Roseline Adeniyi @firstlady

There was this day I was searching through my store where I usually keep my old things; I was looking for an ornament which I want to use as a gift to a friend for her birthday but then I found a photo album where all my photos are kept clean and neat. So, I was intrigued at seeing it then I quickly grab the album and checked through the pages, with little to no time I was extremely reminded of the details of each and every photo seen on sight, all coming back like a wave flowing through the ocean. Then I saw a photo of Oghenemaro (my friend) and I; we were smiling to the camera with our arms happily around each other as if there was no trouble or worries in the world.

I then looked at the photo and asked myself when was the last time I spoke to Oghenemaro, do you know late in secondary school we could have been like the closest of friends, almost like blood sisters, having each other’s back. Oghenemaro and I always crack jokes, take a stroll, go on errands, doing school activities and almost literally do everything together. We definitely had the most fun times ever when we were together and no one could comprehend the type of friendship we had. We used to sit down at a particular tree down the street in school back then and actually discuss things we had on our minds concerning school activities, family matters, the economy, our dreams and life as a whole.

Oghenemaro and I went to different universities in different hometown after our secondary school education. Having a tight working schedule and very intense class sessions each day, we promised to be very good friends and never let distance separate us no matter what. At first, we did, but gradually we stopped being close because of distance, school, work and a whole lot. Before I know it – it’s been a minute since I had any meaningful communication with my dear friend. Now staring at the photo looking at her face just keeps reminding me and giving me the flashbacks that turns into little regret that torments me up to this day.

What had happened between Oghenemaro and I? Life, I suppose. Maybe new friends, relations, jobs, responsibilities, tasks, location, lack of communication; who knows? But that did not alter the fact that Oghenemaro had not only been my close friend in secondary school, but also perhaps one of the persons who influenced me on a deeper level with her great sense of thinking and humor, a person who cheered me up when I was angry, sad or disturbed; who accepted me as I was, who stood up for me anytime/any day. And I believe that I have been that friend to her as well too.

:( ☹️ ☹️
!!! In tears right now!!!
:( ☹️ ☹️

Now sitting there alone tearing up, been all moody and sad in the storeroom, “missing my old friend”. I then summoned the courage to close the photo album and rise up, pick up the ornament and heading out to go dial Oghenemaro’s phone, which I eventually did and we got connected again; I then said to myself, no matter what, I am certain each time we found ourselves in a position to talk to one another we didn’t necessarily need to wait for several years to be reunited, we always just pick up from where we left off. And there would be laughter and new memories to make all over again and again!