The only thing permanent in life is change. Every other thing remains temporary. People change, circumstances change, orientation, principles, mindsets; philosophy, perspective and society. Nothing is permanent. Everything, physical or not, powerful or weak, is prone to change. Conservative ideas and some sets of ideologies change with the passage of time. Those who refuse to change or kick against it lose their relevance in modern age and may be tagged ancestors as their ways of life are in sharp contradiction to new ways of life. That is why some people keep improving daily.
Who would have known that the rigid Linda would fall into the amorous hands of Robin after all she had gone through? She had sworn never to allow any man into her life. Her life was almost shattered by Robert. She could recollect vividly how she aborted eight times for Robert. She would really love to keep those pregnancies but her boyfriend would have none of those. His words in most cases were:
“I am not ready to become a father now. I want to start making six figures before going into marriage, Linda!”
“But Robert, for how long? This is the eighth pregnancy I would be aborting for you. My life is at risk. The doctor who did the last abortion for me said I had fifty percent chances of having a baby in life,” said Linda.
“Don’t worry, Baby! I will always be there for you. I can’t marry someone else. I will be with you for the rest of my life. I love you!
“I love you more, my Baby,” replied Linda innocently.
“Three months later, Roberts and Jessica, Linda’s friend tied the nuptial knot. It was reportedly said that Roberts claimed he could not imagine himself marrying a woman who had fifty percent chances of giving birth in life. This was Roberts who had told Linda he was travelling to Dodan on a business trip”.
One fateful day, Mary rushed to the house of Linda to break the news of Roberts’ marriage to Jessica, Linda’s best friend.
“Have you heard?” asked Mary.
“Heard what?” answered Linda.
“Here you are. So, you don’t know Robert has taken your best friend to the aisle? They are now husband and wife”.

“Common, stop it! Are you winding me up?” asked Linda.
“Come of it, Linda. Why on earth would I want to do that? He is married to Jessica. Period! See things for yourself”. She showed Linda the pictures of the new couple’s wedding ceremony on Facebook. It was actually true.
“I can’t believe this! But he told me he was going to Dodan on a business trip”, as she burst into tears. Before Mary knew what was happening, Linda had fainted. The former thought it was a joke. She tried all known means to make her conscious but to no avail.

Then she shouted for help. Some people came to her. Linda was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was receiving medical attention. Some family members, friends, domestic workers flooded the hospital every now and then. She had always been a victim of betrayal, heartbreak and trauma. She had never found a man faithful and true to his words. Most of them were liars and gold diggers. They wanted to reap where they did not sow.
As a result, any mention of man sounded so disgusting to her that. She might get angry with the person who so mentioned him.
But the story had changed now. She seemed to be happier now than ever. Her soul seemed to have sought respite from trauma in her new found love in person of Robin. It was obvious they were love-birds. They always went to the meadow and rose garden nearby every weekend. Lips always united hearts aflame! Yeah, trapped feelings released, emotions flowed like floods, moans arrested silence, paradise found. Love raw, hands always restless. They were like compass. For life their contract seemed to be. They were the envy of all and sundry. The talk of town and gown. Their union seemed to be out of plane terrestrial, making it appear invincible and indissoluble. Their relationship was unarguably the best in the whole land of Uguru.
Many rumoured that their love had no root and therefore couldn’t stand the test of time. In fact, they described it as chaff waiting to be blown away by the wind of circumstances while other people opined that their love was not contracted on materialism but pure sincerity and sacrifice and would therefore stand the test of time. They went ahead by adding that true love neither failed nor faltered. Winds might blow, storms might rage, in their opinion, but their love would stand forever for it was built on rock and not on baser instincts or one of the things now prevalent in our society.
Those rumours and such information crept into the ears of Linda. So, in one of their visits to their rendezvous – the rose garden - she asked the love of her life some questions and a conversation ensued.
“Who am I to you, Robin?”
“You are my heart and world! You are the reason for my existence. Why did you ask?”
“I asked because I wanted to be sure. All I need is assurance and reassurance. Who am I to you?”
“You are my wife, mother, sister and angel. Yes, you are everything to me. I am a hero because you are my shero. I am king because I have you my queen beside me. I am the head; you are the neck upon which my head is balanced. Nay, you are my salt without which my life will be in doldrums. I LOVE YOU, my angel,” said Robin
“I love you more, Robin. You gave my life a meaning. You made me know what true love is. Before you came into my life, I had been called names one of which was agelast. I always looked spent and pooped. People in my neighbourhood laughed me to scorn. I had attempted suicide several times. To some men, I stank like a skunk should be sunk in shame but I began to sing a new song, my new life began to bud the very first day I met you and right there I knew I had found my soul mate. Yeah, river of water where I will always be in all seasons. In fact, my joy knew and knows no bounds and I was moved to tears so much that I wrote a poem for you. It is entitled:
Forever with you
I call you darling
You are dear, caring
I call you my gold
Because you are bold
I call you my prize
You do pay my price
I call you my light
You dispel my night
I call you my rose
In your love I rose
I call you my breath
You go extra length
I call you my world
You are my heart’s cord
I will lie like ewe
Forever with you
“Do you like the poem, my love!”
“Wow! That was exquisite! I never knew you were a bard in the moulds of the Bard of Avon, John Keats and Robert Frost. Of course, it is a master piece. I felt flattered, highly elated. Oh my Baby, thou art lovelier than Helen of Troy! Believe you me; your beauty will never cloy. You occupy a special place in my heart. You are the pillar that holds my life. I am on cloud nine right now. Thank you very much for being such a darling, for honouring me with so sublime a work of art that will remain relevant in all ages of men. You have done to me what I least expected of you, Linda. I love you”, said he drawing her closer to himself than ever and showering her with deep kisses.
“You are welcome, my heartbeat. If I don’t do it, who will? You deserve more than I can offer, considering all that you have done for me. I felt obliged to do so. You are my hiding place and in your love I find solace in this world of nought where passions so rootless and ruthless rule the affairs of humans,” embracing him, while he carried her off the ground, classic songs rendered in the background in the manner of Lumangwe Fall serenading the world. Oh, love! Love so sweet, where are you? Come now, let this parched land rejoice! Fall like rain and let desert rejoice. Oasis, where have you been? Your attention is needed in the meadows where feelings so real dwell.