BEST FRIENDS FOREVER?

You've known her all your life. You both grew in the same middle-class neighbourhood. Perhaps you even attended the same primary school or worshipped at the same church. You were once exuberant 7-year olds playing together in the evening rain, savouring the scent that came with the refreshing water that landed on your skin. They say pure water is odourless but rain sure has a characteristic scent trailing it. You used to be 9-year olds too, playing chase every other Saturday evening. Then, you were scholarly 12-year olds exchanging books and excitedly talking about them the next time you met.

Years later, you were 17-year olds stuck chatting on WhatsApp night after night. You've been best friends. And each time you met, the time together was always fleeting, too short to say all you both had to say. That's even after five hours of sitting and talking. Talking about everything. She'd tell you about the new guy trying to catch her attention. You found his 'wooing' tactics amusing. The guy didn't know your bestie well enough. He didn't know showering her with expensive gifts isn't what would work on her. You knew better. You knew she's a sucker for love notes, love poems and flowers. You knew having the right words would be the first step to winning her. Like a protective brother, you rejoiced in your heart over his ignorance. You'd been with a bunch of guys, listening in on their sickening conversations. They talked about the games they had played with this girl and that girl. When she was done talking about Mr Ignorant, you told her about a certain girl. Voluptuous and desperate for your attention, she kept sending you photos of herself. You fished out your phone and showed each one to her. She laughed over a particular one. The girl had in that photo turned her back to the camera. You then said you couldn't fathom why girls would take photographs that way. And she took her time to explain to you. You laughed so hard your ribs hurt.

Less than a year later, you were both students of a federal university. And you remember the day you retrieved her from a night club. You had advised her not to go. She didn't heed your advice. And that day, you called her on phone. There was no response. You panicked when you realised she may be down there, clubbing. You quickly made your way to the venue and there she was- drunk to stupor. Somehow, you got her out of there and to her off-campus apartment. Anything could have happened to her that night but you, her bestie, came to her rescue.

Suddenly, you are back to reality and you smile admiringly as you stare at the couple facing the mini-crowd. Your bestie is the new bride and this is her wedding reception. Beautiful bride... she has always been stunning. Her man is light-skinned. Back in those days, she always had a thing for good looking dark-complexioned guys and swore she'd marry a tall, dark and handsome man. But she fell in love with this dude, handsome and with glowing skin the colour of milk candy.

You do not see the future though. You do not yet realise that a gulf has been built between you two. You're both 23 but now in different phases, different leagues. Six months later, you'd see her at a social function. You'd be that boy dressed in deep-blue jeans and a smart multicoloured T-shirt. She'd be flanked by her doting husband and dressed in wrapper and buba. She'd not scream your name and give you a bearhug like she did in her girlie days. She'd give a brief hug and smile and talk, choosing her words wisely. You'd notice the gentle protrusion on her tummy.

Twelve months later, you're talking on WhatsApp and she'd have to go for a nap after 20 minutes. She'd complain that she barely slept last night because of her baby. Then the next time you'd talk would be on a phone call and you'd tell her about the youth meeting you attended. She'd talk about one women organisation she belongs to. She'd also tell you about the NGO she and her husband are going to launch soon. And you both would remember the little groups you and her brought together as enthusiastic young people. You'd remember the meetings you planned together. They were always her idea and you were there to support her all the way. She'd thank you for all those years, for your unflinching support back then.

You're agemates. You were besties. But she's a woman now. You're still a boy.