,

I know it's been a long time since I last wrote to you 

And even though I felt bad every time I remember that I've not written to you,

There was no urge to write anything still. 

You see, 

There's something that has been happening to me lately 

And as much as I've tried to wrap my head around it, I can't. 

Not because I lost the power to comprehend it…

But I couldn't because I was very TIRED of life. 

Tired is even an understatement 

A lot has happened since I resumed the first semester of 200 level.

Yeah, I'm finally in 200 level, lol and these things that happened will be the basis of our discussion as we further our journey again and the lessons I learnt therein.

Funny thing is, As much I talk to people, I don't mention my problems, 

Funny right? Lol.

But on this fateful Tuesday, I met with Aquila. 

Aquila is a really good friend to the last letter and I'm not saying this because he will be reading this email but because I appreciate people that are dear to me specially and publicly.

After the tight hugs and a bit of teary eyes (me, because I've missed him a lot), We talked about school and classes

Then he asked, 

"How are you doing Tofunmi?" 

"Why did you stop writing emails?"

After a bit of silence, I looked up at him…

He is taller than me, like way taller. Short girl with very tall Friends.

And I said,

"I stopped writing emails not because I'm tired of you, but because I FEEL I need to gather more experience, school is there and I kinda have some things I'm battling with"

Aren't we always battling some things?

Then he said, "can I tell you something that will change the way you see things now?"

Of course, who would say no to that.

I said, "of course. I'm all ears"

He then said, 

"Don't try to start from the top. Don't try to start from where you have not gotten to yet"

"Start with that small experience you have. Start with that story that you think is not relevant. Tell people the little things you are doing. Tell them about how school is treating you, how classes are going, how you feel each day. Tell them these stories because they will be able to RELATE BETTER with it."

And right there I decided, I was gonna Write to you today and start writing back as well.

______________________________________________________________________________This time around, we will talk more about real life experiences that I'm going through, lessons I learnt and you will tell me yours as well. 

______________________________________________________________________________

Back to myself and Aquila,

After we departed, I remembered a thing a friend of mine told me

That day, he told me about the difference between "being able to understand" and "being able to relate"

He said… 

"You might understand a person's problem but you may not be able to relate because "you've not been in that situation before

But you will be able to understand better if you can relate to that person's situation as well

Because at one point or the other, you may have found yourself in that situation before."

So, The difference is in the deep understanding because you can relate. 

How does it correlate to what I was saying earlier?

After I left Aquila and went back for my class

What my friend (Oluwatimilẹyin) said to me about relating and all came back to me and I knew that "You would be able to relate with whatever thing I will be writing to you because you may be in this situation now or you've been there before"

So, why not just tell someone that can relate how it is really going for me. 

And here I am.

Yeah, I'm sorry once again that I've not written anything to you since. 

I don't know if there's a lesson in this email, but it is what it is. 

I will be going for my last class today by 3:30 and will be back by 6 pm. So, I have to go now, eat, rest a bit before I get on the walk. 

Have a nice day and be good. 

P. S.: Salami, thank you for reaching out. It means a whole lot to me.

You hold a special place in my heart fam.