Nov.
23, 2024
Dear London,
I am Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu, the Nigerian brown-skinned
young woman who is always overwhelmed with happiness at the mention of your
name. I never believed I could fall in love with a city by simply reading about
it. I thought it was just something people exaggerated in stories, but when I
first read about the Great Fire of London, I knew you were the best city for
me. At that moment, I saw you as gold in the fire, refined and purified to be
admired by all.
Though I’ve never visited you in person, I feel like I
know you well through books. Every page transports me to your bustling streets
and lets me immerse myself in all the lush details of your perfect corners. You
stand proudly on the glimmering River Thames, a city with centuries of history
flowing through every alleyway and mews, and yet, you remain modern, vibrant,
and ever so inviting.
How glorious it must be to watch the sunset from Waterloo
Bridge, gazing at the magnificent London Eye, symbolising your endless progress.
Your streets are filled with stories, whether walking through the awe-inspiring
St. Paul’s Cathedral or wandering the grand 200-acre Syon Park. Each landmark
you boast of, from the shimmering Tower Bridge to the buzzing markets of
Camden, holds an undeniable charm.
Your rich culture and diverse people make you a city of
endless possibilities. No matter the challenges you’ve faced, whether the
devastation of the Great Fire, the destruction of two World Wars, or the many
other trials of time, you have always risen like a phoenix from the ashes,
stronger and even more beautiful.
In you, London, people from all corners of the world find
their home. You have given countless souls the opportunity to build their
futures, and have raised icons who continue to shape the world. You are the
city of second chances, a place where dreams come alive and diversity thrives.
But more than anything, London, I dream of you with all
my heart. I dream of a London where the spirit of unity doesn’t just exist, but
flourishes, where every voice is truly heard, no matter where they come from,
no matter who they love. I dream of a London where every child can look up to
the sky and know that the future is wide open, that no dream is too big, and no
hope is too small.
I dream of you, London, as a source of light and love,
shining brighter with each passing year. A city where those who feel lost can
find their place, where broken spirits are mended, and where the beauty of
diversity isn’t just celebrated, but deeply rooted in the very soul of your
streets.
I might not have walked your streets yet, but I can feel
you in my soul, London. You have inspired me to dream bigger, to love deeper,
to live fully, and to never lose sight of the beauty in the world. You are not
just a city; you are my dream, my love, and my future.
London,
you are more than just a dream to me, you are the place my heart has always
longed for, and one day, I will walk your streets with a love that has only
grown stronger with time, and I will savour every moment with you. I love you
deeply, London.
With love,
Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
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