9 Years in Destiny’s Corner

It was a fateful evening as I remember it. April 15th, 2014.

We had been chatting on WhatsApp and said our goodbyes. For the life of me, I know I’m not the most graphic storyteller, but you know those goodbyes we say when the heart really longs for more but the fingers have to type ‘see you later’ for formalities sake. Yeah, you get the picture.

Somehow, neither of us wanted the other party to have the last say. So you typed good night and I typed good night and the back and forth began.

Good night

Good night

Good night

Good night.

I can’t remember who eventually conceded, but I recall that one of us figured something was up. Something fishy, or as it were, something ‘lovely’. I then asked if it was okay for us to meet. We were both students at the time, living in the Halls of Residence at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

A few minutes later, I met you at the Porters’ lodge, very close to Block 4 where your room was. My heart raced as I drew close. I think yours did too. I wanted to scream out all I felt for you, but was unsure how you’d take it. I asked, instead, that we take a walk. I started off rambling about how I had feelings for you.

“Oh, I have always felt the same for you too“, you mentioned. I was uneasy inside. ‘Me? You felt the same for me?’

“But you said God said we weren’t meant for each other“, you reminded me.

The truth was, I had once prayed about us and I heard God say “Do not awaken love before its time”. I took that to mean that we weren’t meant to be together and I shared this with you at the time. Silly me. Telling a lady such. Premium Christian Breakfast. You had handled it well at the time, considering (though you later told me that it hurt like a flaming dagger was thrust through your chest at 100mph).

I digress.

As we walked that stony path that led opposite YemYem and sat on the pavement with UBA and GTBank across the road, and Block 4 Basketball court behind us, we shared such passionate words I’ve never heard before. Love at its finest. I think I kept asking myself if I was in a dream or not. This beautiful lady loved me, and I loved her too, and here we were sharing how much we’ve loved each other, to each other! Wow! Must be a dream, but it wasn’t. It was as real as real gets.

Then came the dilemma. What do we do next? It was already getting dark at this point. Nearly midnight. I don’t remember who suggested walking a bit more but we did. We walked towards Destiny Hall. It was where our Campus Fellowship met weekly. I dare say God was playing with words that night because it was at Destiny Hall our destinies matched, and our journey to forever began.

We prayed there, that night. We asked God for guidance on the next steps. I think we said “Let’s see where it goes“. Two youngins who had never been in love before. Innocent minded boy and girl.

I look back at our journey and smile.

I asked you to marry me later that day. April 16th, 2014. I made a ring out of a broomstick and asked you to marry me. I was that sure that you were the One, and that I wasn’t in this to just “see where it goes“. I was in for the long run.

You smiled and asked “Do you think you’re ready to marry like this” or something along those lines.

Mariam and I at Destiny Hall, one of those days at MFM Campus Fellowship, likely 2013

Truth is, I wasn’t, yet, I was. I barely slept that night after we parted from Destiny Hall. All I did was pray and ask God to give me a word. A sure word. Something I could hold on to, to say that these feelings we shared for each other meant something. Trust God, He did

I’d end with God’s word to me. It still rings true 9 years later.

Proverbs 16:33 AMPC The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].

PS. It’s 5:09am April 14th 2023. I’m editing this and posting on the blog. You’re fast asleep by my side as we’ve just finished praying. You crawl up to me, fast asleep still, and you hold me in your arms and place your head on my chest. I am Yours, Ajike mi. I love You to the ends of the earth and back.

Femi Johnson 

Your Lover now and forever

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