Life rarely offered second chances.
At least, that's what Akutu used to believe. She thought that once an opportunity was missed, it was gone forever. But lately, she was beginning to realize that sometimes, the past returned—not to haunt, but to give another chance to do things differently.
And now, standing at a familiar crossroads, she had a choice to make.
The first second chance came with Michael.
Their conversation in the library had been brief, but it had stirred something in Akutu—a feeling of unresolved emotions, of words left unsaid.
So, when Michael invited her for coffee a few days later, she didn't hesitate.
They sat at a small café near campus, the air thick with nostalgia.
"I never understood why you pulled away," Michael admitted, stirring his tea.
Akutu exhaled. "It wasn't you. It was me. I wasn't ready for something serious back then."
Michael nodded. "And now?"
She hesitated. "Now, I'm still figuring things out. But I know I don't want to keep running from things that matter."
Michael smiled. "That's a start."
And just like that, they had a second chance—not at romance, but at friendship.
The second chance came with her writing.
A week after submitting her short story, Akutu received an email from the student publication.
She almost didn't open it. She feared rejection. But when she finally did, her heart skipped a beat.
They wanted to publish her piece.
Sarah was the first person she told.
"I told you!" Sarah squealed, hugging her.
Akutu laughed, overwhelmed. She had always thought writing was just a hobby—something personal, something private.
But maybe, just maybe, it could be more.
This was her second chance to take it seriously.
The biggest second chance, however, came in the form of her mother.
Their relationship had always been complicated. Akutu loved her, but there was a distance between them—a wall built from years of misunderstandings.
One evening, her phone rang.
"Mama?" she answered cautiously.
Her mother sighed. "Akutu, I was thinking… Maybe I haven't always understood you the way I should have."
Akutu's breath caught. Her mother never admitted things like this.
"But I want to try," she continued. "If you'll let me."
For a moment, Akutu didn't know what to say.
Then, she smiled. "I'd like that."
And just like that, the pulleys of life shifted once again.