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Lily
Oke, my pet name for my wife. A plump , dark skinned I met in my early days at the university. A cute mushy bunny with soft cheeks I love to pull.
She was a sun in human form. I had never seen anyone as happy and bubbly as my love. We got married twenty years ago, moved in to Lagos from port Harcourt.
It started out smooth. newly weds, love and everything still new. Being intimate any little time we had. anywhere around the house.
I think of those times now and smile.
Five years into the marriage, we still didn't hear the cry of little ones in our house. At first it wasn't that worrisome. We went to the hospital and all, everything was well, I assured my Oke that everything was well, I would kiss her and then we would make love, it was like an energizing ritual we did, to build hope in both of us.
More years grew by and nothing. I barely saw a smile on my Oke's face. Her cheeks now sunken. Eyes hollow from nights of crying. My family started cursing her for being barren. My mom a pioneer, threatening to bring another woman for me, saying she wouldn't die before she holds the children of her only son.
My little Sunlight lost her rays with each passing year.
It was a Sunday evening, I found my wife curled up on the floor of our study, my heart skipped, I thought she was no more. I called out once, skin almost melting, but then she turned. I could tell she was crying. I felt a wave of relief wash through me. I knelt by her and placed the carton between us. She sat up, looking at me wondering what I was up to.
When she opened it, I saw my bright Oke, the beautiful smile that brought us together. She held up the kitten, it purred and she burst out crying and I didn't know I was crying too till she cleaned my cheek and kissed me. We both hugged each other, three of us, Lily, our new rope, pulling both of us from the crashing pit of despair.
Eight years turned to eighteen and twenty before we knew it. Oke, now round with our third child, wabbled down the lawn with Zoey and Alex. She held a carton, the one I brought Lily with, now beautifully decorated with flowers and glitters. The four of us knelt there, Oke balling her eyes out as we placed our little Lily down. I cried too. Zoey holding her mum and crying too held on to her sister who absentmindedly sucked her thumb.
After placing the flowers on the grave, I held my Oke and we both made a silent prayer for our little Lily to have a smooth sail on her way toheaven.
© Faith Daniel
She was a sun in human form. I had never seen anyone as happy and bubbly as my love. We got married twenty years ago, moved in to Lagos from port Harcourt.
It started out smooth. newly weds, love and everything still new. Being intimate any little time we had. anywhere around the house.
I think of those times now and smile.
Five years into the marriage, we still didn't hear the cry of little ones in our house. At first it wasn't that worrisome. We went to the hospital and all, everything was well, I assured my Oke that everything was well, I would kiss her and then we would make love, it was like an energizing ritual we did, to build hope in both of us.
More years grew by and nothing. I barely saw a smile on my Oke's face. Her cheeks now sunken. Eyes hollow from nights of crying. My family started cursing her for being barren. My mom a pioneer, threatening to bring another woman for me, saying she wouldn't die before she holds the children of her only son.
My little Sunlight lost her rays with each passing year.
It was a Sunday evening, I found my wife curled up on the floor of our study, my heart skipped, I thought she was no more. I called out once, skin almost melting, but then she turned. I could tell she was crying. I felt a wave of relief wash through me. I knelt by her and placed the carton between us. She sat up, looking at me wondering what I was up to.
When she opened it, I saw my bright Oke, the beautiful smile that brought us together. She held up the kitten, it purred and she burst out crying and I didn't know I was crying too till she cleaned my cheek and kissed me. We both hugged each other, three of us, Lily, our new rope, pulling both of us from the crashing pit of despair.
Eight years turned to eighteen and twenty before we knew it. Oke, now round with our third child, wabbled down the lawn with Zoey and Alex. She held a carton, the one I brought Lily with, now beautifully decorated with flowers and glitters. The four of us knelt there, Oke balling her eyes out as we placed our little Lily down. I cried too. Zoey holding her mum and crying too held on to her sister who absentmindedly sucked her thumb.
After placing the flowers on the grave, I held my Oke and we both made a silent prayer for our little Lily to have a smooth sail on her way toheaven.
© Faith Daniel
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