"SHE" - An Ode to My Wunmmssyy

 

".....Okay talk to me like I am the panel, do it the way you will do it there. don't be nervous, you can do it".

Blue trouser suit, hair sleekly packed, nice black shoes and a confidence that was unmatched by any in the room, this was February 2019 and arguably one of the biggest moments in our training school journey. About a hour or two later I was giving it my best shot, not being nervous because someone had helped me "eat the frog" and she didn't stop there as she came back with "Joy, you did great!" even when I thought I didn't do so well.

She was a Cheerleader (Yes!!! with the music, the pompoms, the hype and every prop you can think of).

March 2019, I thought our acquaintanceship had come to an end but as fate would have it we became team members, squad-mates, seatmates (for context, we moved to different locations but somehow we always sat beside each other) and friends. A friendship of 2 beautiful years filled with more memories than I could possibly pen down blossomed. 

She was my relief person (In every sense of the word - they say your colleagues are not your friends, well they are right because some become family)

"Joy, you have to eat healthy o. Eat fruits, veggies, go to the gym so you can maintain this your fine shape", "Joy, I brought cake for you" Lol!!!! the next minute she pushes a soda she doesn't want to drink my way while on some other days she goes "oya bring it don't drink it".

She was my cheat day (And almost everyday was one).

"Have you sent the mail?, don't send yet let's look at it. these people are funny sha, what do they mean?. it's not kuku their fault we know who is causing all these things. don't reply sef leave them" She always had my back, small but mighty with a tenacity that was way high to the heavens.

"Don't worry we will sit here and wait for him together, if it is to cry, roll on the floor we will do it. we will beg". I looked over at her during one of our "waiting" moments and I saw her muttering prayers under her breath, that was how much she felt what I was feeling. She embodied the selflessness of Christ himself, She left the "99" and went after "1".

Borrowing from the famous words of one of our favourite women in the world (Beyonce - I think she admired her more than I did);

Olawunmi was here, she lived, she loved, she was here
she did, she had done, everything that she wanted
And it was more than she thought it would be
she left her mark so everyone knows that she was here

Olawunmi lived each day, until she died
she had something in somebody's and everybody's life
she touched hearts, and that's the proof that she left
That she made a difference and the world saw it.

she was here.

 I miss you everyday baby girl, I miss that you won't get to walk into the office so I can go "Wunmmssyy", I miss that I can't tap you silently so you can spot a view that might become a hot-topic, I miss that we can't both face the guys in our team with those heated "man vs woman" conversations, I miss that now I have to fill a relief person and that name won't be yours but still when I think of you I will make sure to laugh more than I cry💔