Our first outing? Drinks! Simple. Effortless. We laughed, we talked, and we just clicked, like long-lost WiFi. The man had charm, wit, and a comforting energy, like the human version of a weighted blanket. Not long after, he invited me over for dinner. Not out, mind you, because this man could cook. From scratch! I was halfway through my plate thinking, “Wait... this isn’t Indomie?” Lol. I was thoroughly impressed. That meal lives rent-free in my memory, not just for the flavour, but for the effort. He prepared every dish himself, with the seriousness of a MasterChef finalist. I knew then: this man wasn’t playing. The next visit was to my house. And from the moment he walked in, I thought, “Well, this feels suspiciously... right.” And it still does. What started as occasional check-ins quickly became a daily ritual, every evening at 5:30 p.m. Not 5:31. Not 5:45. Five-thirty on the dot, rain or shine. His consistency was magnetic. And slightly scary... in the best possible way. I thought, “This man treats time like it owes him money.” A true gentleman with a working relationship with clocks. God bless punctuality. One day, he invited me to a party, but first, we stopped by his place to meet his sister, who had just arrived from Kumasi. Sounds casual, right? I get there, and boom — two sisters waiting! Nana Oseitu and Ms. Ara welcomed me with warmth that wrapped around me like a hug. Then they turned to him and said, “She looks like us!” And I thought, “Hmmm... maybe I do?” Fast forward... I’m now a proud member of their large and wonderful family. And when I say large, I mean “you-need-aWhatsApp-group-just-for-birthdayreminders” large. Now I would like to tell you about the man I often call Nii Anku. He is a man of many things. A quiet force, a constant presence, a man of deep thought and even deeper values. He isn’t just risk-tolerant, he’s riskdevoted. While I’m still there, carefully weighing pros and cons, Ellis is already halfway through the risk, helmet strapped on, whispering a prayer, and charging forward. But through him, I have learned. I have learned that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. I have learned to trust my instincts and to act with boldness. And to read the terms and conditions first. Ellis is the kind of man who exudes calm like a scented candle. He is thoughtful, deeply empathetic and grounded. He’s like the human version of a very well-rooted baobab tree rooted in grace and wisdom. And his humour? That sneaky, “Did he just say that?” kind... it brings light into our everyday lives. He’s loyal, the kind of man who will walk into fire for those he loves... and then apologise to the fire for the inconvenience. He understands silence better than most people understand words, and somehow always shows up with precisely the kind of support you didn’t even know you needed. He always seems to know when I need that quiet kind of support. Of course, no superhero is without a few quirks. He can overanalyse decisions as though they’re peace treaties. And yes, when he wants to keep the peace, he’ll avoid difficult conversations. (But we’re working on that.) One awkward conversation at a time. Yet through those imperfections, our relationship has deepened, and our love has found its rhythm. The Birthday Journal 7 E L L I S AT 6 0
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