Some friendships happen naturally.
Others take time to unfold.
And then there are those that sneak up on you when you least expect them.
Akutu had been so focused on keeping up with her academics that she hadn't realized how lonely her evenings had become.
Most nights, she ate alone in the cafeteria, scrolling through messages from home, feeling the weight of the distance.
But one evening, that changed.
She had just picked up her tray of food when she heard someone call her name.
"Akutu! Over here!"
She turned and saw Daniel, the quiet Kenyan business major from her group project, waving her over.
Seated with him were Aisha, the confident Nigerian law student, and Olivia, the fast-talking Canadian.
Akutu hesitated.
Then, she smiled and walked over.
What started as a casual dinner quickly turned into an hours-long conversation.
They talked about their home countries—Aisha raved about Lagos nightlife, Daniel shared stories of Nairobi's hidden gems, and Olivia confessed that she had once mistaken a goat for a dog on a trip to Ghana.
Akutu laughed harder than she had in weeks.
It felt… comfortable.
Like she was exactly where she needed to be.
From that night on, everything changed.
They started studying together, grabbing coffee between classes, and exploring the city on weekends.
They teased each other endlessly—Aisha and Olivia debated over everything, Daniel played the role of peacemaker, and Akutu found herself at the center of a friendship she hadn't even seen coming.
She realized something important—
Belonging wasn't just about fitting in.
It was about finding the people who made you feel at home.
And just like that, the pulleys of life had shifted once again.