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***Image is mine***

The beginning of this year was really tough for my best friend and I. I remember in our little dark corner how we'd always talk about advancing to the top of the food chain. We'd share our dreams, our aspirations and we'd end our little talk with, "see you at the top 🤝🏾". 

Honestly, we had no idea how we'd get to the top and coincidentally we were both heavily indebted on separate issues of almost half a million Naira. 

We also both ended our years-long abusive relationship and we no longer have partners to assist us but somehow, we both chose that over the toxic place that we were coming from. Like I said earlier, we had no idea how we'd get to better days ahead but we had hope and we had faith. 

We also believed in ourselves and we knew we'd make it someday. Our first point of breakthrough started when my bff gathered all she earned from a contract and decided to relocate to the country's capital. She was scared, she had cold feet and so many what ifs. Everytime she relates her fears and concerns, it's always me cheering and urging her on. I kept reminding her that, "if we can plan it, we can achieve it."

Indeed she achieved it, she finally relocated to the capital city. Not just that but she quickly secured a very good job there with a good pay too. Initially, she had lost a hundred thousand Naira to a fake house agent but that did not deter us, we tried another agent and she secured the apartment that she moved into. 

Moving on, things seemed good and the stars looked like it was aligning in our favour. When she told me the story of how she got employed because her  résumé stood out from the rest, I was genuinely happy for her. I love it when people in my cycle wins because it means that I will win too. 

"Please o, how did you prepare your résumé to make it outstanding for the interview?" I had paused on our jubilation and sort to know so I could also make mine since I was job hunting as well.

If there's one thing with my bff, she wasn't selfish with information. She told me all that I needed to know and even went on to request for my résumé of which she edited it perfectly well. She didn't stop there, she also started assisting me to apply for jobs online whilst I also applied for myself. Eventually, I got my own job. My happiness knew no bounds and the sky became our starting point.

Just when we thought the darkness at the tunnel was fading away, my bff lost her job because she refused to give in to her boss's sexual advances.

While she was back to square one, she had no regrets and of course I was always reminding her that it was good riddance to bad rubbish. As an industrious person, she did get other opportunities at freelancing and she was able to make some money for some of her basic necessities but this money is nowhere near her rent that was almost due. 

At a point, we panicked or rather I panicked... I didn't want to go to the top without her plus since I was just starting with my job, I was in no position to help her financially and that broke my heart some more. But then, despite everything that she was going through, she kept pushing and living life as best as she could. 

My bff Sharon was determined to make it and I saw how fierce and dignifying she fought not to relapse. In her lowest moment she never settled for less and she was loud about everything good that she wanted to happen to her. So on her birthday, she took to X to make a birthday request for a Nintendo switch.

A request that didn't go down well with many as she got a lot of backlash from other X users who felt she should be able to afford it and gift herself without expecting someone to give her it. 

Despite their disapproval and attacks, Sharon kept tweeting about it and then just like God answers prayers, one X user came through for her.

One morning, about a month to her birthday, I had just woken up to a lot of voice notes, pictures and screenshots from her. One by one I went through it all, I listened to the voice notes and viewed the photos. Honestly it felt too good to be true but an X user who has been following her for sometime now kept seeing her tweet and felt he should do something about it. They've never spoken before but he was a distant admirer.

"What's your location in Nigeria? I need to send you a gift", this was the first message that appeared of him in Sharon's dm. Regardless of her suspicions that he might be a scammer, Sharon went on to send him an address a bit far from where she actually lived.

"Great, your parcel has been shipped and expected delivery is in three weeks." This was a follow up response from him accompanied with screenshots of the online shipping process. 

"Babe, what do you think about this? Because it seems too good to be true o". Sharon texted expressing doubts.

"Well, if it's a swindler, you really have nothing to lose because they will miss you at the point they ask you to pay shipping fee". I had responded which sparked a laughter between us.

We both went on with our lives and even forgot about the parcel on the way. But at the exact month on the screenshot earlier sent for the parcel delivery, Sharon got a call for pick up and no extra fee was charged for the waybill. 

We still did not believe it was real till she unboxed, immediately she confirmed everything was legit, she rushed back to X and messaged the man expressing her profound gratitude. 

From then on, they became friends and after several months of friendship, the man asked her out and she accepted. 

Being an active member of the relationship I witnessed first hand how this man changed my friend's story. He paid off her loans and kept sending her money in huge sums even when she declines that she still has some money from the last that he sent.

To further show how serious he is with my friend, he started making moves to come see her for the first time in Nigeria. A first time visit that would lead to them getting married because he's very intentional about taking her back to the US with him. As much as Sharon and I do not want to let our guard down with him, we have not seen or perceived anything suspicious from him. 

What further wowed us is how transparent he has been about his personal life and how he carries Sharon along with everything that he does. Sometimes, it all feels like a dream how the narrative changed but I kept assuring her that we are living our reality because all our efforts are paying off.