It all started in secondary school days
When they first met
Between love and books
It was their words against their teachers
Slipping love letters to each other
Became a routine
Promising together for ever
His lines in every piece held her hopes high

3years later
They were done with secondary school days
While one thinks of furthering
The other thought of the opposite for promises she pictured soon
Much time they had and spent together
In the pleasure of their desires they groan in satisfaction
And as they lay silent, arms stock into one
She said calmly, ‘’when are you taken me away’’
To be one with you and awake daily in your warmth?

I don’t know yet baby, he responded
Insinuating for a future to pursue
Before settling down.
You know there is much to marriage than just marrying
I still have to make money
To be able to take care of you and our kids
But you know, I love you so much and to spend a lifetime with you I wouldn’t mind, he added.

To this she said
I am tired of all your words sweet as honey
Yet not enough to cure me of the bitterness of loneliness
I am tired of this act,
Tired of tasting this fruit meant for mums and dads
And until we are ready, never shall we eat of it again
Slamming the door behind, she left annoyed

Days after, he made attempts to draw close
By inviting her over
But she turned him down
Scared of the outcome if she visits
For with him, she barely resists his charms

He, not given up kept calling
Just spare me a minute, he pleaded
You know I miss you, come over let’s talk
He left messages
Until she succumbs and they schedule a date.
On the D-day, family errands came calling
In haste she left forgetting her phone at home
To return later in the evening to his missed calls, but too tired to call back
Will definitely do that tomorrow she thought

The next morning
She reached for her phone as she woke up
And dialed his number twice but none answered
It was until the third time that a familiar voice came through
It was her fiancée’s elder brother
Greetings were exchanged.
Where is he at, she inquired to speak to her boyfriend
Silent fell as she waited thinking he was taking the phone to him
But ended in a deep sigh! As he said
We lost him yesterday
He was crushed by a truck on his bike
What! she exclaimed, please tell me it’s not true, shivering on her bed
But it was true. The cold hands of death snatched him away from her.

I came across her a month after the incidence
Looking tattered and frustrated
The beautiful and nice looking lady I used to know is no more
All I saw is the one battling with self-guilt and regrets
To why she failed to turn up on their date
Thinking that had she, he wouldn’t have died
It was on this cold evening that she confided in me
Sharing the story of her lost love
And I knowing that just a word will bring her consolation
But then what would a broken me say
To quench negative emotions on fire in her
In between, I finally struggled to blow out words.
Look lady, it’s not your fault that he’s gone
You are not the creator, and his will you couldn’t have stop even with your presence
Whatever, please, just find a way to forgive yourself. For now, what matters is you
The deceased, if once in love with you
will always wish you well where ever they go
Their wish that you keep on wearing that beautiful youthful smiles of yours

At this I say goodbye to her. Living with a heavy heart
But with hope that the seed of consolation planted
Will shoot buds, grow and flourish to wipe away the tears of they
Mourning over lost love.