Rafiya Ndiaye

( Once burned, twice shy. )



( Class Schedule. )

[Private to Jannika]
I thought you were intelligent. It seems, though, that you are losing your mind.
[End]


[Private to Rocky]
Did I tell you that I let Noah take me home this weekend? I am not sure what it means, if anything. It was nice, though.

My mother loves him.

I guess I have spoken of you to her, because the moment she got me alone, she asked what had happened to Rocky that she didn't get to meet you too. I said nothing had happened to you, and she said, "Something always happens, Rafiya. You should check on him."

So even though I am not supersticious, my mother has a knack for being right about these things. Are you all right?
[End]


I will never get used to this weather. At least the blizzard did not become a weekend ritual.

And though I do not enjoy involving myself in the business of others or sharing pieces of myself, there are two things my grandfather taught me that I feel will be relevant for some.

The first lesson is that when you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. To wish for it's return is to negate all meaning and enrichment that it has afforded you.

The second lesson is that death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. We cannot experience for ourselves what death is to those who have passed, but we must not seek to meddle. There is no way to change the horizon line.

He is far less blunt than I, but I feel that his words are perhaps kinder than mine would be.

I do not celebrate Valentine's Day, but I understand other people may use it as an excuse to celebrate the idea of love. I don't understand the wasteful over commercialization of it, though. It is such a sign of the consuming times.

But it is the way of the world to consume so, and at least this is on behalf of something positive, if frivolous.

Thank you for the card, Rocky. I am glad we are friends too.

And Oliver, you are ridiculous.

Kak, I am sick of this weather. It is too cold, and I want to go outside, but I want there to be sunshine.


[Private to Noah]
The roses were very nice, Noah. You did not have to get me anything.


[Private to Anya]
Please excuse my behaviour yesterday.

It is nice, I suppose, that no one here really knows any of my slang words. I can tell someone to hou jou bek or call them a dof or a naafi and no one has a clue what I'm talking about. Not that I do, of course, but if I wanted to, the option is there. Today I was very tempted.

Certainly some of you deserve it sometimes.

Kak, I am almost out of arnica. Note to self: purchase some in town tomorrow. Either I am going through it faster than I used to, or someone has helped themself to my personal supplies.