They say friends are the family you choose, and I didn’t fully understand that until I met Sade. We clicked instantly at a mutual friend’s party bonding over our shared love for spicy suya and our mutual disdain for boring small talk. That night, we exchanged numbers and made plans for a hangout, but I didn’t know that she would become one of the most important people in my life.
Fast forward to a few months later, I had the worst week ever my car broke down, I spilled coffee on my work laptop, and to top it all off, I missed out on a major project at work. I didn’t even tell Sade about my week, but somehow, she knew. She showed up at my house with a tub of my favorite ice cream, a playlist of feel-good songs, and a pep talk that could rival Oprah’s.
“Babes, you’re amazing, and one bad week doesn’t define you,” she said, handing me a spoon. “Now eat this and let’s binge-watch rom-coms until you forget why you were stressed.”
Sade is the kind of friend who remembers your birthday even when you forget, cheers the loudest when you win, and holds you up when you feel like falling apart. We’ve celebrated job promotions, cried over heartbreaks, and even traveled to Ghana together on a whim.
Friendship isn’t always about grand gestures; it’s about showing up, being real, and reminding each other that you’re never alone. If you’ve got a ride-or-die like Sade, cherish them, they’re worth more than gold.