Today my heart is saddened. News. Of the loss of a close friend.
How strange she would have found it, seeing posters of herself on walls of houses and electric poles, and on WhatsApp statuses. Obituary.
If only she could see it all coming. Just last year we were home together, I unemployed, and she, doing her own little telework from home. And she used to encourage me to never give up, to keep trying. Till one day I found a job. How happy she was for me.
But at the same time, she felt lonely. Whenever I left for work, she was home alone.
I remember the evenings she would knock at my window.
“Ben! I am lonely. Come out and keep me company.” She would tell me.
And usually, I would be in the middle of reading some book, or marking exercises of student work I brought home. I would close my book, or whatever I was doing. And off we went for a stroll.
The walks were good for her. Because she was pregnant. I always wanted to ask her why her man didn’t live with her, to keep her and the baby company. Perhaps it would be an uncomfortable question for her. So I never asked.
Today she’s passed on, after months of illness in various hospitals. Leaving behind her little baby.
As I write this, I still see us, in the mornings, going to buy our favorite food, from our favorite joint; she her waakye (rice and beans), and I my gobɛ (beans with friend plantain). Walking. Or sometimes when she got tired, we took a taxi (a tricycle).
If we walked, we talked about all kinds of things. Mostly gossip. Church. Former workplaces. Co-tenants, especially the landlord, an old man she said was interested in her. We would mock him and have a good laugh.
She was fun to be with. We had misunderstings sometimes, like all friends do. But through them all, we remained good friends.
Our friendship was for a short period, but I cherish every moment we spent together.
You suffered a lot, your Father welcomes you home with open arms, a good feast, and a long rest after a long journey.
Rest well ♥️Sandra♥️
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