Another year prettier, Ololade — somehow still stealing all the blanket.
The day you first came to see me, we talked for hours, about ourselves, our pasts, whether two people like us could ever get along. Somewhere in all that talking, it turned quietly romantic. Neither of us wanted you to leave, but you had to go home. I didn't want you to go, my love, but I knew you must, and I already knew I'd see you again.
Ilorin, for a training I didn't want to do alone, so you came along. I was speeding a bit on that drive and you kept telling me to slow down while we talked and played music the whole way. Restaurant, cinema, sweet little moments, then back to our old university where we prayed together and laughed like students again. Later, I drove down to pick you up from your NYSC posting, another good day with my good girl.
Okay, fine, it wasn't really 'one time.' It's every time. Somebody will just breathe wrong and you're already giving attitude. 😂 But that's our thing now, the funniest part of us: I tease you, you vex small, we laugh five minutes later, and I love every bit of it.
Most of our best days aren't occasions at all, just you being easy and lovely to be around, turning a normal day into a little magic. We've butted heads plenty, you getting worked up over small things, me stressing you right back. But under every single one of those days, there's love. So much love, always.
There are approximately a million. I had to start somewhere.
The most beautiful thing I know. You smile and the whole day gets softer. And those lips? Gorgeous. Juicy, even. Tastefully said, I promise. There, I said it.
You care so deeply it's almost unfair. When I was sick, you cooked for me, checked on me, called just to ask how I was doing. I'm simply trying to take care of you the same way back.
The moods. The little storms over the littlest things. One minute you're vexing, the next you're laughing like nothing happened. It shouldn't be this endearing, and yet here I am, completely obsessed.
You take care of me, of us, of our home, of all the small things I'd forget. Being with you feels like finally breathing out. My favorite kind of quiet.
The serious parts, the soft parts, the parts you apologize for. All of it. I love all of you. Everything about you. No exceptions, no small print.
Focused and deadly serious behind your laptop, then ten minutes later asking me a hundred questions, half of them gloriously irrelevant. I love both sides equally, and I will never pick one.
Tap a photo to hold the moment a little closer.
Lovingly observed. Completely accurate. Definitely not open for debate.
This one is for you, my love, and I say it with all the softness in me. 😂 This year, can we gently reduce the TikTok scrolling and the series binging? The ones that quietly swallow your whole evening while your dreams sit there waiting like, "hello? Excuse me?" You have so much you're building, and you're so good at it, I just want a little more of that energy pointed at you. Watch less of other people's stories, and let the world watch yours. That's all. Small ask from a man who believes in you completely. 💛
Nudging you lovingly, always. Yours, Abiola.Òloladé mi owón, happy birthday. 🎂
I've been thinking about what to write since morning, deleted it like three times, and I'm just going to write from my heart now, just me talking to you the way I always do.
First of all, thank you for being born. I know that sounds simple but I mean it. Out of everywhere in this world, our paths crossed, and honestly, till today I still think about how that happened. Years now, and you're still here, still putting up with me, still choosing me. That's not a small thing. I don't take it for granted, I swear.
I want to use this one to tell you something I don't say enough. I see you. I really do. I see how hard you're pushing to build something for yourself, how much you want more out of life, how you're not satisfied with just staying where you are. Some days I know things aren't moving the way you want them to, and I know it frustrates you, even when you try to hide it from me. But my love, this period you're in right now is not the final chapter. It's just a chapter. In shaa Allah, better ones are coming, and I believe that with my whole chest. One day you're going to look back at this exact time and realize this was the part where you were being built, not broken.
I also want to appreciate you, you've cared for me in ways I don't always know how to put into words. The small things. checking up on me, worrying about me when I don't even ask you to, showing up for me even when you had your own stuff going on. I notice. I remember. I'm grateful. Not everybody gets someone who shows up like you do, and I know that.
Now let me say a little about your future, because I have a lot of hope for you. I pray this new year brings you the career breakthrough you've been working toward. I pray doors open for you that you didn't even knock on. I pray for financial stability, for opportunities that match the effort you've been putting in, because honestly you've been working too hard for it not to pay off. I pray for peace of mind for you, because I know your mind doesn't rest easily. I pray for wisdom in the decisions ahead, and confidence to walk into rooms knowing you deserve to be there. I believe in you becoming the woman you've always dreamed of becoming. I've seen the vision in your eyes when you talk about it, and I want to be there when it happens, not just hear about it from a distance.
And I want you to know, whatever happens, you're not doing this life alone. I can't promise to fix everything, because I'm not God, and I'm not going to lie to you and say I can carry every one of your problems. But I can promise this, when you need someone, I'll be there. When things are working out, I'll be the first one celebrating with you, probably embarrassing you with how loud I'll be about it. When things are hard, I'll stand next to you, even if all I can do is just sit with you in it. When you're confused and everything feels like too much, I'll listen, not to give you unnecessary advice, just to listen. And when you win — and you will win — I'll be proud of you in a way you probably won't even fully understand.
Now let me tease you small, because if I don't, this message isn't complete. 😂 My love, this new age, please, I'm begging you in the name of God, we need some upgrade for this anger thing o. You can vex over the smallest, smallest thing. Somebody will just breathe wrong and you're already giving attitude. 😂 I love you, but honestly, along with all these big career goals and becoming a successful woman, can we please add "not getting angry over nonsense" to the list this year? Just small adjustment. That's all I'm asking. Abeg.
But even with all that teasing, that stubbornness is part of what makes you, you. It's the same fire that's going to push you to where you're trying to go, so I can't even complain too much. I just like to stress you small, you know that.
I don't want to turn this whole message into a prayer point, but I'll say this. I pray Allah blesses your effort, protects you, gives you peace in the middle of your hustle, and grants you the things you've been quietly asking for. I believe He sees the work you're putting in, even on the days you feel like nobody notices.
Ololade, as I round this up, I just want you to hold onto a few things. I love you. I appreciate you, more than I show sometimes. I see everything you're going through, even the parts you don't talk about. I believe in you, fully, not the polite kind of belief, the real kind. I'm proud of who you're becoming, and I'm excited for the woman you're going to be in a few years' time. I want to see you win. I want to be there for all of it, the small wins and the big ones.
Happy birthday, my person. Here's to another year of you growing, me teasing you, and both of us figuring this life out together. I love you. Deeply. Always.