Delight Chilegide Olumati

Can we be friends, stranger? Again, I ask. I ask with a heart full of love long lost and moments begging to form memories…again. I ask with a  lip long sealed and words begging to be said…again. I ask because 365 days counted twice is enough to have silence make words. I ask because I miss you. 

I miss all we shared and days we made possible with the love we taught it. I miss how close we used to be. I want to relive those days but really? I don’t know how to.

On the days when you were not, I thought about you a lot. I thought about nights we had conversations. Days we made observations. I thought about memories we created for us. I held onto it tightly. I did because that was basically all I had left. I did because I couldn’t have you leave yet. I did because I never wanted space to be the new normal and I’m glad you are here. I’m glad to have you back but do I really have you?

The you I got used to. The you I loved. The you I made days worth wishing to be my tomorrow. The you I became whole with.

Bugs Bunny, I want you as who you used to be. I want you as who you taught me to love. I know change happens and life even faster but I am willing to listen and learn how to be whole with you…again.

I’m here, I always will. I never left and I hope you see me soon and allow us to pick from where we left off.

From Ivy.

Recently, someone asked what your place in my life was and levelled you at the same time down to a mere material of pleasure as the world has tagged it. 

& I responded. No, not because I wanted to prove to her that you are all you stand for to me but because you deserve to be told to the world.

You deserve a love loud enough. You deserve a human open enough to send you letters. A human bold enough to talk about your laughter. A human strong enough to scream how amazing you’ve made his soul remember peace. 

Fay, you are a soul bright enough to make clear letters fade. 

You’ve brought essence closer to me. You’ve filled my air with ease and lungs with love. You’ve taught me care without words. You’ve shown me love without saying it. You’ve been all I’ve ever longed; all I’ve ever craved. You’ve been who you’ve always wanted to be by simply acting it. How can I love you any less? How can I hide this from the world?

I love that I’m doing this best friend thing with you. I love that you are not just a soul teaching another soul how to sow the seed of love and life, I love that you are the SOUL. I love that you are for me and I am for you.

It may take a while before I scream this love again but until then, may the soul that has taught mine love never lose touch of herself.

From David Ekong.

Like a tale from a forever note, magic was a word best defined by you—us. 

In shows, you know how it starts, unlikely to decipher, unlikely to place hands on, unlikely to call to order and at that time the play has already started. 

We were the play. We are the play. And we’ve remained the play. 

From the different books I had my name written before you came, it was never in the one of LOVE. 

It was in the one of sadness and depression; longing and lust. It was in the one running around. It was in the one searching for us and has remained in its last chapter till now. 

When you’ve had and lost, you never think to have and keep. When you’ve spelt and cleared, you never imagine to spell and protect. You believe it never stays. It never works. You believe even if it stays it soon leaves but you’ve been. Long enough to be my longest. You’ve been. Long enough to share my secrets. You’ve been. Long enough to show my scars and I’m glad.

Nana, you deserve the type of love that makes your laughter loud. The type that makes your eyes shine. You deserve a love that should be shown to the world as a map to be followed. You deserve a love worthy enough to be a manual for all. 

Until I do this again, this type of expression of love, may the lines that have fallen for us in pleasant places never turn it ways.

From Aiibee.

You are a constant wonder and my daily reminder. You are my prayer answered.

The cliché is in the butterflies love gives and all you’ve been to me has been more than that. You’ve been more than the norm. You’ve been more than enough.

Importance to some is in how a thing is worth and to me? It is in how you’ve valued your worth. It maybe the smallest piece or the largest work of art, but how was it carried?

You’ve held me in love and have repeated it WITH love. You’ve spoken words to me and held my face in prayers. 

You’ve bent your knees before me and prayed to the gods that I answer your prayers.

You’ve been my love in truth and love in the opposite. You’ve been at times when I was unsure and on days when I couldn’t know for sure. You’ve been a shoulder when I couldn’t let the world see those tears. 

You’ve been my favourite place. 

At this time when I’m no where close but somewhere serving my fatherland, I hope you remember, Kelechi that I thank God each day for the gift of answered prayers.

From Jeremiah.

How to be him in my life:

1. Be the entire package: Be my stranger and be my friend. Make me find comfort in your space and do well to call me baby

2. Be my king: Rule me with your words and show me the right path with your touch. Be the entire unit a system needs and protect me like you will.

3. Allow you be me: Hold my troubles by the throat and force peace out of its lungs. 

This is how you’ve built yourself.
This is how the universe has gifted you to me.
This is how you should be written.
You should come with a manual.
You should be emulated.

Chibu, for the longest of times and I say this because with you a second feels like an hour and hours at some point holds still.

You make it so easy. This life thing, you make it too easy, like you came with a hack for it. You hold me like you were made for me. You tap my shoulders and they respond like they are used to it.

You came and changed the norm. Yes, yes I’ve had friends before you but you are second to none. You are my baby boy and I love you.

I love you for teaching me a friendship so deep. For showing me a love like this can have life. 

I love how similar we are. I love how we love the same things; including us. I love that we are doing life this soft.

For the times you’ve held my body to make me feel…again. For the times you’ve shared yourself with me. For all the times you’ve made my past worth remembering, I love you!

Until I send some more, remember that I love you as much and will be here finding ways to make this life thing easier & love & friendship better.

From Tech Chef.

Yours lovely,
Delight Olumati (Smiler)