His Gentle Soul

Mueni had never seen much of her parents. The rare moments she spent with them felt fleeting. Either she managed to have breakfast with them in the mornings, or she would cross paths with them, hurriedly rushing out to work while they came in from their day. It was all so quick, so distant, and the empty spaces left her feeling... alone, but determined.

The first weeks at the office flew by in a blur of activity. Mueni was surprised at how much she enjoyed it, how quickly she adapted. Drafting pleadings, forming legal opinions, researching papers, and even accompanying her seniors to court filled her with a sense of excitement. She loved trailing behind them, carrying heavy files and soaking in the nuances of the proceedings. Each moment felt like a step closer to something bigger. She wanted to be brilliant—no, she had to be.

There were days when lunch became a distant thought. The work was relentless—preparing legal documents, reviewing case files—and there was always something else to do. But Mueni didn’t mind. If anything, the chance to nibble on a snack while still working made her feel like she was building something. Her focus was sharp, her hunger to succeed even sharper.

One day, while Mueni was lost in thought, she looked over at Josephine, who was buried in legal documents, and announced with a touch of excitement, "Mk8r. Kimemia is back."

Josephine glanced up for a brief moment, then returned to her papers. "Yeah, I saw him a few days ago," she replied casually.

Mueni couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. She had been at the office for weeks, but hadn't even had a proper introduction to him. "He doesn't say much. Does he even know I’m here?" she muttered, half to herself. She was just a new pupillage, and yet, he hadn't acknowledged her. A small knot tightened in her stomach.

"Oh yes, he's so much aware," Josephine responded without missing a beat. "Gathoni has definitely told him about you. You see, Gathoni is more of a Manager and receptionist. She runs the office for him. She’s also his confidant. He trusts her more than anyone else. She’s worked here for ages and knows exactly what goes on."

Mueni felt a sense of relief—he knew she existed, at least. But the thought of being just a small part of a large machine didn’t sit well with her. "I thought I'd get to meet him in person," she said, a little more wistfully than she intended.

"Don’t worry, you will. You just have to focus on your work. Handle your assignments well, and if you’re lucky enough, you'll get to work on a case with him. I had that chance once, and I learned so much. No wonder he’s such a respected counsel. But don't expect him to wonder what you’re doing. Your work ethic will speak for you."

Mueni’s curiosity bloomed even more. So, that’s how it works here? "Wow, he runs his firm differently," she said, a hint of admiration in her voice. She wanted to understand him, to prove herself worthy of his attention.

Josephine nodded. "He wants to be surrounded by great lawyers—people who know how to handle cases and clients with the utmost professionalism, without needing someone to hold their hand. He’s busy with the big cases. He doesn't have time to babysit anyone. So, we need to step up, do our best, and learn from him. In the long run, we’ll be proud of ourselves."

Mueni sat there, reflecting on Josephine’s words. She was glad to be there. It was up to her to make it or break it, to show that she belonged. Growing up, with parents she barely saw, and learning to fend for herself, had given her resilience. She knew she could do this. She was meant for this. With unwavering confidence, she whispered to herself, "I’ll make it. I’m cut out for this."