A letter from November 11th, 2020

Hello, Amarachi. Today is the 11th of November, 2020. You’re home, in Abuja, Nigeria. You've just finished your morning routine, and now, you're about to read Embryology. The nationwide school strike has kept you home for nine months. Reading like this everyday gives you hope. It gives you a sense of purpose where there seems to be none so you do it. You pray for better days. How is 2025 treating you? You're what now? Twenty-four? Wow. Six years and you’re in your dirty thirties, girl. You’re old-o. Are you any closer to MBBS or you've given up on that dream? Was it ever yours to begin with? Did you figure that out? If you're any closer, I want you to know I'm proud, really really proud of you. I can only imagine the amount of stress you've had to endure writing all those exams, reading, doubting yourself, your capabilities. Remember first year at UNN? How you cut yourself from the internet and friends but still came out with a 3.8GPA? How angry you were at yourself? You wanted a first class so bad. You've always been so scared of failure. I'm sure you've gone through that countless of times now. That fear of failure, standing at the notice board to see your exam scores written beside your name. Did you get a distinction in Human Physiology as planned? Did you ever get to write the MBBS exam or the plan to study abroad finally pulled through? Did you finally start the youtube channel for Anatomy videos? How is it going? If you've given up on MBBS, what are you up to these days? Do you still write? Don't tell me you've given up on that too. You and I have a score to settle if you did. But if you didn't, what have you written lately? Where have you worked? I hope you've finally made a name for yourself in the literary space. God knows, I'm working so hard to give you the tools to do so. Don't throw out all these years of effort, girl. Are you a graduate yet? If things go as planned, you're supposed to be doing your NYSC. And then, your residency. Do you still intend on writing PLAB? USMLE? I wish you all the best, girl. You need it. How is family? Mummy? Daddy? Chinwe? She should be twenty-two now. How is she? I hope you guys have figured out your issues-o. You're grown women now. Bobo nko? Bobo should be twenty now. Twenty!! That small boy of yesterday. Is he studying computer engineering like he said he would? He should be in his final year now. I hope everyone is okay. I pray so. I pray you are all in good health, alive and kicking. And you? How are you emotionally? Are you now surrounded by friends or still playing lone wolf? ha ha. Remember, how you always used to say you want a friend circle like that in the TV show, How I met your mother? Did you get that? Did you finally find love? Did you find your Canadian prince or you're stuck with the Nigerian one? Ha ha. Don't go get pregnant sha. Mom-life is for your late twenties and early thirties. Okay. Now, to be serious. No pressure girl, but you're twenty-four. You've got to get your act together now. No more playing around. Very soon the family will be depending on you to pull through. You've always been a practical thinker so I trust you to get all the things under control. I hope you're content with your life, now. Let's keep taking it one day at a time, okay? Remember, you have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. It's not too late to pick up and start again. I love you, and I wish you all the best. Yours, Amarachi. PS: do you still speak to Olise? Call him up if you haven't. If for anything, for all he's done for you in 2020. Remember Jerry? Uggggghh.