A Thousand Words for Makane Stella

Yet another good friend gone too soon. Makane Stella and I became friends in Form Five…exactly 11 years now. She was so friendly so that as a new student, she immediately made a huge circle of friends in no time. She was a typical example of lovely person, she`ll never say a hurtful word about someone or try to run anyone down which to me was quite different and admirable amongst girls our age. 

She was a science student, me arts and trust me when I say she was damn smart. You`ll hardly see her head in her books all the time but she always passed her exams and made the GCE in flying colors. Stella had killer legs and she knew it so she flaunted it like there was no tomorrow. Her tiny body fitted perfectly into the sky blue jacket and navy blue skirt and when I say skirt, it`s not what others wore, hers was quite above the knee…no, it was short! I remember giving her two of my very short dresses because I though she`ll look better in them. Hmmm… maybe I should have started with the number of guys who craved for Stella`s friendship…no I can`t because it`s simply countless! She was some sweet `hot cake` so every sane man wanted her on the list of their “friends”.

Stella was generous. I still remember the day she bought me and another friend Kuna Annie Forkusam each a pair of beautiful ladies slippers and more. It was always fun with Stella. We visited each other and spent more time at her home, cooking, gossiping and watching movies. She adored Indian movies and so had the best collection of them then made me love them too. Stella could cook! Oh my! Last meal she cooked for me was eru and fried snails in 2012…Yummy! She was simply hardworking at home and in school. The kind of child every parent would be proud of.

We separated after the GCE and I didn`t hear from her until 2011 when we hooked up in Yaounde and tried to make up for lost times. Meanwhile Stella went through hell on earth shortly after destiny separated us. Her mum died and wait for it… she was accused of killing her mum. Yes we heard the scary rumors that she belonged to a group of mermaids and it`s through the marine spirit that she killed her mum. She also lost the aunt with whom she was living while a student in Buea.

In the course of catching up, she recounted her ordeal to me and yes, I wept! Life had been so unfair to this gentle soul. She was dreaded by her relatives and almost the whole town. People who knew her `false` story would not sell to her in the market, she was labelled a witch all over town. The one person who stood by her was her poor dad whom I don`t even want imagine what he`s going through right now.
Stella called me earlier this year and I could feel her panting, her spirit low, another doom was getting ready to visit her. Her junior brother was seriously sick so she wanted some financial assistance and the contact of someone in order to begin the process of taking her brother to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Nigeria for healing. All medical efforts had proven futile. I helped the little I could but few days later, Stella`s brother died. How sad and miserable can one`s life be!?

Stella had a severe stomach problem which seemed endless with no cure, so she was always in and out of the hospital. A mutual friend of ours announced her end exactly one week today. Yeah, Stella is dead! She was just 26. My first reaction was a smile, then I said “Stella go and rest”.  She bore what many wouldn`t in a lifetime. I choose to hold back some gory details of Stella`s life on earth. In the midst of my tears, I find solace with the thought and assurance that Stella`s existence served a purpose… just like her death. Most often we become grateful for what we have and appreciate our families more after comparing our lives with that of a story like Stella`s. There is always a lesson to be learnt from every bad situation. Often times it`s just a learning process and no life lesson serves more than learning the hard way- you just never forget.

Once again I have learnt to appreciate life more each passing day. I have also learnt that life is short and in some cases death is better than a lifetime of misery. I have learned not to negotiate my happiness because no one will trade his/hers for mine. Only you can make you happy! I have learned how to appreciate little moments with those I care about. I have learned it`s paramount to live life in the simplest way possible and not worry about things I cannot control. I have learned true wisdom comes from listening more and speaking less. I have learned and understood that indeed there`s pleasure in sharing. No human being should have any form of power or influence over our lives. I have learned that bad things happen to good people and Stella`s experience speaks for itself. I feel some satisfaction knowing that I made Stella smile more than ones but I also feel I could have done more. I regret postponing the urge to reach out to Stella sometimes. 

Stella I`m so sorry for all you went through. Sorry for the physical, psychological and spiritual torture you braved. I know how sweet you are so I believe you have already forgiven all those who stepped on your toes consciously during your short stay on earth. I`ll miss you Stella, I really will. I love you and appreciate your friendship, I`m so thankful I knew you. May the good Lord protect your loved ones and grant you eternal rest.

I was wondering what title for this tribute until I typed the 948^th word then the idea of a thousand came up.