Nneoma stepped out of the university's auditorium, blinking in the bright sunlight. She had just finished a grueling exam, and she felt like she was walking on air. She had studied hard for weeks, pouring over her notes and textbooks, and she was confident that she had aced the exam.

As she walked across campus, Nneoma couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. She was a high-achieving student, and she knew that she was destined for great things. She had always been driven to succeed, and she had worked hard to get to where she was today.

Nneoma's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see a text from her best friend, Amaka.

"Hey girl, how was the exam?" Amaka asked.

Nneoma smiled as she typed out a response. "It was tough, but I think I did okay. How about you? How was your day?"

Amaka responded with a string of emojis and a brief message. "It was good! I had a great time at the art gallery. I met this really cute guy who's an artist. I think you'll like him."

Nneoma raised an eyebrow as she read the message. Amaka was always meeting new guys and introducing them to Nneoma, but this one sounded different. Maybe it was the way Amaka described him - "really cute" and "an artist" - but Nneoma couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.

"Who is he?" Nneoma asked, typing out the question on her phone.

Amaka responded with a name - Ifeanyi - and a brief description. "He's 22, and he's really talented. He's got a show at the gallery next week. You should come check it out."

Nneoma felt a flutter in her chest as she read the message. She wasn't sure what it was about Ifeanyi that intrigued her, but she couldn't deny the spark of curiosity that had been ignited.

"Okay, I'll come," Nneoma typed out, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation.

Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn.

As Nneoma walked across campus, she couldn't help but think about Ifeanyi. She wondered what he looked like, what kind of art he made, and what kind of person he was. She felt a sense of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of meeting him.

Nneoma's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name being called. She turned to see her friend Chinwe waving at her from across the quad.

"Hey girl, how was the exam?" Chinwe asked, jogging over to Nneoma.

Nneoma smiled as she filled Chinwe in on the details of the exam. As they talked, Nneoma couldn't help but feel grateful for her friends. They were always there for her, supporting her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams.

As Nneoma and Chinwe walked across campus, they ran into several other friends, including Ngozi and Uche. Ngozi was a brilliant and ambitious young woman who was studying medicine, while Uche was a talented young writer who was working on his first novel.

The group of friends chatted and laughed together, discussing everything from their classes to their love lives. Nneoma felt grateful to be surrounded by such a supportive and encouraging group of friends.

As the afternoon wore on, Nneoma and her friends decided to grab some lunch at a nearby café. As they sat down at a table, Nneoma couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. She was surrounded by her friends, and she was looking forward to meeting Ifeanyi at the art gallery.

Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn. Ifeanyi was not just any ordinary guy - he was a complex and charismatic individual with a passion for art and music. And he was about to sweep Nneoma off her feet.

But for now, Nneoma was just happy to be surrounded by her friends, enjoying a delicious lunch and chatting about their lives. She had no idea what the future held, but she was excited to find out.

As they ate, Nneoma's friends started to tease her about her upcoming meeting with Ifeanyi. "So, Nneoma, are you ready to meet your future husband?" Chinwe joked.

Nneoma rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Shut up, Chinwe. I'm just going to the gallery to support Amaka, not to meet some guy."

But despite her protests, Nneoma couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect of meeting Ifeanyi. She had always been cautious when it came to relationships, but there was something

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE: THE ART OF FALLING

---