3. Work trips and All

LEONA'S P.O.V



To say she was excited would have been an understatement, but excitement, she quickly discovered, came with a lot of work.

Visa applications,Visa interviews preparing presentations and shopping for the right outfits.

And somehow still showing up to work every day like nothing unusual was happening, it was exhausting.

She had even canceled a lunch date with Mwenya because she simply didn’t have the time.

Her friends barely knew the full details yet—only that she was traveling soon.
Between paperwork and meetings, Leona found herself squeezing in moments to research the place she would soon visit.

Abu Dhabi.

She searched hotels, restaurants, landmarks meanwhile her boss had already told her that all the expenses were covered.

Flights, accommodation, summit access—everything.

But she still wanted to look the part.
Professional, Elegant, Successful. Which meant more work,more shopping and more planning and by the end of the week she felt mentally drained.

Maybe when she arrived she would finally relax, shop a little and bring something nice back for the girls.

Maybe even meet her billionaire husband. Leona laughed out loud at the thought.

That entire week, something strange happened.

Her mind hadn’t wandered to the letters once but every evening after work, she found herself standing in front of her closet, opening the small wooden box.
Reading them again.

It was like stepping back into a version of her life that had been too short.
Too brief. Too beautiful.

One evening she pulled out a letter she hadn’t read in a long time.
And just like that—

Another memory resurfaced.

Eight Years Ago

“Where would you go if you could travel the world?” , Zee asked the question casually.

Leona paused, chewing slowly on her sandwich as she thought about it. They were sitting on the school benches after classes as she waiteed for her father to pick her up.

Which meant he would probably be late.

“Mmm… everywhere,” she finally said.
Zee frowned slightly.

“That’s not an answer.”

She laughed softly.

“If anyone is going to travel the world,” he said thoughtfully, “it will definitely be you.”,Leona smiled but quickly looked away.

He believed in her. Really believed in her.

A small part of her wanted to smile wider, but another voice whispered in the back of her mind.

Daddy shouldn’t find me talking to a boy.

Still… she lingered.

“What about you?” she asked.
Zee shrugged.

“Not too keen.”
She frowned at his response

“But,” he added, “if you write me at least ten places and tell me why they’re worth visiting… I might consider it.”Leona nudged his shoulder.

“Don’t be boring. It’s okay to try new things.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he agreed lazily.

Just then she spotted her father’s car turning onto the road.

“Oh!”
She jumped up quickly.

“Gotta go.”

She didn’t even wait for his reply before running toward the gate.

By that time Leona was in Grade Twelve, Zee was already in his first year of university.

Yet somehow he always made time to see her and the letters never stopped.
That year Leona didn’t even have a phone because her father wanted her focused on school.

So letters became their conversations.
Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to talk to Zee without restrictions.

Without the constant fear of being caught.

But maybe the distance was what made every moment with him feel special.
That night, after dinner, Leona sat on her bed thinking about his challenge.

Ten places.

She picked up her notebook and began writing.

Dear Zee,

Only because you asked—and maybe to encourage you to explore nice places using that phone of yours.

The first place I’d like to visit is Monaco, in the south of France. They say it’s the playground of the rich. I want to drive a Lamborghini and ride a yacht. I believe I’ll be a wealthy woman one day.

The second place is London. I’ve read so many books set there that I want to experience the culture myself. And if you ever go, you could visit a football club. Win-win for you.

The third place is Saudi Arabia—specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I read a book about the Middle East that made me cry so much. My cousins go there and their stories sound magical.

Fourth: Cape Town. Honestly, who doesn’t want to visit Cape Town?
I’m getting tired of writing now, Zee, but I’ll finish because I’m determined to convince you that traveling is worth it.

Fifth: Italy. For the food, of course. Milan. Florence. Venice. And maybe if I fall in love there, I won’t be alone. (Imagine me laughing while writing this.)

Sixth: Greece. The architecture, the culture. Percy Jackson made Greek mythology feel real for a moment—until you reminded me that myths are myths.

Seventh: South Korea. And no, it’s not just because of Boys Over Flowers. Maybe it is.

Eighth: Los Angeles, just to see Santa Monica Bay. Maybe even Las Vegas for the city lights.

Ninth: New York. The city that never sleeps.

Tenth: Bali. It looks peaceful and green. I’d bring a suitcase full of books and read under a tree all day.

And lastly—Nigeria. For the food and culture. If I ever get married, I’d have a Nigerian-themed wedding even though I’m Zambian. I want to dance properly at my wedding.

Have I convinced you yet?

Maybe one day we could pick one place together.

A place that becomes our place.
Just because we decided it was.
Yours,
Leo

Present Day

Leona smiled at the memory. Two places on that list were already happening and she quickly searched through the box for Zee’s reply.

Finally she found it.

Dear Leona,

Your imagination amazes me every time.When you describe the places you love, I can almost see them the way you do.

You’ve really thought this through.
And I like the idea of our place.
That has a nice ring to it.

Also… when I said I would marry you, let me add something.

After marrying you, I’ll make sure we visit every place on this list ,just so I can see you smile. But even if I’m not there, I know you’ll see these places, Leo.

Because if anyone can accomplish whatever they set their mind to—It’s you. You’re wise beyond your years.
Maybe it’s the things your eyes have already seen.

But there’s a depth in you that I hope one day you’ll allow me to discover.

Yours,
Zee.

Leona exhaled slowly. He had always been poetic. Her chest tightened.

For a moment she thought she might cry. Because deep down, she knew something she rarely admitted to herself.

She had loved that boy. Truly loved him.
And remembering him now awakened a longing she thought had died years ago.
Terrence had never known her the way Zee did.

With Terrence ,there had been passion, attraction, excitement, but there had never been friendship.

No depth, No discovery No shared dreams. Just a bedroom.

Leona shook her head at the thought as it suddenly irked her

I’m actually going to Abu Dhabi, she thought suddenly like she had written years ago.

Words really did have power.
And just like Zee predicted—

She was doing it without him.

                           *******
“So you thought you could just text us and disappear to the diaspora like that?” Mwila teased, hands on her hips.
Leona groaned.

“I’m sorry, guys. Work has been insane. Between visa appointments and presentations, I barely had time to breathe.”

It was Saturday evening, and her flight was the next morning.

Her friends had shown up unexpectedly while she was still struggling to pack. They came carrying gifts.
Leona nearly cried.

“What do you have planned?” Tanya asked.

“Honestly,” Leona said, “I just hope this is the beginning of something bigger for me.”

“It is,” Mwenya said firmly.

The conviction in her voice made Leona pause.

Sometimes she wondered what Mwenya saw. She knew her friend was gifted, she never took lightly what came ou

“Please talk to me directly woman of God,” Leona joked.

Mwenya laughed.
“Behave.”

But Leona knew her friend well enough to recognize the weight behind those words.

They spent the rest of the afternoon packing, laughing, and planning things she should do while abroad.

They eventually ordered takeaway because none of them had the energy to cook.

Before leaving, they gathered together and prayed for her.

Leona had never felt more loved.

Her first flight left early was dynday morning and she checked in at five.Had breakfast alone in the airport lounge.

Her company had booked her a business-class ticket. Something she had never experienced prior to that trip and she didn't think life would be the same after.

The journey was long. Lusaka to Johannesburg and then Durban and
Durban to Dubai.

And finally her last flight from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

By the time she arrived, she was exhausted.Sleeping on planes was nothing like sleeping in a real bed.

Even though she had spent most of the flight reviewing presentations and recording little travel videos. The summit schedule was already packed.

The first evening would be a networking gala.Sessions would run from 8 a.m. to noon for five days.

The following week would be training.

But when she finally checked into her hotel room and looked out at the breathtaking skyline of Abu Dhabi—
Her body ignored everything.

The beautiful view, the excitement, the wonder of the place.

Instead, it chose the one thing it wanted most.
Sleep.

Leona collapsed onto the bed.
And within seconds—
She was gone.

Writing in the present and the past has been exciting and I promise we're getting into the story very very soon.

I think I love the love letter trope a little bit more than I expected. Does anyone else like it too or is it just me?

Share your thoughts with me in the comments



Till next time
Unathi 🤍