BIRTHDAY POST

The dreaded future stares at me blank, peeping at my written plans, it continues its stare. My watch making a tick tock sound as the minute hand travels 360 degrees, iteratively. Finally Mother enters my room without knocking as usual. She says ‘happy birthday ‘before she breaks out into a fairly rhythmic hapi baiday tuu youuuuu, happy baidayy tuu uu... She stops after a while and begins to pray for me. She plants a kiss on my cheeks and forehead and then go to bed.  I blush hard and say a silent prayer for mother. She always made sure I was happy on my birthday.  I go to my mirror after the short prayer, hoping to see some sort of change or something. My hair still the same, pieces of meat from my last night’s dinner followed me to my supposed new year, my face didn’t even bother changing-baby face still. I stare at my figure, my neck still thin with a hollow on each side, my body still petite and slim. I sigh deeply and go to bed, hoping for some overnight miracle at least. Morning comes and I wish father a happy birthday he smiles and wishes me same. I was his birthday gift that year.

Those who remember, call, send text, and post their wishes on all my social networks. At the end of the day, I post the usual thanks to those who remembered and those who didn’t. Viola! The day is over, till another 365 days and the whole drama commences and terminates same way-Except that the age changes. Every 365 days is a year closer to the future. Remember the future we all imagined as kids? Doing stuffs big aunties do? It’s here already. Its timing is analogous to that of my little fancy watch. It ticks and never stops, except well maybe there’s a fault and in the case of your life, maybe death. You were hoping I’ll say sickness yeah? Sorry to burst your bubbles, even on your sick bed, the watch of your life never stops ticking.

Enough of the admonition, so today is my birthday and I’m writing a paper today, that’s another reality check for me. Growing up, every birthday was a holiday, due to the fact it falls on the same day as children’s day. I never had classes, until my second year in uni, I had a class on my birthday. Fair, maybe. My third year in uni, was the real reality check, I had test a day before, on my birthday and also after. It was then I realized shi had gotten real. I’m now officially unfit to celebrate children’s day- sad yh? I know right!

If I was to tell my teenage self one thing, it sure would be “Always believe in yourself, even when others don’t believe in you, don’t worry about what they think or say dem go dey alright”

My humble self has achieved quite a number of tangible things in the last 365 days *skips details*. I’m not there yet though, but don’t worry, better things are coming.

I think this is the part where I get to stop, go back to my books. Can’t wait to be done with exams. L

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

G.L