This Christmas

MY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

There's a reason why I don't make my wishlists public. I prefer to send them to people I know would actually consider purchasing the items on the list.

It's been a great year for me. I've met some really amazing people but this is not the post for that. You'll get a 2013 post as usual. 

But since a couple of people asked, I only have 5 things I want for Christmas, New Years, Valentines, anytime till February really. 

1. Harrods Pamper Hamper

http://www.harrods.com/product/the-pamper-hamper/harrods/000000000001724850

2. Tory Burch iPhone 5/5S case

    http://www.toryburch.com/robinson-saffiano-hardshell-case-for-iphone-5%2F5s/41139495.html?start=2&cgid=techaccessories-iphone-cases&dwvar_41139495_color=402

3. Salvatore Ferragamo  Flats

 

  

http://www.ferragamo.com/shop/en/ConfiguratorView?storeId=31150&catalogId=38051&langId=-1#/configurator/varina/57461713040

4. Swarovski Lala Set

  http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/1106547/product/Lala_Set.html

5. Honda Crosstour

 

http://www.affordablecarsng.com/honda/accordcrosstour/accordcrosstour.php

So there you go...

Merry Christmas! :)

Child not bride

Argh... Argh... Argh... Those sounds had come to be normal in "her house".
"Her house" she scoffed, that was what he told her the first time she came here at 13.
How could this be her house? No brothers, no sisters, no parents...
Just him, and her "new family". They looked at her with pity but they didn't care for her.
Argh... Argh... Argh...

Ouch... Ouch... Ouch... An all too familiar sound. 'Shhh' came the usual response. Don't make them think I'm hurting you.
She tried to close her eyes shut to suppress the pain...
The first time he came to take her away, they told her he was there to take care of her, provide for her, pay her fees till after university....
They didn't tell her this part. They didn't say she'd be molested and make to cook and clean and wash his underwear.
She opened her eyes as he took another jab at her...
Ouch... Ouch... Ouch...

*sniff* * sniff* *sniff*... Don't worry my dear, you'll soon get used to it and you'll start enjoying it.
She didn't want to enjoy it or get used to it. The pain, the cuts, the bruises...
She always wanted to become a doctor. She had big dreams...
But that's all they seemed to be now. *DREAMS*

The tears rolled down her face. She was sore from day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
She heard the door open and she knew it was time again for another piece of her to be taken away at 13.

#childnotbride.

Never was but will always be

Their eyes met... Finally!

He wasn't what she expected but I mean, he was good looking. 

Average, dark, handsome, arty, political, everything she wanted. 

The guy with the good job, well spoken, good looking and single. 

Yes! He was single! Bam! Perfect! 

Now all she had to do was figure out what she wanted. 

That night, she met the crew, then they drank and danced...

The Russians came, hoping to ruin the night but they didn't. Thankfully!

He handled her with care and then some...

She made up her mind. She wanted him. She wanted him more than she'd ever wanted anything in her whole life. 

Hmm, dangerous territory. 

This realization scared her. She felt vulnerable. 

He liked her, a lot! Maybe. He thought she was beautiful, pleasant, it was er... Refreshing. :) 

But he didn't want her... Especially not in the way she wanted him. 

She knew!

This time, she wouldn't indulge. This time, she'd walk away.

But if he changed his mind, she knew she'd be there... 

Well, maybe. 

(Sometimes love doesn't work out, sometimes it's really bad timing...)

Familiar stranger

It wasn't his face
He looked familiar
She stalked his page
The thoughts would linger...

It was his voice
The moment she heard the sound
He was in her heart
In her head
In her bed
Under her skin...

They talked for hours
Of life, love, art
The addiction...

His smile, his scent, his hug
The tango, the kiss and everything in between...

A stranger she'd never met
A scene all in her head
A story yet to be told...

One more sleep!

Days...

... Bella was sitting at home one Friday evening, watching white collar (again) when her phone rang. It was Tomi's birthday and she didn't think there were plans for that night so she was digging into her Bailey's flavoured Haagen daz ice cream when the streaming and excited voice came through the phone (gosh, this girl can be loud). After a five minute conversation, Tomi had managed to threaten her and put their friendship on the line if she didn't show up for the birthday dinner/get together that was happening right now (na wa for short notice oh). Bella knew she couldn't say no, despite the fact that their friendship was new, Bella and Tomi had grown to become quite close in recent months.

After a quick shower and three outfit changes, Bella decided to go with her red micro-mini dress (which everyone thought was a top by the way). She paired them with a fitted pair of seven jeans and red poka dot Vivienne Westwood heels. In her books, she looked nice enough for a get together but not too sluty for clubbing (after all, it's just to show face and come back).

By the time she got to the venue, the 'get together' was in full swing. Alcohol everywhere, alcoholics everywhere, hot chicks, fine boys, 'ha! thank God I dressed well', she thought. ' I would've just disgraced myself here'...

A little background...
Bella is a 25year old, 5ft 4, dark-skinned, sexy behind, beautiful young lady ( as so many people have told her even though she never believed it). She Studied for both her bachelors and masters degrees in development finance at the London School of Economics. She just made partner at a prestigious media, branding and PR company after quitting her job a month ago and she was happy with her life at the moment. Single and happy...

After scanning the room carefully, Bella decided to mingle and mingle she did... She laughed, flirted,
flicked her hair (yes like a white girl), made conversation and caught the attention of most of the guys there...  She was having one of those 'why won't you date me so we can marry and have kids soon' with Mike, one of her guy best friends ( this one was relentless sha) when she saw him...
He looked tall-ish, dark and gorgeous... their eyes locked and it was like a trance, his eyes, his smile, his accent, everything on point... In her mind, they had walked down the aisle and she already had his two kids. She was in heaven.

My twenty-eleven

2011

Part 1...
Joy, pure joy, a new beginning, music, laughter, all's well.
Love, the beautiful artistry of being in love, unconditional, irrevocable.
She wasn't looking, it found her, made her happy, made her believe.
Friendship, so pure, so honest, she was her sister, her bestie, couldn't ask for more...
Perfection, life's perfect, possible, work, family, adventure, She believed... In perfection, She had it.

Part 2...
Lies, lies, lies, loss,... Imperfection creeps in, from behind, all around.
Instability, family, grades, love remains, ever true but imperfect.
Confusion, she's a queen, the queen of her castle but there are no subjects, they keep quitting... She's doing time, slowly, unsuspected..
Strife, grief, it feels so close but it's so far away.
Doubts about life, love, God, religion.
Denial., pretence,.. Closed.

Part 3...
It's a long part, everything happens, death, death, death, 3 in 1.
Hope, oh so distant hope,
Tears, these tears are here to stay, day and night!
Friendship changes, not so pure, not so perfect,.
Love, it's there, she can still feel it but it's more and more distant.
Death again, this time, it nearly takes her. She embraces it, death might not be so bad, it seems to always hover.
Family, amazing wonderful family, new friends, good friends.
Growth, she's become a woman, before her very eyes.
Love, a different kind, people love her...
She can see her qualities, nice, kind, musical, beautiful maybe ..
But vulnerable, she's hurting inside, everyday, she wants her love, her perfect love, but she knows it's gone.
Stability returns, somewhat, then boom!
Sickness, DEATH, again, this time, she's stronger her love is there, but it's not perfect. It never will be.

Part 4...
She's thankful, she stays picking up the pieces.
She's dreaming again, she's experiencing new things. Her love will always be her love...
Stability, new ideas, new business, it's all coming together, with cracks but the glue stayed.
JD, more important to her than she's prepared to admit...
Music, she's singing again, performing again, she's stable.

2011, what a year!

End

Everything was just a blur... the whole conversation did not make any sense to her at all because she could swear on her grandmother's grave that everything was fine 24 hrs ago.

They hadn't seen each other for about two weeks. With busy schedules, setting up a new company on her part and him changing jobs and moving closer to her in Lagos, they were going to see for the first time in two weeks and in their calender, that was a hell of a long time! 

The knock on the door finally came and as she opened the door, senses were raging... their lips met, left hands interlocked while his right had gently caressed the back of her neck in what felt like a first kiss. When he finally let go, she giggled and opened her eyes but realised that she was day dreaming again! 

He finally arrived, they were both exhausted. Him from driving, her from waiting. A quick peck on the lips and sleep came like an agenda. The next day, they had breakfast and he left for work which was a 2 hour drive away in Ibadan  He was going to be there for a week. 

The following day, the phone rang...

'Hello,'

'Hi, it's me, I'm calling you with my work phone'

'Oh, hi honey. How's it going?' 

'Good er, I won't beat about the bush... I don't think we should be together anymore, I still love you but don't see a future for us. Please take time out to think about this, I'll be here if you need to talk'. 

She needed to sit down, the ground underneath her shook and her world came crumbling. A stab right in her gut where it hurt the most.

This was just the beginning.

.

How high?

She was head over heels in love with him, so much that people started to get worried.

'It has to be jazz' a friend quipped. 'Else why would she tell her parents she's going to have his baby out of wedlock, if they don't give their blessing?'. This is not normal anymore.

To her, it wasn't like that at all. Far from it. She knew she was taking a chance and maybe taking things a bit too far with her parents but then again, what she had with him was worth it. In the end, she would be spending the rest of her life with him. Not her parents, not her siblings, not her best friend. Just him...

They had been together for about 2yrs. Including one year of long distance that he made possible through frequent trips and commitment and she knew that deep down, he was the ONE. He had been there for her through everything, I mean EVERYTHING. From deaths in the family, to her parents separation, to the fights, roberry, rape,finances, new gadgets, you name it; if it went wrong, he was there to pick up the pieces. Worst part is, everyone knew. They all loved him as the 'perfect boyfriend' but now he was ready to commit for life. He wanted to marry her and all of a sudden there were 'flaws' that no one mentioned before.

'He's too dark, his great grand father was a traditional worshipper, his father is a chief who has 2 wives, therefore he'll marry 2 wives as well...'

She thought that her parents were too educated and enlightened to think this way but she was wrong. Her mother already said no and there wasn't much else that anyone could do... Her father trying to be diplomatic as usual, didn't approve either but with a smile on his face and a little bit of 'well, it's your choice'.

She was torn between the man she loved and had loved her for two years, who she hoped would love her for all of eternity and her family who she had know all her life....

But she had decided, she would walk away..., from everything she'd ever known or believed, she'd leave everything behind and she would marry him.