@McYusuf 20 February 2022

Letter to my dad `Dear Dad` `Today the 12/12/1997` *I was born on the earth's surface, I am sad but everyone is happy. I could see everyone smile and their faces brightened up. They cared for me but I still don't know why they would have to do so. I just hope you were there to read my emotions and make it clear to them that I enjoyed my life over there more than the one I am present. This world is stained with sins. I can feel it in my body but when they bathe me I feel like I am already like them in this sinful world.* `Dear dad` `It is already a year 12/12/1998` *I am going to be celebrated, I don't know what they are saying but I could hear the noise and see some crowds and faces I am not used to. Mum smiled again today and I am happy to see her smile. I never knew what she could be thinking but the thoughts of having you hold my other hand while I try to walk are somehow coming over my mind.* `Dear Dad` `I am going to clock 5 years today 12/12/2002` *It has never been easy so far. I am already waving goodbye to my infantry and childhood stages. I can now do things on my own, run minor errands for mum, and also I am presently in the third class of my academic year. Mum gave me a present 🎁 for my fifth birthday, it was me and her compared to my first birthday. I am happy with mum and I would always continue to make her smile every day. She promised me something for my first ever promotion ceremony which is yet to come.* `Dear dad` `Today is my class promotion 15/05/2004` *Mum told me something, she said you were born this month. I became happy and excited but how I wished I could see you and mum together on this day. I am sorry for not wishing you a happy birthday all these years but now that I know about your birth date I would make sure to celebrate it every year with mum. Today I am promoted from the lower basic to the upper basic classes. Dad, I am so happy putting on this academic gown. I promised mum to become someone great in life.* `Dear dad` `Today is mum birthday 17/09/2004` *It's so sad to see her alone crying. Dad, why? Where are you?. This is one of the saddest days of my life to see tears fall from mum's face. I told her it was her birthday but the more I say so, the more the tears keep dropping off her face. What can I do to stop her from crying 😭. Please help me wish her a happy birthday 🎉 from your heart I am sure she would receive it.* `Dear dad` `Today is my final day in high school 02/06/2010` *I feel like I am the happiest man on earth. I can't believe it. I promised mum I would become a medical doctor. We were so happy but she told me something I want you to hear. She said "this is just the beginning" Dad! I am engraving this sentence in my heart as I would never forget it! Dad, today is another day. What words do you have for me? I need your fatherly advice.* `Dear dad,` `Finally, I am admitted into the medical school on 12/01/2013` *It has not been easy so far! After enduring and scaling through the lower and upper basic classes I thought the ride would be an easy one but I was wrong. Dad, the ride became rough and tough for me. I spent three years at home writing for exams just to get admitted. I would never give up. Dad! Next month will be our matriculation. I hope you can see your child gradually following that pace. Be at the front so I won't get scared and have a turnaround.* `Dear dad` `Mum is here today 08/08/2015` *She came to visit me at our college and I am so happy to see her after two years. The happiness on my face made me ask her about you. I told her I am writing to you and she told me to deliver her message to you. She said "I miss you"* `Dear dad` `The struggle is real 13/02/2019` *Just a year left to be out of medical school. Yaaay! Dad, I will be a doctor soon! I would make sure mum received the best treatment ever. But I am stuck dad! I am stuck! 😪😭. I don't know why it's so hard to move on at this stage. Only if I could feel your hands tapping my back to keep it going.* `Dear dad` `I am a doctor!!!!! 🙂🎉👩‍⚕️👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️👨‍⚕️. 20/02/2022` *Today I am officially a doctor!! But I don't know why tears keep rolling down my face. Mum is here crying out. Only if I could taste her tears would I know it was nothing but tears of joy 😭. Dad, I am so happy today. Only if you were here would I be the one to work on your operation. I would have been the one to save your life, you might not have to leave the world so soon, leaving us behind with the struggles of life. Dad, I just hope I could see you for once then I promise to give you all my best.* *Dad, I am a doctor today but you died at the hands of a doctor!. I promise to use my hands and tools to save lives, especially that of the less privileged and make them happy not to lose people so dear to them.* *Dad! I hope you have been receiving my letters. Because I never got any feedback from you!.* ***Dad, continue to rest! 😭.***

**NB: THIS WRITE-UP IS COMPLETELY FICTIONAL. BUT DEDICATED TO EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO HAD LOST THEIR DEAR ONES IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER**.