20 Red Roses

Hello Habibi,

Friday. Our day.

111. Our number.

20 Red Roses—on my birthday—transported across continents, across oceans

Sunlit mornings, wild horses, chasing tajines, soothing serenades and laughter that felt like home.

Ours was a love that wasn’t just felt, it was lived. A love that was real, deep and full of meaning. A love that showed up in the quiet, in the warmth of Morocco’s sun. It was in the way we looked at each other, the way our conversations stretched into the night. In the way you captured me through your lens, as if preserving the way I made you feel.

It was in the stillness, in the moments when nothing needed to be said, because we simply knew.

It wasn’t perfect but it was ours. A love that held promise, even when the path was unclear.

But, Habibi, love isn’t just about holding on, it’s also about surrender. And 111, our number, is one of divine alignment. A holy reminder that God’s plan is unfolding, even when we don’t understand it.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” —Psalm 111:10

So, with wisdom, I release this.

With faith, I trust God’s timing.

With love, I remind you that I saw you.

I saw your heart, your intentions, your efforts—even the ones you kept to yourself. I know you wanted to be better, not just for me, but for yourself too. And that matters. It always did.

I still carry the love we shared, not as a weight, but as a warmth. A reminder that love was here. We were there. It lived in us, even if only for four seasons.

If I could give you anything right now, it would be this certainty:

• You are more than your mistakes.

• You are capable of the growth you seek.

• Healing is possible.

And love, true love, will always find its way back to a heart that’s ready to receive it.

Our love was not in vain. It was real and it mattered.

May we both continue forward with Grace, with wisdom and with the deep knowing that what is meant for us will always—always—find its way. As we say in Krio, "da wata we na fɔ yu nɔ go rɔn pas yu".