2025 was going well, until it wasn’t. On the 21st of December, exactly one year into her battle with breast Cancer, my younger sister died. I am truly short of words. I feel so pained and aggrieved.

She had her life stretched in front of her. She had dreams and aspirations that we talked about. We were so full of hope based on all the efforts and indications. How things went down so swiftly leaves me breathless and shaken. Nothing prepares you for the loss of a loved one and all you are left clutching are the beautiful and bittersweet memories of them that you have.

I keep thinking that maybe I am in some sort of sleep and that I will wake up to find out that I have been having a nightmare. Alas, I wake up to harsh reality. I wake up to the fact that I will continue the journey of life without my wonderful sister who loved me unconditionally and was my biggest cheerleader.

I wake up saddened over the fact that she didn’t get to live those dreams that she had.

Ugo Nwannem, I love you till the end of time, and I miss you tremendously. I miss our daily conversations, I miss your laugh, I miss hearing your voice call me Adanne, I miss the way you talk about my children (your nephews and niece), I miss your generous personality, your spark and positive nature. If I am to live a million lives over and over again, I will choose you to be my sister over and over again.