Having A Guilty Conscience

• Rita Rwabwogo, Grade 7
• Short Story
• 2022

My heart is racing. My palms are sweaty. My mum looks over the seat. She can tell that I’m nervous. Who wouldn’t be? “You’ll be fine” my mum says and then turns back to the road. Would I be fine? As we got closer to the school, I see children in the same uniform as me, but the uniform was not the one I was used to. Going to a new school was like being a foreigner pretending to be a regular. I would stick out like a sore thumb.
The school was gigantic, and I forgot all about my worries. Well, I forgot about most of them. Would I be able to make friends? Probably not. I wasn’t the most confident person, I was quiet and shy.
After two lessons I was ready to go home. I was exhausted. “Only three more periods left” someone said to me, but it didn’t comfort me at all.
Finally, the day was over and I was bombarded with questions on how it had been, but I was afraid that things wouldn’t change at my new school. I would be friendless for my whole high school experience, but who need friends. School is too long and tiring for anyone to involve themselves with anyone else.
Time passes and I realise I was wrong. School wasn’t only about learning and homework, it was about making friends and having fun. I begin to enjoy school more and I make strong connections with my friends. I completely forget about my old friends but still the guilt of abandoning them lurked over me. How long would I have a guilty conscience?