My Departed Angel

I remember very well
That September rainy day
When Headie entered our class
That class of kids
No older than seven
And introduced the new student
You
To the class

You were ushered
Into the empty seat next by me
I felt too shy to say hello
But I did anyway
Introducing myself as Quophy
You only smiled back
I guess you were shy too

I must really confess
Your sitting by me
Wasn't as pleasant as
I had expected
I was never at ease
I had difficulty
I couldn't talk
I couldn't even get up

When boys sat
At the back of the class
Misbehaving
Cracking jokes
Teasing one another
And farting
Here and there
I couldn't join them
Not that I was any better
You were the cause

I remember we talked
Less than a dozen times
That academic year
The only times
We really talked
Were during English dialogues
And group discussions we had

I was relieved
When we got promoted
To the next grade
I was free to move now
'Cos I wasn't glued to my seat

My freedom
I was soon to find out
Wouldn't last long
When the teacher
Displeased with the
Class arrangement
Reshuffled the members
Bringing you and I
Back together
It was like my very
Worst of Nightmares
Coming to life

Somehow
We managed
get acquainted to each other
I was no longer shy
And you blushed
No more
Each time we spoke
We became the best of friends
The best of the best

Through grades 4 to 9
We were inseparable
Our mates found it
Rather odd
For a male and female
To be best of pals
Without any romance
Somewhere in between
Somehow they did have a point
'cos I had developed
Some strong feelings for you

Then on our graduation day
From J. High School
i told you I loved you
And I had for quite a long time
I didn't expect you
to say anything back
Maybe I expected you
To end our friendship


I was taken by storm
Suddenly
When you burst into tears
I was hurt that minute
Thinking my words
Had done the obvious
Hurting you

Then like a sinner
Before a priest
you held my hands
How relieved I felt
But I wanted more
More than just holding my hands


Your confessions of love
Words of undying love began
I couldn't believe a word
That you had loved me too
Since the moment
We exchanged our first words
And that you had been waiting
To hear this for ages

We were so much in love
Even though S. High School
We went separate ways
We always kept in touch
Exchanging letters
More than many times


After our final exams
We met almost every night
Walking to the Park
Talking about anything
Sometimes
we let ourselves loose
Kissing
Touching
Cuddling

I made my way
Into a local college
And you had the chance
To join your dad overseas
We kept in touch regardless
'Skyping' regularly
Exchanging letters
And post cards


College was a nice one
And I came out with success
A year after graduation
Like you promised
You flew down to everything
And to me
Well that's what I thought


You had become prettier
And you talked rather less
But you didn't enjoy my company
No more
I was soon to realize
You'd run back overseas
To another man waiting there
Leaving me with nothing
But a long letter
That you are engaged
To your course mate from college
And you were getting married
In early spring
telling me you never meant
To hurt me ever
And that
You loved me truly

At least a final good bye
From you in person
And seeing you
Walk out of my life
Would have been better

I sit and wonder
Why you had to leave
And like
Whitney Houston
I am tempted to ask
Where do broken hearts go?

I wish to call you devil
For you came into my life
Robbed my love
And left me with
Shattered hopes
But like I said to you always
You are my angel
Sadly
This time not my pretty angel
My departed angel.

(c) 2011 Owiredu Albert Kofi