Uche-Nma, Our Friendship Secret Worth Telling
Uche-Nma, Our Friendship Secret Worth Telling
Its the most wonderful time of the year and most happiest season of all. Uche said this to me, glancing at me, with smiling excitedly, knowing that it’s soon Christmas.
Finally came Christmas, a day people looked forward to. A day filled with happiness and joy. A day our Messiah was born. Uche walked down the aisle of my compound singing “hark the banks of Jordan rings, the angels all are triumphant, glory to the new born king. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
She sang along then she came into the house and found me eating. She jacked out my spoon and finished up my meal, for the sake of friendship I kept mute. I simply watched her with a smile. My mum teased me of being powerless, forgetting how friendship and love can sometimes make you look like a weakling whenever you’re with that one friend.
The moment took me back to memories. The time we played like cat and rat. To those days when we were two little 8-years olds. To those days when she’ll visit, and still request that I accompany her home, making me wonder if I’m actually accompanying her home or taking her home. Our friendship is full of memories and inspiration from time to time.
One memory took our friendship to a whole new level. This day, I saw my elder sister gulping a cup of alcohol, “33” export large beer bottle. Because I thought that taking alcohol is bad, I decided to hurl insults at her. I guess it got to her deeply, because she took a stone and threw at me. Uche came between the the stone and I, and it landed on her tummy. I felt loved and cherished.
Oh, one other memory was when, one day, as an 9-year old, my sandals got broken by the side. She decided to exchange hers with me, only for her to eventually get injured by it. She didn’t make me feel bad for the injury she sustained from exchanging her sandals with mine. She made me feel like a part of her, and treats me like a twin. Even people now doubt us not being related, and call us twins.
Ok, Uche is a dark, tall, humble, loyal and beautiful girl, with a heart of gold. She’s loved me from childhood, and surely to an endless journey. We did all things together. Not until she relocated at age 12, leaving me lonely and desolate. I became an island of my own, I tried my best to get a friend with same qualities as hers but I couldn’t. I thought I lost it all, even at that tender age.
She was that friend that made me know the meaning of friendship, and taught me how to appreciate it. She made me realize that education will take me a long way, and helped made me focus. She was that friend who thought me how to dance and enjoy life. She was that friend who made it possible for me to appreciate the good and bad side of life, and always give thanks to God in all things. Being without such friendship wasn’t the easiest of task, but I had to move on.
I became a different person. Imagine a life without someone you can tell your problems to, and someone that can make you smile at all times. Oh, my life wasn’t really complete without that special person.
Time flies, I grew up to be a young lady with the constant thought on never meeting Uche again, but its a small world, isn’t it? All thanks for social media, I found her on Facebook. We chatted and gist on how life has been and how space without our friendship tormented us. I longed to see her again.
Months later, I traveled to Enugu State for my summer holidays, and the first day I decided to step out of the house to get some groceries from the groceries store down the street, I met her. Oh my God!, She screamed. What a coincidence, we were on the same area for holiday. I really didn’t recognize her because she had become more beautiful, her skin glowed, however, she recognized me because I remained myself. Funny how puberty happened to me without changing my look.
She called my name in surprise and asked if am not her block rosary sister. That line got me. I was shocked as she introduced herself to me, I in fact nearly fainted. I was so happy and suddenly got goose-pimples and that cheek-blush I would always have when excitedly shy. Then she said, “can we hang out and chill with some 33 export large beer bottle?” She noticed my shock and replied “I now take alcohol o…” This left me with great laughter, although it’s a secret worth telling.
My long gone friend is back. Its really a small world indeed. Uche Christabel, the bossy bae is back to me. We’re back to being Uche-Nma, the kind of friends we were. Just a little more matured now.
LIFE WITH A FRIEND IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
Uche-Nma, Our Friendship Secret Worth Telling
