I feel his strong arms pull me into a warm embrace as he plants a soft kiss on my cheek.
We are at my mother’s 60th birthday party, and he still finds ways to make it all about me.
“I hope the party isn’t too deary for you, Starlight," he whispered into my ears as he let go of me, but his fingers interlocked with mine so I could catch my feet from staggering.
My face is flustered as I try to hide the embarrassment, slowly coloring my face pink.
He makes me beautiful, not with words but with the way his gaze lingers, a caress on my bare shoulder. He makes me feel special, not with grand gestures but with the stolen glances across the crowded room—a secret language only our souls understand.
“This is my mother’s party, Kamil.” I responded with a little trembling from staring at the husk figure looking at me in those white-fitted Ankara two piece. There’s something about men who are dressed in native attire. Bold. Strong. Firm in their roots. My Kamil smiles and walks away with confidence, always being noticed, even without doing a thing.
In that moment, amidst the laughter and chatter, I realized that he was my home, my sanctuary. With him, every moment feels like a cherished memory, and every glance is like a love letter written just for me. And as he stands there, conversing with my father, I know that I will choose him over and over again, for all eternity.
Amaka's teasing laughter cuts through the air: "Starlight! Tell me what makes this Kamil so darn special."
If I were to share how my husband makes me feel, it would be like trying to condense a novel into a tweet—an impossible task. So for you, I’d tell you in five paragraphs, hoping it doubles as a love letter and a guide to finding your own comfortable love.
P.S. Check out what the large words form together.
"YOU should never say that about yourself. Not now, not ever," Kamil cautions me sternly as I try to talk down on myself. With an important pitch to investors looming, he stays up all night with me, fine-tuning my presentation and boosting my self-esteem. What love does is never hold you back or stop you from flying. Love becomes the reason you spread your wings and touch the sky. His love wasn't a cage, but a gentle wind beneath my wings, urging me to soar. Remember, true love empowers, not diminishes.
HAD I known that the end of my last relationship would mark the dawn of the best days of my life, I wouldn’t have shed so many tears. For days, I couldn’t bring myself to eat, consumed by the longing for Uche to return. I had grown accustomed to the fights, the constant belittling, the hurt, and the betrayal, leaving me shattered into tiny fragments. Today, I’m comfortable in my skin. I am safe in the identity of whose I am, and secure in the love of the one who taught me to love myself. Love teaches you new ways to love yourself every single day.
MEntal intimacy is exploring, questioning, and challenging ideas with respect. It is teaching each other new things and staying safe for each other while having hard conversations. This is what I feel whenever we spend time together.
AT exactly 5 a.m., I reach out to snooze my alarm, dreading the day ahead. But then I see a notification: "You are enough, Starlight. I can't wait to snooze your alarms for you soon." And just like that, my grumpy morning melts away, replaced by a smile that lingers all day long 😊. True romance isn't in the gifts but in the gestures—the attention to the tiniest details that make all the difference.
"HELLO, Starlight," he greets me, and I remember the first time he called me that. Walking along the beach shore on a Thursday evening, after one of our biggest arguments, we hadn't talked much or even looked at each other. Yet, there we were, side by side, looking at the same sky together, which is more intimate than eye contact anyway. In that moment, I realized true intimacy transcends words; it's about sharing the same silent language and seeing the world through the same lens. Anyone can look at you; it’s quite rare to find someone who sees the same world as you do.
I like that he gives me something I've never experienced before in a relationship—peace. I love how my family sees the wonders I see too. I admire how he serves every Sunday in the teenage arm of our church and treats his sister like royalty. I love how his wide smile lights up a room, and his mind is always cooking up solutions and strategies. I admire how he retreats to pray when he feels stuck and confused. I love how vulnerable he is and how unafraid he is to share his emotions. Most of all, I love how I can substitute his name with I Corinthians 13:4–7.
And when you're ready, I hope you find a man who treats you like Kamil does.