Episode 12 — Loud Distance
Long distance is romantic in theory. In reality?
It’s network glitches.
Missed calls.
Time differences that are small but somehow inconvenient.
And silence that grows teeth.
By the fifth week of the three-month agreement, the silence had started biting. Valerie was exhausted.
The media workshop date had finally been fixed for the Abuja branch. Which meant travel, preparation, coordination, design work, rehearsals, meetings.
The pressure had stacked on her chest like bricks.
She was seated on the floor of her apartment, laptop open, design drafts scattered around her like evidence of overthinking. Sticky notes. Open tabs. Half-finished slides.
Her phone buzzed.
My Man calling. Yes, she finally changed his name from “Purity” to “My Man”.
She stared at the screen for a moment before answering.
“Hey, boo boo.” she sounded tired
“Hiiii, mama.”
His voice sounded warm.
“You sound tired,” he said immediately.
“I am.” she groaned
“Talk to me.”
She hesitated. “I just feel stretched. Church. Work. This workshop. Everything.”
“Did you eat?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t start oo, Mr Man.”
“I’m serious.”
“Yes. I ate.”
“What did you eat?”
“Rice.”
“What kind of rice?”
She sighed dramatically. “Why are you interrogating my rice?”
“I need details, woman.”
She rolled her eyes again but a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Fried rice. With plantain. Are you happy, man?”
“Very happy oo.”
Then he added gently, “You don’t sound okay.”
Her jaw tightened slightly.
“I’m fine.”
“Mamaaaa… boo boo… stop being a hard girl. You're a soft woman, my baby”
Whenever he stretched her name like that, he meant business.
She exhaled sharply.
“I just… I don’t know if I’m doing too much.”
“Too much how?”
“Like I’m proving something.”
“To who?”
She stared at the laptop screen.
“To myself,” she admitted quietly.
He went silent.
“You don’t have to prove capacity to deserve love,” he said softly.
Her throat tightened unexpectedly.
“That’s not what this is.”
“Then what is it?”
She looked around the apartment.
It was empty. Quiet.
“I don’t want to be the weak one.”
He blinked. “In what context?”
“In this.”
“In us?”
“Yes.”
“Babeee,” he said gently, “you’re not weak.”
“I don’t want to be the girl who needs reassurance every week.”
“You don’t.”
“I don’t want to be insecure.” she countered
“You’re not insecure.”
She pressed her lips together.
“But I feel like I am sometimes.”
There it was.
The truth.
“I feel insecure too sometimes,” he said calmly.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“You!! Daddy G.O, Insecure keh?”
He laughed “Yes.”
“About what?”
He hesitated. “About whether distance will change you.”
Her chest tightened. “Change me how?”
“You’re growing fast. Leading. Visible. Now you're going to Abuja.”
“And?”
“And I’m here.” he whispered
“In Rwanda?” she asked
“Yes.”
She stared at the screen. “Are you scared I’ll outgrow you?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
He didn’t laugh.
“No,” he said quietly. “I’m scared you’ll realize you need something different.”
Her chest ached. “You think I don’t know what I’m choosing?”
“I know you do.”
“Then why would I switch?”
“Because growth changes preferences.”
That landed. She leaned back against the wall.
“Baby…. Baby.” she called
“Hmm?” he answered.
“If I wanted easy, I would’ve left when you mentioned pastoral mentoring.”
Silence.
“I’m not here accidentally.”
He swallowed visibly. “Say it again.”
She smiled softly. “I’m not here accidentally.”
This time he smiled fully.
Two days later, Valerie traveled to Abuja.
The workshop was held in a mid-sized hall at the Utako branch.
Projectors. Cables. Volunteers running around. Media assistants adjusting lights.
When Valerie stepped onto the stage, something shifted.
She was confident. And brilliant.
Purity couldn’t attend physically, but she sent him snippets.
Short clips of her speaking.
He watched them alone in his small apartment in Kigali.
Paused. Replayed. Paused again.
Pride swelled in his chest. See my baby
But so did something else.
A quiet whisper.
She shines anywhere.
Would she still need you?
He shook the thought away.
But it lingered.
That night after the workshop, she called him.
“Babyyyyy I did it!” she squealed.
“I know!” he laughed. “You were phenomenal.”
“You watched?”
“Three times.”
She grinned. “ Guyyy!! I was shaking before I went up oo.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“I almost called you.”
His tone shifted. “Why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t want to depend on you na.” she said, as if it was the most easiest thing.
He went quiet.
“Mama…. Babe.”
“What?” she asked defensively.
“You can depend on me.”
“I know.” she shrugged
“Then why are you rationing it?”
She froze. “I’m not rationing.”
“You are.”
His voice softened. “You’ve been strong-strong for weeks.”
“That’s a good thing na.”
“It’s controlled.”
Her heart skipped. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re holding back your softness.”
She swallowed. “And what if I am?”
“Then I miss you.”The words came out low.
“I miss the girl who panics and calls me.”
She looked away from the screen.
“I didn’t know you liked that version.”
“I like all versions, baby.”
He leaned closer to his phone. “But I don’t want you armoring around me.”
She felt seen. Too seen and she didn't like it.
“You think I don’t notice when you change tone?” he continued gently.
“When you edit your emotion?”
She blinked. “You notice that?”
“Yes.”
She whispered, “I don’t want to need too much.”
His voice softened.
“Need me.”He half pleaded. “Please.”
Her eyes stung. “Say that again.”
“Need me.” This time he was begging.
Her breath trembled.
“I don’t know how to balance strength and surrender.”
“You don’t have to balance it alone.”
The ache of distance suddenly became loud.
Because she wanted him there.
His arms. His scent. His beard scratching her cheek.
“I wish you were here,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes.
“Me too.”
The next day, Valerie posted pictures from a leadership strategy meeting hosted in Abuja after the workshop.
Church leaders, Media team and Pastors.
In one of the pictures, she was standing beside a Tall man. He was well dressed. Sharp navy suit. Clean beard. Confident smile.
Purity stared at the picture longer than necessary. Something tightened in his chest.
He didn’t like the way the man stood beside her.
Too close.
Too relaxed.
Like someone who belonged there.
Like someone who saw her brilliance up close.
Like someone who didn’t need a screen to talk to her.
Purity locked his phone. Then unlocked it again. He stared at the picture.
Zoomed in. Zoomed out. His jaw tightened.
Why does he look that comfortable? He didn’t say anything immediately. But the thought lingered all evening.
That night she called.
“Babe, you’re quiet,” Valerie said.
“I’m listening.”
“To what?”
“To you na.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Silence.
Then he asked casually, “Who was the man beside you in the picture?”
She blinked. “Pastor David.”
“Oh.”
“He oversees Abuja branch.” she said smiling
“Cool.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“No reason.”
“Babe.”
“Hmm?”
“Say what’s on your mind.”
He hesitated. “He just looked… too comfortable.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Comfortable keh?”
“ Ehn na, Like you two know each other well.”
“We worked together on the workshop.”
“Cool.”
She stared at him through the screen.
“Purity.”
“Hm.”
“Are you jealous?”
He exhaled. Maybe he should deny it. But he didn’t. He always wears his heart on his sleeves.
“Maybe a little.”
She burst out laughing.
“Oh my God.”
“What?” he said defensively.
“You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous jealous sha.. it's just small jealousy. Nothing serious oo.”
“You are joor. Which one is small jealousy??”
“I’m just here…. observing.”
“You zoomed into the picture, didn’t you?”
He froze.
Her grin widened.
“You zoomed.”
“…maybe.” he shrugged.
She laughed harder.
“My Man!!!”
“What? I needed context!”
She leaned closer to the screen, smiling.
“You’re actually cute when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not cute.”
“You are.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
Her voice softened. “But it’s sweet. I'm always the drama queen in this relationship. It's nice to know you have feelings too.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
“I just don’t like imagining someone else seeing you like that every day.”
Her expression softened.
“Seeing me how?”
“Brilliant. Leading. Confident.”
She tilted her head.
“Baby.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re the one who told me to go to Abuja.”
“I know.”
“You’re the one who pushes me to lead.”
“I know.”
“So why are you surprised people are around me?”
He sighed. “I’m not surprised.”
“Then what?”
“I’m just… aware.”
She studied his face for a moment.
Then said gently, “You don’t have to compete for space in my life.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“You kind of are.”
He laughed reluctantly. “Maybe.”
She smiled softly. “You’re the only man I call boo boo, you know abi.”
“That better remain true.”
She laughed. She really liked that he was jealous. Ohhh she revelled in that fact.
The tension softened.
Purity leaned back slightly.
“I wish I was in Nigeria right now.”
Her heartbeat picked up. “Why?”
He hesitated.
“Are you sure you want that answer?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s not very pastoral.”
She smirked. “Hehehehe. Daddy sir, please indulge me.”
He sighed. “I just… feel like if you were here right now…”
He paused. “…I’d probably pull you close.”
Her breath slowed.
“Okay…”
“And I’d just hold you.”
Silence.
“And?”
He hesitated again. “…and maybe kiss you.”
The air shifted. Valerie felt heat rise in her chest.
“Go on,” she whispered.
He swallowed. “I’d tuck your hair behind your ear.”
Her breathing deepened.
“Then?”
“I’d probably forget every rule about distance.”
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then suddenly something inside him stirred.
Son. That’s enough. Boundaries!!
The voice of the Holy Spirit was firm.
Purity straightened instantly.
He exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
“What?” she asked.
“I will stop here till our wedding night.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“Because if I keep going, my imagination will outrun my wisdom.”
She laughed softly.
“Daddy G.O...” but her hormones were raging. She didn't even know what to say.
He smiled. “But I meant what I said.”
“So did I,” she admitted quietly.
The honesty sat between them.
“I love you so much,” he said.
Her eyes softened.
“I love you too, my baby.”
Then suddenly her voice cracked. “I miss you.” The words came out like they had been sitting in her chest all week.
“I miss you so much.” Tears filled her eyes.
“I want to see you.” she went on.
His chest tightened painfully.
“Hey, mama.”
“I’m tired of screens.”
“I know.”
“I want to hug you physically.”
His voice softened. “I will come back soon.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
He smiled gently.
“And when I do, you won’t escape my hugs. Now please stop crying, you're breaking my heart.”
She laughed through tears.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
They stayed on the call quietly for a few minutes.
Just breathing and loving each other.
And that night, after they finally ended the call, both of them whispered the same prayer before sleeping.
God, help us protect what You started
Yayyyy.. I had this in my draft so I thought “Why not just share this with my babies today again??”
Well!! Brace yourselves for Wednesday cause it's about to be a rollercoaster of emotions.
See you on Wednesday!!!
Kindly subscribe, restack and comment. I really enjoy reading your comments.
Awwww. See our daddy G.O. they should go for mentoring with solape and PK
Bruhhh, this one sef us a roller coaster of emotions... I love how he told her that he felt jealous of someone standing with her physically. Hiding it or acting all is well can cause wahala