I remember when I was in nursery school and Daddy was driving me home from school, the street vendors in traffic had carrots for sale and I excitedly asked for "callot". You said you would only buy if I was able to pronounce it correctly. That was my first phonics lesson. You told me to start with the rrrr first and guided me through it patiently until I said carrot! And you bought it and did it taste good! I learnt from that early age that if I worked hard at it I could accomplish. 

I remember the day we had the entrance exams and interview for Federal schools. I was ill with a fever but did not want to miss out, you encouraged me and stayed at the venue the whole time so you could take me home if I felt I could not cope. When I was able to finish you took me home and let me miss after school lessons to rest and recover. That stuck with me. So many stories of you always being there.

When we chose Gboko as secondary school option, it was with great thought to location, distance, performance and recommendation you sought. That taught me to not be shy to analyse and investigate before taking major decisions.

Throughout secondary school you were just a letter or phone call away. When I had health concerns I wrote you not minding you were a man, now I think of it I wonder how awkward it must have been reading some of my letters! 

You drove many many long hours to drop me off at Gboko, visiting multiple times and making the unplanned trips when I broke my glasses, forgot my box of books at home whilst taking the box of provisions(), just to ensure I was okay. I enjoyed the very long journeys especially when it was just the two of us, you were able to drive so carefully and fast and smooth while holding deep conversations!  You taught me what a mirage was on those long stretches of road, talked about growing up and your Dad, our Grandpa Okoye guard. Wonderful memories I will always cherish.

I remember your pride and sparkling eyes when you took me to collect my WAEC result. You offered to take my friends too so we did not go in an empty car ensuring they were all dropped off home. 

Can I forget your many journeys to Nsukka, sometimes first thing on a Sunday morning while I was sleeping off the morning after the Saturday night party, just to drop pocket money off and head back to Enugu - my friends always marvelled.

 What is this you have done to me? Where have you gone? Why have you left me and the children at this time? This is the period for us to enjoy the fruit of our labour, now I am left to gather and nurture at this bad time. Words cannot describe how much I miss you.

I am inconsolable. My emotions all over the place.

When you were in the hospital you kept saying  my darling let us go home I don’t want to be in the hospital again. I always said you should get better so you can come home and finish the obi you were building, and you said to forget the obi. I never thought it would be this way, that you would not come home.

All your children did their best possible to see that you got well, that you came through providing whatever was requested. I tried my possible best to see that you came home. What more could we have done? We submit to the will of God. We cannot question God.

I miss you dearly but know that you are in a better place. Rest well my darling.

Your darling wife, Mrs. Reggy Okoye