Lover’s Gaze Pt. 2
It’s a warm, sunny afternoon in the early week of July. I was enjoying my time away from work when it occurred to me that it’s been a while since the last time I corresponded with someone I genuinely miss. I sent my little daughter Mabel to go outside and play with her older siblings, Greg and Rob, while I got out my writing pad and pen and decided to write a letter to my one and only true love.
Hello darling Tunde,
I’ve missed you so much. Even though we keep in touch by phone, I miss the real presence of you here with me.
It’s not just me that’s missing you. Greg and Rob do, too. But especially Mabel, our little angel. The one true beauty of joy that you and I both share. I hope you’re getting the photos I sent to you of her. Do you see how fast she’s growing? She’s got your exact pair of eyes. She turns three next month, and she’s already begun to seem feisty. Her brothers love looking after her for me. As I’m writing this letter to you, I’m watching them play outside.
I look forward to the day you would return to the USA and become a father to them and a dear husband to me. Yes, Tunde, dearest, I look forward towards you being permanent in my world.
I don’t know if I’ve told you already, but Jerry and I aren’t together anymore. Yes, we finally decided to call it quits last year. I couldn’t withstand having him around while pretending to still be in love with him. I’d thought that he would have straightened out his life by now and gotten back to being the man I previously knew him to be. But he’s kept on with his drinking. And he despises that you and I had something together under his nose; he can’t see past his jealousy. I tried to keep the peace with him, darling. But I couldn’t anymore, not for the sake of my sanity or the kids. He, too, knew that things couldn’t ever be repaired between us; he didn’t protest when I suggested that we end our union. He has since moved out of the house. For a while, I received alimony checks from him, but that was months ago, and I have since lost contact with him. Wherever he is right now, I pray that he’s happy with himself.
The world is a tough place to live, darling. 2020 was a crazy year for nearly everybody. I lost a relative to Covid, and several friends and neighbours came down with symptoms, but they later got better. I was lucky to keep clear of it. And I’ve gotten vaccinated, if you must know. I don’t know how it was over in Nigeria, but from the photos you sent me, looks as though you all never had an ounce of the nightmare we had here.
Lucky you.
What makes it so hard is you not being here with me. I sure could have used a shoulder to cry on most times. I know that it would be most easy to stay in bed and weep from morning till afternoon, except I know you won’t want that of me. Besides, it won’t do anything to bring you closer to me. I can only imagine how tough life must have been for you when you left here to return home the last time we were together. Did I tell you how much I cried for you that night? It felt as if the world was collapsing on me like I fell into a sinkhole and got swallowed wholesome. If only it were possible for me to turn back time. If only I could have you here with me one last time before you left . . . but that won’t have been reality, would it, darling?
I did make enquiries, though. I did some research online, and wrote plenty of letters to the U.S State Department and Bureau of Immigrations to see how possible it could be to have you back here. They got some solicitous responses, but nothing concrete. It’s like they, too, don’t know much of what the ongoings over there is about. From the gist I got, it seems the previous fella in the White House screwed up a lot of things, and now there’s plenty of wannabe immigrants tangled up in dozens of bureaucratic loopholes that they can’t reckon how to unravel themselves.
But I didn’t care about those others. All I want is how to bring you, my darling love, back here to come and be with me always. I really don’t know how, my love. I wish I do. Or maybe I’m just not that smart and rich enough. I bet if I were rich, I’d have you here faster than you could whisper my name. I’d send you a private jet to ferry you across the ocean to bring you straight to me. Maybe if I get lucky and play the lottery . . . who knows. We can always dream, can’t we?
I’m glad to hear that you’ve gotten a job again and that you’re back on your feet, too. I wonder what your parents must have thought when you first told them about me. They must have thought some crazy white woman charmed you when you were over here. I fear that they won’t take kindly to you wanting to be here. But I understand that. Never did I expect to fall in love with someone like you. Some things you simply don’t ever plan in life, but often they find a way of working themselves out.
I know it’s tough saving money, almost as tough making some, but you’re doing your best to save up to return here. I’ll do my best and see what I can send you. Yes, I know you won’t want me doing that, but I cannot help but want you here so fast. I miss you, and I love you every passing day. My sons love and miss you, too. Often they ask me when you’re coming back. They still talk about the last time you spoke to them on the phone, and especially Mabel, she needs you more than I do. But darling, I know it’s not your fault. I know that you’re going to return to us.
We will stay patient as always. Even now, my eyes are watering up as I’m penning down these words to send to you. You are forever and always my heart and my soul. And I long for the day you return to me.
Your true love,
Evelyn.❤️
This is a sequel to the first story showcased below. Will there be a third, I don’t know, depends on how well you enjoy this one.