God really has a great sense of humor. But worse still, is His contradictory side. The point where He lets you shed tears and look at life from all the different angles there ever can be. Imagine, the conflicting emotions running through a mind when a friend has to travel to lands far away, the future happening so fast, one can hardly believe it. Right when you thought there is no limit to what you can achieve together, He puts a pause and presses the start button once again.

That is where I am at. Nursing that feeling of pride and resentment, all in one serving.  That feel the mother of the bride harbors moments before giving her hand in marriage. Strangely adjusting to the fact that some man will be taking care of her, calling her his own and at times holding her from the childhood dreams you still hold dear. I should be happy I know. But I am sorry that I am grumpy right now. In fact, I feel empty inside. All these fears are becoming real and I have no idea how to react. It is like the world is being moved from right under my feet, and I am just about to fly into the galaxies unknown. Deep within, however, is the smile of victory. This is a dream come true for both of us. A chance to scale the heights and rewrite history.

About a year and a half ago, she walked all so coyly to our meeting.  We were a group of students from my SUS class and all we wanted was to do something together to make the world a better place. Our hearts were sold to the calling of running charity missions across the nation and to touch lives on the go. And by the time she joined us, we had been handed an even deeper challenge. To re-establish one of the most vibrant clubs that ever existed on campus, three years prior.

And that became the start of a lifelong journey of friendship, sisterhood, mentorship. Taking risks, battling unseen forces, facing challenges, and with the bravery of the lions, marking territories and establishing our roots. We made a formidable force. We had a rock solid dynamic bond that ensured everywhere we went, we were handled as two. There was no separating us.

Funny how two individuals can meet, connect, bond and share visions so strong; bringing with it lifelong experiences, hopes, and aspirations that very few get to enjoy. There are times when tears became our source of solace, and others when laughter became the medicine we so craved for. Times when we would seek official approval, yet we already knew the answers, or even got a way to influence stuff our way. Many were left wondering how we did it. But do you know what? It wasn’t about our might or influence, it was God’s grace.

How about the many times we swore to give up? Even to the point of taking sabbaticals and just existing. Hahaha, when I look back, joy fills my heart. I am glad that we did get the chance to try it all out. The way we nursed anger and tackled failures was legendary. Counting the number of times, we had to say sorry, pick up the broken pieces, swallow our pride and start again, there is no saying how much more we have on the plate for us.

Girl, you came in and became a blood relation, a sister of the other mother. I mean, the person I would text at the first cockcrow about a weird dream or an idea that had hit home. The one who I would tell all my love stories and you would laugh at my silly thoughts and fears reminding me to smell the coffee and move on. And the road trips that we shared, traversing the country and posing at County 001. I will miss the moments.

The dress ups and shoe fitting happenings will always be held to heart. It was always fun. Having to attend weddings, with an African theme, and fitting into dresses and heels is an unforgettable experience. Then came the Rotaract Installation Dinner, 2018.  The way we struggled to understand and plan according to the theme. The bowtie event it was, but our biggest pressure was getting to feel the cold at night just because we had worn dresses. Then we derived a genius design, being the tomboys that we are, we were actually going for the African-themed bowtie. This look was a hit.

I will miss the wine sipping, cake sharing, hunting for great French fries, but most of all, the laughter that carried the day when savoring Indian cuisine. My oh, my.  Our commitment to the bhajia dates was to die for. How many wished to have a piece of our cake but failed to understand the cost of friendship still boggles my mind. That friendship entails sacrifice, commitment, passion, love beyond self and another level of understanding is a lesson many will have to learn. Nothing comes easy. There are hills and valleys and shuttered dreams along these lanes, but the urge to win always takes the day. It is the driving force behind who we have become.

I can keep rambling on and on with words. Repeating myself like am singing a dirge and telling the stories of yonder. However, the fact remains; this is the start of a new chapter for you. We never can tell what the future holds but one thing I know for sure. “There are no limits whatsoever to what you can achieve,” but only if you set your mind to it. Go forth and shine like the star that you are. Your dreams should be to fly, over the rainbow so high, grazing the skies and leaving footprints everywhere you go. Because you know what, this world would not be the same without you.

Go inspire nations to greatness, touching one life at a time, changing the victory narrative; not being boxed into normalcy. I’ll be looking out on you, smelling the fragrances and minting words as always, telling the stories of 254 and sharing episodes of mercury in sugar and bagging millions in gurney bags. After all, we are firstly Kenyan before we become anything else. The only nation where matatus are a lifestyle and we loved strolling through Gikomba and Toi markets.

Bon voyage doesn’t seem right for me to say. I will thus keep to my comfort zone, safe travels. Every time a butterfly flaps its wings flying by, I will smile, and know that all is well with you. And when the rainbow shows its face, I shall read the omens and understand the silent code, saying, the rains are over. It will shine again. But when I need an editor or copy writer, I will spam your email with work to do, like days of old. Because that is what friendship is all about. At least, you know how we do it.