We'd been neighbours for about 10years, so it just seemed natural for us to be bestfriends. We did everything together, which still surprises me, because we were two different people. As opposite as black and white. She was the extrovert and I, the introvert. She loved partying, and my idea of fun was to stay home and read or watch tv. Her parents let her do stuff and go places only if I would go with her...I was the sane and responsible one, you see. But we complemented each other.
One evening, I was home getting ready to sleep. My aunt came into my room, and was like 'I forgot to tell you, ijeoma's mum said ij just came home...she's not feeling too well'. Immediately, I wore my slippers, I had to see her...and I'd missed her. Then I glanced at the clock. 11pm? Crappers! My mum wouldn't let me go out, that I knew. So I thought to myself, 'I'll see her 1st thing tomorrow morning'. But I couldn't sleep all night. I felt so cold inside, and then I started shivering. I'd never felt this way before. The best way to describe how I felt is...how do they say it?...like someone walked over my grave. I prayed, and prayed and prayed. The time was 3am...I went to my mum's room and asked her for her phone. I just had to talk to ijeoma, know how she was doing. My mum told me to go to bed, that it was too early.
Finally 6am came and everybody got up. Someone knocked on our door, it was ijeoma's uncle, he wanted to see my mum. They spoke in hushed tones, and then he left. I knew something was wrong. Then my mum came to me, opened her mouth and nothing came out. You think you'll know how to handle it...how you'll feel. Or you think it'll never happen to you. I felt like I was in a bad nollywood movie...I just kept shaking my head...No, No, No, No...it couldn't be possible. But yes, Ijeoma was dead. I had prayed tirelessly over the night. God couldn't do this to me. She was my soul sister...my friend till the end. I cried for hours non-stop. I walked out of the house and on the streets aimlessly. I felt dead inside.
Looking back now, I think I must have scared my family...my mum especially. I don't know how we did it, her parents, her sister, brother, and friends...but God saw us through. It still hurts, but less each day.
So, to everyone reading this post...if you've lost a friend, sister, brother, loved one, father, mother, both or more...May God our Comforter keep you and give you peace like a river. May he turn your sorrow into joy. You might not believe it, but you'll laugh again. And your life will be full and beautiful in time.
Amen.
Have a lovely and Fabulous week ahead.
xxx
