Greetings,

It speaks volumes about my brother’s character that I know at least three people who considered Prince their best friend—and the actual number could easily be higher. I still remember the large crowds of kids pouring into our home for Yu-Gi-Oh! or Beyblade tournaments.

My brother was asked to be the best man for not one, but two weddings. I had the privilege of attending one of them. He and this particular best friend were like two peas in a pod—or, as the Caribbean saying goes, batty and bench. Just like Jazz from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, this friend was a constant fixture in our lives growing up. We’d go to Canada's Wonderland together, or he’d be at our house watching Power Rangers with my brother before they jetted off to school. I could easily picture them riding off into the sunset together, and I would have been content never seeing my brother again, just knowing they were that happy. If Prince were still alive, I imagine they’d be neighbours today, even with wives and kids, going on family trips together. Or they'd have a gaming podcast where they reacted to gameplay; their absurd commentary and quirky humour would have easily netted them millions of views.

That being said, it was utterly heartbreaking to attend a wedding where my brother’s ghost was the one present. There were awkward stares, and a woman stood in the place where my brother should have been as best man. I didn't need to watch American Horror Story—I was living it. I was simultaneously heartbroken and seething with anger.

All these years later, there are still loose ends, and the dynamics of those old friendships have changed. Everyone deals with grief differently. Some choose not to talk about it, perhaps because the pain of having a piece of your soul ripped away is just too gut-wrenching. Prince’s absence is painfully acute at gatherings. Whether it’s an empty chair at an outing where he should be sitting, or just reminiscing about old anime and game shows, it's tough. But I appreciate that, somehow, we all must lean into each other to keep going.

Honestly, I often find myself without words. They say the cliché is that it gets better, but what I do know is that leaning into God has helped me through. It is simply one day at a time.

Right now, the book is undergoing typesetting and formatting. Please pray for a successful execution and that there are no delays ahead of pre-orders on 28 July and the official launch on 28 August. I am excited to share the book cover soon.

Thank you all for your incredible support. And please, remember—you are not alone.

Many thanks for following and reading,
Princess

"Pretty intense life experiences. It's very good so far." – Lina Smith, Founder of True Image Fitness

"I really appreciated this piece of work; it is quite lovely and very expressive of the state of grief." – Hugh Barker, Editor (Bloomsbury, Ebury)

Ghanaian American Journal - Profile on my writing practice and thoughts on grief.

Chai & Chat – 8 July – I will promote thoughts on grief and also discussing my experience in care with staff of York Region Children’s Aid Society.

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Newsletters are lightly edited with AI.