. Otherwise, he would have been refused the diploma. Passing their year meant that students got automatic admission to the National Exam. The laureates of that Exam were to get authorization for university study.

Under the enthusiasm of that fresh news, he went to see his girlfriend. The junior classes were still waiting for deliberation, in a free ambiance. Stormie was among those who were longing impatiently to see their final results. They were involved in different activities according to their individual hobbies. Stormie was in the choir, performing songs with others. Kendrick found her at the chapel and sent for her while he stayed waiting outside. It was not customary for Kendrick to meet her at chapel, so she was surprised when she saw him there.

“Hello, my darling. You are performing well, aren’t you?” he said, hugging her with a genuine smile. “It’s very nice to see you”.

“Oh, my sunshine. I am well”, she greeted him back. “We have been here for two hours and things are going better. I like singing these songs. What about you? Have they already displayed your results?”

“My honey, I am very happy. I don’t know what present you will offer to congratulate me. I have passed”, he said, raising his voice and with great joy and opening his arms to exchange hugs and kisses.

“Congratulations, my dear. That’s very breathtaking!” she said, as they held each other in their arms. “I don't know what to say. But it’s very awe stirring. That’s your success and my triumph. This is another step forward to strengthen our love without worrying about failure”, she added tenderly.

Kendrick was very excited by how she appreciated his success. He felt proud of it. He began to tell her about the projects he was thinking about. He was planning to do Management faculty at the university. But before that, he needed to get satisfactory marks on the National Exam. He suggested that they would celebrate his success together. But the girl could not easily agree with him on that before knowing her final results.

“That’s good. But it would be better if we just waited a bit in order to rejoice over both your success and mine”, she responded.

“That’s ok. You are right. Let’s keep that proposal of yours. Moreover, a very fine party will be organized after I pass the National exam”.

The following day, the results of other classes were posted. As expected, Stormie passed. Though it wasn't surprising to any of those who knew her, she was still very glad. Stormie was named first by the proclaiming teacher. She had surprisingly made considerable improvement. Kendrick was the first to congratulate her. He rushed to hug her at the front, in the sight of all present. The lovers were seized by delight. They went out of the room to extend their congratulations to each other.

“My lover, you’ve put me in high spirits. You’ve proved that you are very intelligent”, he told her with a long affectionate smile.

“Thanks, love of my life”, she replied, holding her report card in her hand. “I thank God for this success. I also acknowledge my mother for her dedication for my studies’ sake. Since we are bound to each other, join me in blessing them for their deeds”, she concluded in a humble voice.

After the proclamation of all results, they decided to see how to continue their love until the marriage day. They promised to stay faithful despite whatever challenge they would have to face. Stormie expressed her special wish for Kendrick’s success in the National exam. So they left each other.

Kendrick was to spend only five days at home before coming back to prepare for the Exam at school. Unfortunately, he failed the Exam, despite his best efforts. This failure frustrated him very much, especially as it meant he could not be accepted to the university.

Without admission to university, he became instead a school teacher. Fortunately, he remained in love with Stormie, who was doing even better at school. The girl manifested outstanding conduct. Then one day, at school, a very wealthy student came to her to persuade her against Kendrick.

“You are very beautiful, Stormie. Please consent to be my sweetheart”, he proposed with artificial feelings in his countenance.

“Thanks, Andrew. But I am sorry I am already tied up to another”, she replied. “Do you remember Kendrick, who graduated last year?”

“I know, but you know that one bird in the hand is worth than two in the forest. He is far from you, but you see I’m with you.”

“Love is stronger than distance. Though we seem to be separated in space, we are together in our hearts”, Stormie said unyieldingly. “Don’t bother yourself; I will never surrender. You may go to others, since I am not available”.

Andrew failed to dissuade her. Besides him, different guys tried to convince to enter in love with them, but she refused and remained faithful to her engagement. She was continually in touch with Kendrick. To enhance their easy interaction, Kendrick had given her two mobile phones, one for her and the other for her mother. She used hers prudently at school.

In their conversations, they began to talk about their plans for their marriage.

“I’m sure you will get university admission, dear. My family and friends advise me to marry before you go to the university”, he told her. “Yet, the decision is not theirs but yours”.

“Though it’s good for us to live together as soon as we can, I judge it better to prepare it minutely”, she said. “May we wait until I complete my Bachelors first?”

A year later, Stormie graduated from high school and passed the National exam. They organized an amazing celebration in honor of her diploma and her wonderful results on the National Exam. Some of the guests who had attended the party talked among themselves about the continuing love of Kendrick and Stormie.

“Will they remain faithful to each other with such a huge gap between their degrees?” one asked. “I have never seen an elementary school teacher married to a university laureate”.

“I think there is a certain incompatibility”, another agreed. “If I were Kendrick, I would not let her go to university before marriage”.

From many of his different friends, Kendrick got similar warnings. They tried to convince him that his wife should not go to university, but in vain. According to them, she would not remain faithful to him after getting a degree higher than her husband’s. To add fuel to the fire, even his father held the same opinion. But Kendrick had an optimistic view of his wife’s academic enhancement. So, he didn’t pay attention to their words, but encouraged his future wife to attend the university.

At the university, Stormie was tempted by various men, asking her to break her agreement with Kendrick. They proposed her money and riches thinking that she would surrender, but in vain. Fortunately, she overcame their trials and remained loyal to her future husband. Therefore she studied without difficulty and graduated with honor.

After completing her university studies, she was employed in a bank. She was well paid. Nonetheless, even in the bank, she was put to trial. Numerous workers, including her supervisors, coveted her and proposed marriage to her. She prevailed over their temptations and loved her lover who was working at an elementary school in the village. Her husband appreciated her faithfulness and adored her.

A year after she started working in the bank, they got married. Her marriage to Kendrick astounded many of those who knew them. They appreciated her incomparable faithfulness to her husband.

“You have an exceptional wife, Kendrick”, Andrew told him. “She is the model of women we need in our society”.

“Thank you for your compliment. I love my wife and she loves me”, Kendrick replied. “I can’t tell you how much she pleases me. I will ever be loyal to her”.

Thereafter they led a joyful life. One year later, Kendrick got a job in a School of Excellence in town. He was very well paid there. Henceforth, they moved to town to live together.

After two years, they had a male child. The family was happy and prosperous. Within four years, they built their own house. They also owned their own car. Five years later, Kendrick enrolled in a private university in the Education Faculty. He studied there while maintaining his job as a teacher.

Stormie and Kendrick enjoyed reminding each other about all the challenges they had passed through during their engagement period. Stormie recounted how she had triumphed over all the trials she faced both at secondary school and the university. She told him that her love had prevailed against pressure, money, and degree. So they drew a conclusion out of it and said: “Nothing is stronger than love”.