Writers 
I was already late for my first lecture of the day. Not the kind of late where you can still walk into class quietly and pretend nothing happened. I mean properly late.
I was walking across campus with my bag hanging off one shoulder, trying to remember where exactly I was supposed to be when I noticed someone ahead of me.
She was walking quickly and confidently.
I saw the direction she was going and assumed we were going to the same place.
Perfect!
I quickened my pace. She turned left. I turned left.
She went through a particular passage. I followed.
At this point, I was completely convinced I knew where she was going.
Then she stopped and I stopped too. She turned around and We stared at each other for about a minute. Then she asked, “Are you following me?”
My heart dropped.
“What?”
“You've been behind me since we left that place.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“No oo, I'm going to class.”
She looked confused.
“Which class?”
I told her and She stared at me for a second.
“That's not here.”
I felt my soul leave my body.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed behind her.
“This is the other side of campus.”
I looked around and suddenly, nothing looked familiar.
Not the buildings, roads or the people.
I checked my phone, opened the timetable and checked the location again.
Then checked it again, hoping the words would somehow rearrange themselves.
They didn't. I had followed a complete stranger in the wrong direction because she looked like she knew where she was going.
She started laughing.
I started laughing too.
“What were you going to do if I entered a building?”
“I don't know.
“You would have followed me inside?”
“I probably would have.”
She laughed harder.
“Wow.”
I was embarrassed.
But at that point, there was nothing else to do. She also added that she was also trying to figure out where the library was from the direction she was given by her roommate.
She looked at my timetable.
“Wait. I know where that is.”
I looked at her suspiciously.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated and she laughed.
“Don't worry. I'm not going to lead you somewhere else.”
“That's exactly what someone who wants to lead me somewhere else would say.”
She laughed again.
“Come.”
So I followed her.
Again, this time, thankfully, we actually got there.
When we reached the building, she pointed ahead.
“That's your place.”
I looked at her.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
She started walking away.
Then turned around.
“Next time, ask before following strangers.”
I laughed.
“I'll try.”
She shook her head and walked away.
I stood there for a moment.
Then I started laughing at myself.
Because I had spent the entire morning thinking I was following someone who I assumed was headed in a same direction because of her appearance. Meanwhile, she was probably just walking somewhere too.
And somehow, I had trusted her confidence more than I trusted my own sense of direction.
I think that's one of the funny things about coming into a new school.
Everybody looks like they know what they're doing.
Someone walks quickly, and you assume they know where they're going.
Someone answers confidently, and you assume they've read everything.
Someone walks into a building without hesitation, and you assume they belong there.
Meanwhile, half of us are just moving confidently and hoping nobody notices we're lost.
And sometimes, if you're lucky, you find another lost person who is willing to help you find your way.
Even if you accidentally followed them first.