story

• The dim light enveloped me as I sat face to face in our special restaurant, the restaurant we frequently went to for our birthdays, our graduation and career successes - all events needing celebration, I knew tonight would be special especially as every night is special when i'm around him
• Ikenna

  The beautiful stunning human, inside and out, handmade by God
• Ikenna spoke so gracefully, it was encapsulating
• Ikenna

  • His head held high
  • His posture portrayed confidence, but never arrogance
• Ikenna is my first friend. My first love. My heart beats for him and him only
• There was never a quiet moment between us
• I've known Ikenna for 19 years and every day of those 19 years, I've loved him
• I notice every detail of Ikenna's chiselled face as I admire his features - the small wrinkles around his eyes created by laughter, the dimple on his left cheek that danced when he spoke
• I noticed the scar on Ikenna's jawline. The scar I'll never let my brain erase
• The day is etched in my mind, my family treated me to a day at the local park

  19 years ago, on the day of my 7th birthday
• The weather was so refreshing, the sun shining its beauty onto earth, symbolising summer was on its way and the grass was as soft as a pillow's feathers
• I ran around the field whilst being chased by my sister, Ifeoma


  1. I saw a boy in the distance

  2. I heard Ifeoma shout, "Ngozichukwu!"

  3. I ignored her and ran towards him

  4. I slowed down as I heard him cry
• I hugged him very tightly and wiped the tears from his face, took his hand with haste


  I ran towards my mom, pointing at the bleeding gash on his minorly disfigured face
• I sat opposite Ngozi, my first friend, maybe my first love


  19 years to the date, it was her 26th birthday celebration
• The incident at the park was a distant memory when we first met and she clutched my injured face in her soft, comforting hands
• Circumstances had taken over the situation so I only loved her as my best friend, who has taken care of me since the beginning of this platonic relationship
• I was her biggest champion - she deserved the world. I never thought that a friendship with a female could run this deep but I knew, for her, I was her best friend, too
• There was a different glimmer in her eye. She was observing me intently, almost as though she was drinking every ounce of my features


  I prayed she didn't read me too deeply as the reason I brought her out was burning my insides
• Ikenna looked at me with such distress, even if he tried to cover it I could read his transparent soul
• I knew my days of fantasising of butterflies and rainbows would turn into disappointment and depression


  I could only think of two possible things he wanted to say. Either he was moving away…or he was sick
• A stunning black beauty walked into the restaurant - an aura of radiance surrounding her, gold earrings glistening, heels clanking with every step and figure handcrafted to create a beautiful masterpiece
• Ikenna,My first friend. My first love…loves someone else
• I truly believed that I could be with him even if i was just his best friend, I thought I could love him in secret
• I picked up my purse and walked out, head held high. I left the future I dreamt of with him in her hands - his new love
• Friendship is the purest form of love. Mine was shattered