Olakunle Ologunro

I think I was inspired by the idea of the project itself. I found it thrilling and I wanted to see if I could come up with a story that would feel good without being inordinately sentimental. Looking at what we—myself and the editors—ended up with, I think I succeeded.

I had multiple sketches. Short paragraphs, some sentences I thought they might say, a sense of their family dynamic. As I went on with each new draft, it became clear to me that I really wanted these characters to be relatable. I wanted them to sound familiar to the readers without being staid. With this in mind, it became easier to blow out the chaff.

Honestly? Everything. But a standout moment is when both characters meet for the first time. Although their immediate intentions are the same, their approaches are different and it was fun throwing in an obstacle to level them both.

Settling on a POV and staying compact in terms of length. I had drafts of different lengths and different POVs, but in the end, I had to do what was best for the story.

That love is out there. Tenderness too. And these things will find you eventually. Someone is going to hold you in a way that will silence the riot of your life. And it will feel right.