For Bibi

*** Dedicated to a special friend, Obehioye***

I had always seen her around. She was the tall dark skinned girl with the glasses and the big smile. I don’t remember if she wore braces or not. But I know I had always loved her smile. I would see her in passing- in the hallways, on my way to class, in the dining halls. We would smile at each other. Maybe exchange a few generic pleasantries, maybe wave, maybe not. We had mutual friends, but our paths never really crossed.

Until one day. I don’t know how it happened. I don’t remember who made the first move. Suddenly, we were inseparable. We would write letters to each other. We would leave notes in each other’s journals. I would walk her to class, she would walk me to my dorm.

We would spend hours talking. Our conversations were always meaningful. She understood me. She could expresses my emotions and thoughts better than I could express them. Her words were like a caress, or a gentle embrace. We found comfort in each other. Hours would go by, and we’d still be talking, laying in the darkness, perfectly content.

Now our paths have separated again. I left her behind. That day was hard. I cried. She cried. But life had to continue. Distance and time caused a rift in our friendship. But I still used to write her, in the hope that someday, I will see her again. And I will give her all the letters. Then she will know. That even though I was away from her physically, I never once forgot her. On sad days, I would read her letters and envision her smile, and it was almost as if she was there with me in person.

You see, she touched me in a way that no other person had. And I will forever love her.