Dear Bambi Today November 6, is your mother's first birthday after you disappeared. That means her first birthday in 25 years without you. My heart breaks for her. Today, more than in the past 5 months. You changed the dynamics of our relationship when you left. I now dance around her. Like walking on eggshells.  Including conscientiously reminding myself not to address her as 'Iya Bambi' mistakenly. And trust me, that is a very difficult thing to do after more than 20 years. The other day I called her Oke and it sounded strange to my ears. Your mother has become this

It was the summer of 2021. And we were at the Cap Vert Peninsula. Seated inside a restaurant at les Pointe Des Almadies. I hoisted myself onto the low wall separating the restaurant from the Atlantic Ocean and sat on it. Knees pulled up and arms folded across, I stared mesmerised at the beauty as the evening sun messed with the waters. Streaking its rays across the surface which purred idly like one being caressed by a lover. We sipped Bouye and Bissap while we waited for our A la carte seafood. The Senegalese somehow found a way to combine both drinks

          Little Kifi, the fish, gleefully sprang up into the air, gulped some air and flipped her tail. Then dived back into the ocean. Swimming leisurely along, she reminisced on her recent encounter with another older fish, Azu. "Your life is tied to the Water. Outside of it, you cease to exist" "Must be a pitiable state to live" mused Kifi as she recalled the conversation with Azu. Although, Azu was white and bent with age with glazed over eyes, his senses of hearing and touch were still razor-sharp. The Renegade Meanwhile, earlier that day, Azu had noticed

This guy I follow. The baddest of Influencers. I call him Mr Loco. Because he is very weird. Met him offline before online became a thing. Very vociferous. Spares no one. Bucks the trend. Delights in annoying the establishment. "I do not care for my life. You are going to kill me anyway so I might as well say it as it is" As he stirred up more ruckus, his following grew. His followers got into arguments and fights. Became Voltrons, the defender of his Universe. "Stop defending me. I can take care of myself" he cautioned restraint Mindset upgrades. Lifestyle switches

"Amara are you crying?" "No, you are not" I shifted under the Comforter in bed. Sniffling. "What is it?" "Why are you crying now when you are almost drifting off to sleep? I sat upright as the strains of a song filtered into my room from the hallway. 'God You're So Good' A Duet by Passion, Kristian Stanfil & Melodie Malone. That song always gets me. However this night was different. I have been a mesh of emotions for the last week. And it culminated today when I was writing that letter to him. You see, tomorrow is my son's birthday. The

"I am sorry, I did not mean to" He stood by the door of my room pleading again "Go away please. Leave my room" I responded calmly "I was trying to pick it up and...." "Young man, just go. Have you finished the mopping? "Yes. It was an accident" "Go. it is not a big deal. Just go" Watching him leave apprehensively, an image popped up in my head. Watching Iyawo-Urhobo hurl a can of Saturday Night powder at her daughter Edirin as she chased her round the compound angrily. Then just as quickly, another vision superimposed itself over that one. Mama