‘Our Space, Our Story’

It was another beautiful and hot Sunday morning. The year was 2023, the weather in the Northwestern part of the country was literally warming up for the incoming heat season, and the general elections were barely a month away.

While in church, listening to the preacher dropping motivational and spiritual rhymes from the altar, Femi (not real name), a professional photographer in his late 30s, who had been awestruck by this very hard-to-get specially created Daughter of Zion, found his mind drifting away once again towards this "Sister".

Before now, Femi had mustered up the courage to start a conversation with her. He had imagined their scenarios and created narratives about the best way to start a conversation with her.

After multiple failed attempts, he resolved to use the "accidentally bump into her" Hollywood method. This was a big mistake. She snapped, "Look where you are going...yada...yada...yada". Rolled her eyes and walked away. For a moment, Femi thought he had seen an angry lioness roaring and, at the same time, smiling at him. Only one word could describe the encounter - Disaster.

Winners don't quit, and quitters don't win. That's what they say.

He kept trying to cross paths with her, just to strike up a conversation, but now it felt like they were playing the game of Chess and she was the Grand-master - with at least 5 moves ahead of him. Their paths wouldn't cross.

He eventually got an audience, more like an encounter, with her and he received the sternest and loudest "NO" that he had ever heard up till that moment. It was quiet and polite, yet as loud as it could be. The queen had finally evaded being captured.

This left Femi thinking, "Indeed, it is okay to say 'No' to any friendship request, but she would have just saved me the troubles, trauma, and time from the get-go”.

"Let's share the Grace in Fellowship." The preacher charged the congregation.

Femi, along with the rest of the congregation, rose up and from four seats away from his left side, spotting the "Brother" he had met the previous day, who had accompanied the "Sister" to his (Femi's) photography studio. Apparently, they had both gone there to take their pre-wedding pictures.

All these brought Femi to a decision to create a space where singles can make friends with one another if they choose to. This way, they know who is willing, ready, or available to mingle with other mutuals without the drama, trauma, and waste of precious time. After all, we all have something to share with others because great communities, societies, and relationships all start with friendship.