Abnormal GOODBYES

Goodbyes Are Always a Good Thing... Or So I Thought

Overcomers, trust you're doing great and having the best time of your life? And i hope this letter meets you well? This one that MTN data tariff is expensive now ehn? Sigh! We move regardless, As Overcomers that we are.

And guess what? This is my second newsletter. (drumrolls)

Growing up, I thought goodbyes were always a good or happy thing—until I grew up and became an adult. Goodbyes have become a very strange, strong emotion. I’ve experienced several goodbyes, and I’ll list a few here.

My first ABNORMAL GOODBYE experience was when I started my uni journey. Telling my parents and siblings goodbye stirred up so many emotions every time am going back to school, I can’t even explain in words. The waves of our hands always felt like they shouldn’t end, until I could no longer catch a glimpse of them as the bus drove me away.

Me going back school

My second goodbye was with a bunch of friends. We told ourselves goodbye with promises to meet again on the other side of fulfilled dreams and successful lives. But honestly, we haven’t seen each other in person for nearly a decade now. (Still, those dreams are valid! 💯)

Padi dem Goodbyes.

Oh, lest I forget: what about the goodbyes of two lovebirds? Goodbyes that aren’t spoken in words or actions but land like a big blow to both faces. Emotional damage, I tell you! 💔🤣

The third goodbye wasn’t a planned one. It caught me off guard, and honestly, it’s one of the most painful goodbyes I’ve ever experienced. We didn’t prepare for her departure. That day, she called me via phone call and shared some issues that were troubling her. She needed clarity, and I couldn’t give her a proper answer immediately because I had so much going on that day, work, work, work! I remember how she told me that my initial response wasn’t good enough because she expected more depth, more light to help her decide.

Her words made me pause. I thought deeply about her concern for a few moments, and then I gave her a more thoughtful response. It felt good to finally provide the clarity she needed, and she seemed satisfied. We both ended the call.

But the next morning, I received a shocking call from a number I recognized but rarely interacted with—a mutual friend. Her voice was heavy, and the words she spoke shattered me. She told me my friend had passed away in the early hours of the morning. I couldn’t believe it. Just a few hours before, we had spoken. She had laughed. She had been alive.

The tears came like a rushing mighty wind. I felt this overwhelming wish that I’d known it was goodbye. Maybe I would have said something different. Maybe I would have expressed more. Maybe I would have held on longer, even if it was just through the phone. That goodbye, though unspoken, became one of the hardest for me to bear. It was a reminder that sometimes, we don’t get the chance to say goodbye properly—and that’s what hurts the most. 😱😭💔

Unspoken Goodbye.

The fourth goodbye was one I consciously built over the years. I nurtured it. I’d feel the emotions any time the thought crossed my mind or we talked about it, whether jokingly or not. I had already tasted that goodbye in my mind so many times. And then, recently, it became real before my eyes. I couldn’t cry; I couldn’t laugh. It came with a lot of mixed feelings. 🤣💔😭😱😝🤗 Au revoir, buddy! 👋🏾

A self-made Goodbyes

Goodbyes are a bittersweet experience. The bitterness is in the pain they generate during the separation. The sweetness is in the blessings, opportunities, and new beginnings that await the person departing.

Goodbyes are like invisible canes or koboko, striking our hearts with pain and leaving us with tears—whether they flow on our faces or stay hidden in our hearts.

Goodbyes are the final signature or seal on the memories we’ve shared.

We should consciously say goodbyes.

Ire o. Overcomers, please make sure you don’t die, abeg. Till my next letter, stay alive and stay winning. 🤗😉