Letters To My Love

Chapter Four: A Casual but Exciting Proposal

One sunny afternoon, as Night headed out to interview someone for her blog, she received a video call from Richie. The streets of Ukanafun were bustling with energy. People were going about their daily routines, the aroma of street food mingling in the air with the sounds of lively chatter and laughter. Richie was taking a leisurely stroll, greeting friends and neighbours with enthusiastic waves. From a nearby barbershop, his hit song Kapital No was blasting through loudspeakers. The infectious rhythm had children dancing joyfully, their faces alight with smiles as they sang along. The scene was vibrant and full of life, with the local market in full swing, vendors calling out their wares, and the sunlight casting a bright, cheerful glow over everything.

As Richie strolled, he glanced at his phone, his face lighting up with a broad, affectionate smile when he saw Night’s name appear on the screen. He turned his attention back to the camera, his eyes filled with love.

‘Hello, Best,’ Richie greeted her, his smile as warm as the afternoon sun. ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately,’ he said, sliding one hand gracefully into his trouser pocket. Dressed in black, his favourite colour, his outfit hugged his slim figure perfectly, making him look both casual and stylish.

Night smiled back, her heart swelling with happiness. ‘Me too, My Lord. I can’t stop thinking about our future together.’

Richie took a deep breath, his expression growing serious yet tender. ‘I want to make this official, Night. I want us to be together, to build a life full of love and happiness. Will you be mine, now and always?’

Tears of joy welled up in Night’s eyes. She had been waiting for this moment, and now that it was here, it felt almost surreal. ‘Yes, Bahbah Richie. I will be yours, now and always.’

Richie’s smile broadened, and his eyes sparkling with delight. ‘I can’t wait to start this journey with you, Nightengale. You are everything I’ve ever wanted.’

As the call ended, Night felt a sense of completeness. She knew that with Richie by her side, their love story would continue to unfold beautifully, filled with countless cherished moments and an unbreakable bond.

And so, with hearts full of love and a future bright with promise, Richie and Night began their journey together as an engaged couple, ready to face whatever life had in store for them, united by their love and the beautiful letters that had brought them closer.

After the interview that day, Night returned home with a smile on her face. She pulled off her dress and changed into a casual pink home dress. Then, she prepared a bowl of garri, a popular Nigerian treat. She mixed the dry garri with a bit of water, along with a generous amount of milk, sugar, and roasted groundnuts she had bought on her way home. This quick mix gave the garri a slightly softened texture while maintaining some of its original crunch. The roasted groundnuts added a delightful crunch, perfectly complementing the creamy and sweet mixture. The combination created a harmonious blend of textures and flavours, making the garri incredibly delicious and irresistible. After stirring the mixture to perfection, Night took the bowl to her study desk, savouring a few spoonfuls of the delicious treat before reaching for her diary. With the smile still pinned on her beautiful face, she wrote:

To the man of my dreams, to the man that makes my heart beat so much, to the man that I willingly give my heart to without reservations, to the man I wish my childhood had begun with, I want to say that I love you so much. They say love comes when you’re not expecting it, I guess that’s true. You’re the true definition of love, and I know that many different people in the world found their own love in their own different ways. I am just so happy that it was you that I fell in love with because you give me the love I never imagined I would have. And today I drink from your love, and I feel satisfied and blessed.

I have always wanted to sit under cherry or peach blossoms, watching the petals fall gracefully on me while drinking tea and writing. I want to experience that beautiful moment with you. I want to walk in the snow with you, kiss you on the first day the snow falls, and play love rain with you. Of course, my love, I adore the rain and the romance of walking in it, and I want us to walk together, laughing and chatting while the rain soaks us. I dream of visiting Verona, the enchanting city of love where Romeo and Juliet’s love story was created. There, in Juliet’s courtyard, amidst the whispers of history and love, I envision us writing our own love letter. We would pin it to the centuries-old tree, and sign our names in gold for people to read. Imagine the centuries-old tree adorned with countless love letters, each one a symbol of love stories from around the world. We will add our own, letting our words intertwine with the echoes of past lovers. With you, I want to experience all the extreme emotions. Do you know why? Because you are the only one qualified to see all of that with me.

As the sun rises, I imagine us greeting the new day together, our faces illuminated by the soft glow of dawn. I want to gaze into your eyes and see the warmth and love they hold, sharing intimate moments and silent conversations that convey our deepest feelings. Picture us embracing as the sun paints the sky with its first light, our hearts in perfect harmony with the beauty of the morning. And we’ll dance together under the stars, a sweet, soothing song playing softly in the background, as we hold each other close and let the world fade away around us.

You said Dubai is your favourite country; of course, we will go there and enjoy its beauty. We will also visit other countries with romantic views, and with our kids on the way, we will make memories together as a happy family.

The world is so vast, filled with countless people, and in this immense world, I am so happy that I found you among them. It’s like searching for someone in a sea of faces with a compass, and once the compass pointed to you, it indicated that you’re the one. Of course, you’re the one I have been searching for all my life, and I am glad that I finally found you. I ask, where have you been all my life? If you had come sooner, when we were kids, I would have loved it even more, as I would have cherished experiencing all the silly things kids do with their favourite person. But then in love, we don’t ask questions like that. We don’t ask love why it came when it came; we are just happy that it came when it came because that moment it came was the right moment. So, you came at the right moment for me, and I will cherish every moment with you because you’re my cherished jewel.

Once she finished writing, she closed her diary with a tender smile, not planning to send Richie this particular letter just yet. She imagined herself on their wedding day, writing the letter out on exquisitely textured paper, using her most elegant, flourishing handwriting, dipped in a golden fountain pen that seemed to capture the light. The envelope, she envisioned, would be a masterpiece of romance itself, adorned with an elaborate design and tied with a soft, satin ribbon that whispered of love’s grace. On the back, in elegant gold calligraphy, Letter To My Love, Richie would be inscribed, the letter a symbol of her affection. She pictured slipping the letter into this envelope, feeling the weight of her love in her hands as she prepared it as part of a collection of precious gifts for him on that day. The thought of this heartfelt gesture made her heart flutter with the anticipation of sharing it with him.

Richie, seated outside under the shade of a tree, penned a heartfelt line on a blank page of his notebook: Your love, Night, gave me all…I will always be your guard, cover you in and out of seasons. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face as he closed the book, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. With the book cradled in one hand and the other hand casually slipped into his trouser pocket, he embarked on a leisurely stroll.

Unbeknownst to him, Night was also taking a walk, as if guided by an invisible thread that drew them together. Both wore smiles, their steps in perfect rhythm with the soft breeze that caressed them. The air was filled with a sweet, floral fragrance, adding a touch of enchantment to their walk. It was a moment of serene perfection for this engaged couple, and as if the universe was conspiring in their favour, Ed Sheeran’s Perfect began playing in the background, weaving a romantic ambiance into their surroundings.

Love makes everything beautiful; we just have to find the right person for us. When they appear, they transform our world, making every moment magical and every experience a cherished memory shared between two hearts destined to be together.