Azure was the colour of my Aunt Ola’s phone. It was almost square, cropped by two curves on alternate sides. I hardly ever touched it but I remember that one could almost completely hide it in both hands. Aunty Ola also loved wedges. She was a collector of wedged slippers, sandals and shoes which she stashed in their brand boxes, one atop another , a foot from her big bed with cozy duvets.
When I was young, I would hug her in my huggy, huggy way and we would talk about the things I thought amazing in my childlike mind. She was easy to talk to; my favourite aunt in all the world. Though I was an ‘aunties’ person, she made me forget I had many favourite aunties when I was in her company. I remember dreaming she came over to my place late one evening. My happy mind and eyes awakened, willing the dream to be true, and it was! She was right there, with her braids tucked into a black net, sleeping right beside me. Giddy, I prepared eagerly for school, knowing we would play catch up later.
But miles became hundreds of kilometres and dry season became winter. I should have ‘grabbed’ faster than the sons of Issachar that the times had changed. Hugs became less and less huggy, and conversations ran abruptly.
But I would never forget the last thing she gave me: my onesie pajamas, red and pink, with love shaped hearts too numerous to count drizzled on the cotton fabric. I loved how they smelled like clean laundry after a conditioned wash.
I think of her every night as as I peel off my day clothes and change into my red and pink hearty pajamas. But then again, I’m a ‘pajamas’ person; I have many of those as well.
Image Credit: Ose Binitie