to the church of elishama.
a letter by oluchukwu.
Whenever I think of you, I think of standing under the sun after being drenched by the rain. That particular phenomenon has happened to me twice and on both occassions, I marveled at the ability of nature to cancel out its own misdoings. When I hold you in a hug, you cancel out all the misdoings that have ever existed.
I got very nervous when it was obvious we were getting somewhere serious with our relationship. I texted my friend Femi and told him how nervous I was. He told me to relax and act like I’d been here before. But I had not. It’s impossible to pretend like you know a thing that only exists once throughout time. That’s how you feel to me Betts, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Writing about you — about us, is not something I intend to do frequently. This thing that we have is above and beyond words and I do it a disservice by trying to translate it in my limited vocabulary. However, I am your favourite writer in the world, and I feel compelled to write things to you more than mere I love yous. So here is something — an attempt to make you understand what you mean to me.
All my favourite things in the world belong to you. That laugh, the way you cover your eyes when I compliment you before saying “I’m shy” in a shrill voice. I like how you call my name. Nobody has ever said it like you do. I love your forehead, and your mouth, and your amazing ability to do everything. Only you could go from painting a cool picture to managing social media accounts for three companies before designing and sewing a cool crop top with detachable sleeves. You’re like Wonder Woman. Actually, scratch that. You’re way better because you’re real.
I want you to know that I do not come to the page lightly when I say I love you. As I type this at the table, know that this is a modern day equivalent of my forefathers pouring libation and swearing on their own forefathers’ graves while making a promise.
It’s crazy how life works. Billions of people on earth, millions of lifetimes have passed and in the midst of all that chaos borne of time and space, we have us. I have you and you have me. Amazing.
It’s a beautiful thing to stand under the sun after being drenched by the rain. Those golden rays warm you up in a healing ritual. The wet clothes, drenched bags don’t matter. All that matters is that the rain is over and you are alive and everything that matters is in front of you. You will take off those soggy shoes and change into dry slippers. Your clothes can, and will be washed. You will have a warm bath and dry your hair and put some lotion on the skin and the sun is warm and warm and warm and everything is right with the world again.
Imagine a thing like that. Imagine loving you.
