DEAR JULIET

 Igbo men are wicked. Ask me anywhere anytime, I will still say it with my full chest. They are wicked. How do I know this? Because I was once in love with an Igbo man. I remember his name because it was a funny one. His name was Abundance Okonkwo and with him came an abundance of wickedness.

    I met him when I was 24. That was in the year 2004. I had moved to Lagos where a managerial position in a firm waited for me. After a long day at work, I had gone to the cinema to de-stress also to see the silverbird cinema everyone kept talking about. I remember my first feeling towards him; irritation. He wouldn’t stop making calls. I mean who comes to the cinema to take calls. In my annoyance I had lashed out at him and he guiltily put his phone away. After the movie, he approached me and apologized and said he would love to make it up to me by doing what ever I wanted. What could go wrong I thought to myself.

    “Ice cream” I said

    “You are joking right.” I could see the surprise on his face.

    “I am very much serious”

    “Very well then.”

     We got our order and sat down to make small talk. To be honest, I enjoyed myself. He was such a smooth talker. Time flew by quickly and very soon I had to go. He called a taxi for me and as I got in he said “I don’t even know your name”

    I smiled. How did we skip something essential. “ Juliet, the name is Juliet”

    “Nice name. I am Abundance.”

     That single day and memory turned to days and memories and finally love. I felt so fulfilled. I had everything going for me. A good job and a man who loved me. Little did I know that Lady fate was about to deal me a nasty blow. He was traveling abroad for a job. He assured me that we would still work but things would never be the same. We kept letter correspondence. My last letter to him was after I found out two months after his departure that I was with child. I had broken the happy news to him but never got a reply. Countless messages went unanswered. I was broken. I had a difficult pregnancy, the doctors had said and needed help and support from family. Haven been orphaned at a young age, the only person I could rely on was him. In my grief, I had lost the baby. I have never being able to get over the betrayal and swore never to get involved with any man again especially one from the Igbo tribe.

    A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. I opened the door and outside were an elderly couple. They said they were Mr. and Mrs. Okonkwo and asked me if I knew any Abundance. Hearing his name lit in me an anger that I nearly poured on them. Deciding to hear them out, I let them into the house. When I thought fate couldn’t harm me anymore, it proved me wrong. They had come bearing bad news. Their son, Abundance has passed away some years back. They found a letter when going through the belongings he used while abroad. It was addressed to me and they had traced me through the address. He probably died before he could mail it, they said.

    The news brought a fresh wave of grief for a man I had sworn to hate. After they had gone and I had regained a bit of control over myself, I opened up the letter.   

Dear Juliet,

    The news you bore in your last letter gives me great joy. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I am so happy to know that we are about to bring in a precious life into this world. I know that I haven't done what is right by you by marrying you but I hope to remedy that. I am taking a leave form work to come back soon to perform the marriage rights customary to your people so that our child can have a happy home with a loving mother and father and a family to call his own. Await my return dear and remember that I love you and always have you with me in my heart.

With love,

Abundance

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This story is a representation of me trying to write other genres apart from thriller/suspense. Coming out of my shell was not as easy as i thought. But it's a challenge i hope to overcome

And to my readers, hope it was worth your time.