Letter to My Father & Uncle in November

 

Oh November, though I have forgiven you, I will never forget the 2nd, 3rd, up to the 15th of you in 2011. It was the most terrifying and painful two weeks of my life. Nothing can be quantified with what went down both in my spirit and body and the subsequent events that followed as a result.

Oh! My lovely father Raphael and Uncle Willie, you were my best friends and the most important people in my life.

How time flies you know, is already one year since you were gone and a lot has happened. Hearts were broken, dreams were affected, and we shed every drop of tear. The only thing left are your memories; playing in my head every now and then.

If I could, I would reverse the days. If I could I will reverse your pain, Uncle Willie. I remember trying to call your number, little did I know, you were already lying lifeless and could not hear me phoning. I prayed, I believed, I had faith, and looked forward to seeing you free from the hands of those evil kidnappers, but my hope was thwarted when I received that telephone call that said, it was over.


I knew you very well, you were hardly pushed around, firm in decision-making; and you were both fighters. I wondered how those days became different. At what point exactly you accepted death?

I still love you both, but I must say, I don't wish to see you in my dreams anymore. We are worlds apart now and can only hope to see someday, and then you will tell me all about what happened on the 2nd of November, the 3rd of November, up to the 15th of November 2011. I really want to hear the story authentically from you. What actually went wrong? How come it ended in such manner? Could you have done something to prevent the tragedy?

While I wait for that faithful day when we reunite again as a family, thank you for being part of my life. Your love is still alive in all of us, and our mourning is filled with happiness by memories of you.

Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord, Raphael Obasi Okonkwo and Wilfred Nwadilim Okonkwo

Yours daughter
Nelly Amarachukwu Okonkwo