Diamonds are forever

Our paths first crossed as medical students at a conference in the Fall of 2016. Ehizele (my Best Man) and I casually made our way around cocktail hour when we came across a young lady with a tote bag and textbook in hand. Our exchange that day was nothing more than "hello, nice to meet you”, but from then on I knew there was something special about her. As it turned out, neither of us had any idea what seed was planted on that day. Fast forward a few years later - I came across an article on my Facebook timeline about another 24-year-old medical school graduate. I clicked to see the picture of that distantly familiar smile of the girl with the tote bag. I read on to learn that we’d be starting residency at the same program. “What are the chances???” We ended up striking a conversation on social media, and the rest, as they say, “is history”. Not long after, Ehizele and I would meet up for dinner shortly after moving to Atlanta before the start of residency. In his typical “Ehizele” fashion with the biggest grin, he asked if I remembered “the girl from the medical conference”, and how he and his wife spent the previous day talking about how great of a couple we’d make. It was then that I told him that we had actually struck up multiple conversations over social media weeks leading to that point. He encouraged me to ask her on that first date. Long story short, what was supposed to be a group date turned into “just us”. Interestingly enough, our actual first date came a little earlier than planned. After a long day of residency orientation, we slid straight to a black-owned restaurant and followed that up with cupcakes (also from a black-owned spot). We then spent the next several hours in the parking lot long after the shop was closed We laughed and shared about our families, our past, and visions for the future. It was as if I was talking with someone I had known for years! We haven’t left each other’s side since. It was clear as soon as that day that I met in Ashley what I had never really had before - a confidant, a best friend, a life partner, a wife. In so many ways, God used her to bring out the best version of me. Ashley is the love of my life. The next few years would lead us through many major life events. Together we celebrated and we overcame — hand-in-hand, stride-for-stride, by each other’s side. Between it all, it always was, always is, and always will be “just us”.

Chijioke and I first met at a medical conference. I remember him because he was quiet while his best friend and I were talking our heads off laughing about balancing medicine and our social lives. He said hi and a few words and walked away. I had gotten to know many of his classmates via medical groups so I would see him in pictures. It is so funny and iconic we are getting married now because I have a picture from 2017 in my phone with his Instagram name and comment at the bottom of a MCG group photo in my phone to this day. Later, we would reconnect when articles of my 2019 graduation began to be shared and he realized we both were 24 when we graduated medical school. He reached out via social media and I remembered him. I thought his best friend was trying to set us up because he had reached out to me two weeks earlier to ask if I would date a new Nigerian man. Chijioke swear he had nothing to do with this - lol. We were supposed to go to dinner during our residency orientations but one day we just met up and went to a Black owned restaurant and got cupcakes - just us. We talked in the car for 4 hrs after. We had three more dates that week & the rest is history. Three weeks later I told someone "if I ever do decided I want to get married, I think I found my husband". & 6 months before this God was clearly telling me "husband" and none of the people I was meeting seemed right. I was so confused but now I see why. That is because Chijioke is more than just my future husband, he is my best friend. He literally feeds my soul. One of the best days of my life is when we just ate good food & watched Soul Food together. That is what I look forward to for the next 80+ years. #justUS