Life had a way of bringing back the things we tried to forget.
For Akutu, unfinished business came in many forms—dreams she abandoned, conversations she avoided, and emotions she buried.
But now, as she stood at a crossroads in her journey, the past was knocking, demanding to be dealt with.
The first sign came in the form of an old notebook.
While clearing out her locker, she found it wedged between dusty textbooks. The pages were filled with her childhood dreams—ideas for businesses, stories she wanted to write, places she wanted to visit.
She flipped through the pages, smiling at the ambition of her younger self. Had she given up on these dreams? Or had she simply gotten lost in survival?
That night, she made a promise to herself—she would revisit at least one of those dreams.
And the first step? Writing again.
Then, there was the conversation she had been avoiding.
For months, she had been meaning to call home, to talk to her father. But every time she picked up the phone, something stopped her.
Their last conversation had been tense.
Her father had always been a practical man. To him, university wasn't a place for 'distractions' like creative writing or debate competitions.
"Focus on things that will secure your future," he had said.
But now, Akutu had changed.
So, one evening, she gathered her courage and called him.
"Papa," she said, "I know you want me to be successful. But success isn't just about a stable job. It's also about doing things that make me feel alive."
There was silence on the other end.
Then, a sigh. "You've grown, Akutu."
She smiled. "I had to."
For the first time, she felt like he was beginning to understand.
But the hardest unfinished business came in the form of a person—Michael.
They had been friends in her first year, maybe even more than friends. But something had changed.
Michael had feelings for her. Akutu wasn't ready.
So, instead of facing the situation, she had distanced herself.
One afternoon, she saw him again—sitting in the library, reading a book they once talked about.
For a moment, she considered walking away.
But unfinished business always found a way back.
So, instead, she sat down.
"Hey, Michael."
He looked up, surprised. Then, he smiled. "It's been a while."
It was.
And maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop running from the past.
The pulleys of life had shifted once again.