The flood of emptiness between our stories
is filled with pain, heart ache and grief. I remember my last birthday-you
called and mocked me on hitting another milestone-we laughed, you teased, I
argued-and we smiled. I miss that.
The mischief that coated your voice as you
spoke my name, the way you walked with your head slightly tilted like you were
always absorbed in your thoughts, your snicker that birthed into merry laughter
as you watched me learn from my mistakes.
I miss looking behind and seeing you
eagerly follow as we ran through the house as children, I miss watching you
walk ahead as the confident man you had become-strong, supportive and intent on
accomplishing your dreams.
I miss hearing you whisper “Happy Birthday
Tolu” with such love and sincerity it made my heart melt with joy and
thanksgiving. The bond we shared was so special-it was a gift. And it was taken
violently from us in your death.
The tears I have cried, the grief that has
stalked me this past year as I walked through the gift of another year knowing
you did not have the chance to celebrate yours has left me empty.
I still look into your eyes and feel the
strength of family, the hope of love and the joy of our bond as brother and
sister.
As I walk into my next year without that
beacon of a smile ushering me into this new milestone, as I step into this next
phase without your warm broad shoulders hugging me furiously with love and
laughter, my heart once more ruptures with pain at the gift that was taken from
us.
Your death has changed our story; but I
thank God I was your sister. I thank God I bore the blessing to be called your
sibling-I am grateful I watched you smile mischievously and laugh richly from a
child to a young man I deeply respected.
I am happy you found your calling in life-I
am grateful for the gift God granted to your spirit to sing through eternity
with the treasure trove of music you have left behind.
Your voice so full of your character of
hope, love and laughter has ushered me into this new phase of our lives as a
family. I am happy I can tune my ears to the sound of your music and hear the
Toba I knew through the Tyler Fray who sings his dreams, visions and ideas into
sounds of melody.
I love you Toba.
It has been a hard year of loss and God in
his infinite wisdom has allowed your death date to be tied to my birth date and
today I celebrate our laughter and our love and at the same time I weep at what
has been lost and stolen-a myriad of memories taken before they reached the
realm of reality-a thousand words that could have been shared, a million
moments that could have been spent together-all shattered into a gaping
emptiness of loss.
I love you and you love me.
“Happy Birthday,” I hear you whisper
softly. Though I cannot see your face I can feel your love as you sigh “Happy
Birthday Tolu, I love you now, I love you forever more.”
Please
join:
Facebook:
Justice for Tyler Fray a.k.a Toba Falode
Instagram:
instagram/justicefortylerfray
Twitter:
twitter.com/TylerFray
Hashtag:
#justicefortylerfray
Sign
The Petition: Change.org
https://www.change.org/petitions/government-of-the-federal-republic-of-nigeria-the-government-should-insist-the-case-file-on-the-death-of-oloruntoba-oluwadamilola-falode-should-be-reopened-for-investigation-he-was-murdered-on-the-15th-february-2014-2
Email: justicefortylerfray@yahoo.com.
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