CHINA TORI

How I have missed you. I want to ask how things are going over there but…

Son, I have been meaning to write you for weeks but things happened and I somewhat allowed myself to be distracted. No, it is not something you should worry yourself about. Okay? For me, I find the strength to overcome anything and everything by thinking about you. People have said that I should worry about how difficult it would be to raise you in today’s world but knowing that I won’t be doing it alone keeps those worries away. Our Heavenly Father and your earthly father will here for us.

So today, I send you my love and my prayers. I’m doing all I can to ensure that you get a good life when you finally arrive. The wait for your father, on the other hand, is taking a toll on me but I’m willing to go the entire length and breadth so I don’t make a mistake. I just hope you understand.

Well, talking about the wait, a very spectacular thing happened about two weeks ago. For moment, I thought it was Heavenly Father telling me something, but then it could have been my mind playing tricks on me. I also thought it was you suggesting something, but the thought disappeared as soon as it came. Let me gist you.

One of them men called; I mean the ones who have registered interest – if you know what I mean. So he called, or was it me who called. I think it was me. I called to check up on him because he had been away for a while. Via social media, voice calls or texts, no one could reach him. So when he finally came online, I had things to say to him; things like, “How dare you disappear on me like that?” He had no right, whatsoever, to up and disappear like that. Okay, I take that back. He has a right to deal with his issues as he see fit. Don’t mind me. It is just that he is a good friend and I was worried sick when he went MIA.

Baby, for over two years, this one has been very present in life. He is one of the ones who make it a duty to cater for me, listen to me and rebuke me whenever I’m silly. He makes time for me and would coming running whenever something went wrong with me. So you understand why I was worried sick when I could no longer reach him. It was my turn to be there for him but he did a good job blocking me out. And it hurt.

He came online and gave his reasons for disappearing. Then he assured me he is fine but I had to see for myself. Note that I had never visited him. He has been the one doing the visiting. So I begged him to let me come see him. He agreed and we scheduled. That was when it happened – the spectacular thing happened on my way to his house.

The trip to his place was not so long but being the first time for me came with a lot of cost. You know Lagos drivers? Those ones live their lives preying on and extorting innocent people. Once they realize that you are plying their route for the first time, they go all out to cheat you. So I spent more than I should have that day. I was a little unhappy and would not raise my head up while in the bus. I was daring the driver to take me past the junction I told him I would stop at after he had collected twice my fare from me.

So there I was sulking when the bus driver stopped to pick up a passenger. I can’t recall where we were but I remember it was my third bus and from the man’s description, I was halfway. The bus stopped and I raised my head in time to see a trailer drive out from the junction across the road. On the front, very close to the windscreen, of the trailer was a name and part of the name is the surname of the man I was going to see.

It didn’t stop there because if it did, it wouldn’t be so spectacular, right? Great. In our world, there is no ‘monopoly of name’. People are constantly inspired by other people, so they name their children after these people or after the things they love. “So let’s not make mountains out of molehills”, I told myself.

I didn’t think anything about the incident until I raised my head again about twenty minutes later. Son, we drove past a shop with a signpost in front and on it was the first name of this man I was going to see. First, it was his surname and twenty minutes later, there was his first name – big, bold and in my face. My heart leapt. What was the universe trying to tell me? Or was that you, baby?

Well, I’m still trying to make sense of it but nothing is adding up. Nothing feels off and nothing else has popped up since then. When I got to his house, I kept my eyes peeled for signs, but nothing came up. I have even asked Heavenly Father if that was Him, but He hasn’t responded yet. Whoever it is should stop messing with me. Okay? I know there are clearer ways of sending messages – loud voice, still small voice, or… names on trailers and signposts.

What do make of this, son? Please reach out to me as soon as you can. I will keep praying for you, because I love you and I know I will cherish the moments we will create together. Wait, have you met your sister yet? I want to hear all about it. Did she choose you or did you choose her? Talk to you soon.

Your mother,
China.

Image: Gift Habeshaw