Letters To My Love

Chapter One: The Start of Something Special

Far from Uremma and Obinna’s beautiful home in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, Richie, a singer from Ukanafun in the same state, was deeply immersed in his music. His songs were always loved by fans, with his latest release capturing the heartfelt emotion of his audience.

Meanwhile, in Mbaitoli, Imo State, Night, a writer and journalist with a passion for storytelling, was busy with interviews and story writing. She often crafted love stories because she believed in the magic of love, though she had not experienced it herself until she met Richie. Inspired by the beauty of relationships, she infused her stories with emotional depth, much like Uremma and Obinna’s letters.

Richie and Night’s connection began professionally. In late 2020, Night, seeking musicians to interview for her blog, posted her email address on her WhatsApp status, requesting anyone with musician contacts to reach out. A friend forwarded her email to Richie, who then contacted Night by email, introducing himself and mentioning that he was a singer.

A flicker of excitement danced in Night’s eyes as she scrolled through her emails, receiving her first email from Richie on September 23, 2020. The aroma of freshly brewed bamboo tea filled her cosy room, which she sipped from time to time as she typed away on her laptop. The soft strains of Celine Dion’s The Power of Love playing in the background added a touch of warmth to her evening. As she crafted her response, she thought with a smile that an interview with Richie, the rising star whose voice captivated audiences with its raw emotion, would be a great addition to her blog.

Night’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed, ‘Okay Richie, how may I help you?’ Her professional curiosity was piqued. However, she knew that this wasn’t the right question to have asked him since he had already told her that he was a singer. She still had to ask anyway, perhaps to ensure she was speaking to the right person and not just some random person who had slid into her inbox. She hoped that if he was among the singers seeking an interview, he wouldn’t find her question boring or unprofessional.

Weeks passed with no response. Just as Night was about to give up on receiving a reply, a notification appeared on her phone—Richie had replied, briefly mentioning his hometown in Akwa Ibom. Night’s smile widened; this could turn into a great interview.

Weeks later, another email arrived from Richie. Without hesitation, Night responded, ‘Hi... You’re a singer, right? I accept interviews, or better put, I grant interviews for my blog... Do you mind if I interview you? I am from Imo State... If you accept my request, I would like the interview to be via WhatsApp, which means you’ll drop your WhatsApp contact to this email. Thanks for your time and consideration... See you around.’

The conversation was moving forward. Her heart skipped a beat as she extended the official invitation for the interview.

Several more weeks went by with no word from Richie. Then, on a quiet Tuesday morning, another email arrived. Richie had provided his WhatsApp number, and Night felt a surge of satisfaction. The interview was finally on track. She sent the interview questions via WhatsApp.

Initially, Night had no interest in a personal connection; after the interview was published, she deleted their conversation. However, as she continued to interview Richie and delete their chats after each session, a different dynamic began to emerge. Their professional exchanges grew warmer, hinting at a deeper connection.

By January 2024, their relationship took a turn. Richie called Night after missing her call and apologised for not answering her interview questions due to illness and hospitalisation. Night expressed her concern, and their calls grew more frequent. On January 24th, 2024, Richie promised to introduce her to his parents, acknowledging her support for his music career. From this casual promise, their friendship blossomed into love.