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I always knew that love would come to find me someday, but I never knew that it would be you who was headed my way. Ayo caught me off guard, took me by surprise, and captivated me. It is true that every perfect gift is from above, and Ayo was presented to me as a beautifully packaged gift. He was full of humor, love, talent, intelligence, and yes, very handsome (I feel like screaming that louder).

Once, I asked Ayo about his favorite passage in the Bible, and he loudly said, "Proverbs 18:22." I paused because I couldn't vividly recall what the verse was about. I quickly reached for my Bible and checked.

"This can't be," I thought, "did I hear you say Proverb 18:22?"

He replied, "Yes, you heard me right."

"Oh that's weird for a deeply religious guy like you," I retorted.

He added, "Well, that's just one of my favorites and it speaks volumes about how I'm going to spend the rest of my life."

I pondered on it for a while, and wild thoughts swept through my heart. Ayo, for the first time, I thought about what love could feel like.

I have never been a person who believed in love, and I have always tried to avoid attachment as much as possible. Growing up, I saw girls who desired to be loved, some living in the fantasies they built in their minds, while others found everything they wanted in a man. It was all like a fairy tale to me, but I could only imagine how they felt -- holding hands with a guy, receiving messages that made them giggle, and experiencing the great sex they often talked about. Seeing random pictures of people in love and hearing them talk about their significant others made me wonder what it meant to be committed to someone.

On the other hand, I also saw others crying because their love was taken for granted, the once "I love you dearly" that turned "I thought you loved me," those who ended their lives because their significant other cheated on them. The sad notes, the tears, and the pain made me always stay in my shell and remind myself that love was not for me.

But today, my feet are shaking as I stand in front of the people to read my wedding vows. I have always wanted a playful break from tradition, so I chose a pink wedding gown. Crazy, I know, but life is sometimes unpredictable.

Ayo, I read loudly, "For God so loved me, that he gave me his son again, but this time as my husband. To cherish and to hold, 'cause my nights are always cold. I invite you to share my life. You are the most loving, clever, and kind individual I have ever known, and I promise to always be by your side. Together, I know we can do anything. I can't wait to work hand in hand to build a beautiful life together. Please take my hands as we grow old, together, till death do us part."

Emotions filled the room, and some were wiping their wet eyes filled with tears.
"Wura, Wura!" I heard my mom yelling my name. That was just a dream. It was my nightmare.