THE NOTE TUCKED IN MY JEANS (SHORT STORY)

I found this old short story of mine. I just realized that i never shared it here. Read and enjoy.

Two years ago, I graduated from high school and my best friend throughout high school died a year later in a car accident. Amaka had gotten accepted into MIT and resumption was in less than a week from that day. She was on her way to the airport with her dad when the accident happened. Her dad survived, while she died on the spot as a result of the hit to her head.

I can still remember her face vividly when I close my eyes, although the image that keeps coming up is that sad face she wore on the morning of the accident as she left the hospital. I had been admitted for hepatitis two days earlier and couldn’t escort her to the airport as a result. Amaka spent her last night with me in the hospital and left by morning.

It was the best night I had ever spent in any hospital. We saw some movies together on her laptop, then talked and talked for hours into the night. We shared enough cries and laughter that night, talked about our regrets and the things we would do later in life. I remember how she cracked jokes and teased, especially when she said, “Oyin, abeg get well fast and come join me in yankee before I die of loneliness there”. I couldn’t understand it when the news of her death came the next morning.

I was sure that death had made a very big mistake this time. I just couldn’t understand how or why Amaka would just die like that, or why we didn’t have a feeling or a premonition or anything that warned us about it.

Her funeral took place two weeks later and just like that, my best friend for six years was gone. Neither Amaka’s family members nor I knew how to bear the loss. Even after the burial, we still couldn’t understand how we were to mourn her. The shock her death left us in, still hasn’t worn out, one year later.

I recently pulled out a pair of my old jeans while I was sorting through my stuff. It was the same one that was hanging in the wardrobe of the room I was staying in at the hospital, a year ago. I found a neatly folded piece of paper, tucked in it’s back pocket. I hadn’t worn the jeans in a longtime so the paper I found must have been there for a very long time.

I unfolded the piece of paper and it turned out it was a letter that had been addressed to me and it was written by Amaka. The letter read:
“Oyin, you’ve been my best friend for 6 years now and there is no one I know who understands me like you do. I’ve been battling with a secret since SS2 and I believe I owe you the truth, at least before I leave for yankee tomorrow. Oyin, I’ve always loved you more that I can understand. I stayed as you best friend all these years, because it was the only way I could stay close to you. I feel happiest when I’m with you and it took me till now to really understand why. Please don’t take this the wrong way but I’ll appreciate if things between us change as soon as we get to yankee. I can’t be your best friend anymore. I can’t keep hanging around you and pretending about who I am. I can’t do it anymore. I’m a lesbian, Oyin and I love you. I want us to be more intimate. I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. I promise that we’d talk better when we see. Please come to yankee soon. Love you always, Amaka.

I felt a gush of blood flow to my brain as soon as I got to the end of the letter. I was utterly shocked. I became more confused about Amaka than I was with her death. Non of it made sense. How could she have been gay? How could she have loved me that much and never told me? How can you know someone for six years and still not know them? In all of my confusion, I slumped into the closest chair and let my mind wander…

CAFFEINE OVERDOSE

Hello, you coffee mate, have you ever experienced caffeine overdose?

I was a victim of it earlier this week and believe me, it was no funny experience at all.I made my coffee with lots of milk and sugar to drown the bitter taste of the coffee as I had put in quite a lot hoping it would keep me up through out the day. The mixture turned out nice as it tasted in a sweet bitter manner that blew my mind. I had started off taking the coffee to keep me focused for the pile of newspapers I had to review for the office but the more I drank it, I enjoyed it so much and longed for another sip.

I remember when a friend of mine experienced it, it took almost one week for the effect of hers to wear off. Lucky for me, the two incidences I've experienced lasted only for a couple of hours. Most of you might have fallen victim of this without knowing what it was or what to do about it. You can get More about caffeine overdose so next time you've had a lot of coffee and you feel sick, you'd have an idea what it might be. As first aid treatment though, what I do is drink lots of water, and by lots of water i mean LOTS! Practically purge yourself with water. Drinking lots of water is a very healthy habit everyone should cultivate

 Caffeine overdose can be a serious problem and it's important for anyone who takes it to be informed about what it's overdose can cause. I hope this information comes in handy for many of us so make sure you drink responsibly! lol,.

Seriously though, don't get addicted to anything or take too much of it. Too much hardly goes well for anything.

THE WEEKEND AHEAD

It’s a beautiful day today! Yesterday was my parents’ silver jubilee anniversary but I was so busy at work that I didn’t get a chance to blog about it. I was also down with the flu, so you can imagine the amount of discomfort I experienced yesterday.

Good news is, I’m a lot healthier now and I’m getting giddy for the weekend. My superiors were magnanimous enough to grant me a few days off duty so I could enjoy the Jubilee celebration with my family as well as Christmas. I guess it's not too late to wish my parents a happy wedding anniversary and celebrate them. I'm blessed to have them as my parents and it's been wonderful growing up with them all my life.

Dad and Mum

On another note, I'll be sharing a few pictures with you. I've become a bit of a fashionista these days and it does feel good to have people commend the way you look. Asides that,I've coming to realize that feeling good about yourself helps one's psyche. You're comfortable and able to carry yourself respectfully. I'd rather not say anymore, I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Add caption

 

 I'll also be sharing pictures of some of my work mates. These people have been wonderful to me and they are part of the reason i look forward to coming to work everyday.

Fatima and Muteeu

Amaka, Fatima and I 

UNSTOPPABLE

Hey people, a happy new week to you! I hope your weekend was better than mine, although I think I had the best weekend and I'm happy to be back to work this Monday. 

Monday morning

I was able to get my much needed good rest after the "worky" week i had then on Saturday evening, I went shopping with my roommate to re-stock the house. Sunday was the coolest day. I went sightseeing with some friends. We drove around the city for a while then wrapped the day up with dinner at a place I now call my favourite Chinese restaurant. The service there is impeccable while the food tasted like magic on my tongue. Sinoni is the name of the place.

the appetizer.

The meal was so delicious that i had already eaten it half way before i remembered to take a picture. lol

waiting for the meal

I've tagged this post "unstoppable" because it's one word that describes exactly how i feel right now. My come back post was a huge success i'd say. I got overwhelming feedback and every response was positive and encouraging. Thank you so much.

me

nice view right?

My parents would be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this weekend. It's going to be a remarkable weekend for my family and I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation. I wish you all a lovely week ahead.

A NEW DAWN ON COURAGEOUS FINGERS BLOG ( MY COME-BACK POST)

It has been one year and two months and I haven't posted a single blog post!!!!! i cant believe I've been away for that long. I feel like such a horrible person right now :(

Oh well, not to worry, I'm back for good now and hopefully it would take something absolutely bigger than me to keep me away for so long again. So how have you been? What did i miss? etc etc. I missed you while i was away and I've kept looking forward to this day when i just put everything else aside and write this post.

Here's a summary of how my life has been so far though: 

1. In February, I graduated!!!! Whoop! Whoop! After a tough yet wonderful experience with the University of Nigeria Nsukka, i graduated with honours and bagged my B.Sc. hehehehe I'm a big girl now.

on my convocation day

 2. In June I sat for and passed my certification in management course without any hassles. So I'm a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.

3. July, I got employed by Gender and Child rights Initiative as programs officer for 4 months while i waited for Nigeria's National Youth Service Corp program.

at Gender and Child rights Initiative. My sister came visiting :D

4. I received my call-up letter for National youth service in November and reported to the orientation camp 4 days after for the 3-week orientation camp exercise. Now i'm working with Nigeria's National Pensions Commission as my Place of Primary Assignment.

Drumming for my Platoon's dance presentation in camp

first day on camp

on fine evening in camp

swear-in day

cultural day in camp

with some friends from camp.

In summary, the year has been beautiful! I have so much to be grateful to God for, so many blessings and testimonies. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life and I've grown in  my relationship with God. I've met and fostered wonderful friendships/relationships with the most amazing people in this world, like I own a bank of wonderful people.

at arts and crafts village, FCT

Crowning my happiness at this point is the fact that i have you my lovely readers to share my stories with. I plan to update you regularly about how my life plays out for the next one year of my service to Nigeria and by God's grace i'll become addicted to it and keep you posted about my life after service, career, motherhood, education etc.

So far i must say i'm enjoying my job and i love everything i do here. Everyone in my department has been helpful and drop-dead patient with putting this new girl through how the system works here. I've already gotten a few good reports from my superiors and even clients. After i attended to a certain military man's call one day, the man had to call back after over an hour of trying to reach us, just to thank me for the way i attended to him and pray for me.

at work in the commission

I pray the testimonies get better and richer everyday. This is my first week here and i totally enjoyed it. I love you all, and i pray you keep enjoying my blog. MUAH!!!!