It all started in 2006, during the golden age of MySpace. I was listening to 2Baba’s hit song “African Queen,” mesmerized by its rhythm and melody. It was the kind of song you couldn’t help but play on repeat, and I had it on loop for days. Each note seemed to carry me deeper into the smooth rhythm of the song. Then, while scrolling through the comment section, I noticed a name I didn’t recognize. Curious, I clicked on it and saw a face that stunned me. Her name was Mardia Gibson. In that moment, the rest of the world blurred out. Her beauty and the way she carried herself through the screen were impossible to ignore. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. From that point on, every time I heard “African Queen,” I saw one face—Mardia’s. Building up my courage, I sent her a message. My heart was pounding, but to my surprise, she responded. Our conversations became frequent, turning into a bond that felt too deep to be casual. I eagerly waited for midnight when I had free minutes to hear her voice without worrying about phone bills. Those late-night calls felt magical, like time didn’t exist for us. Weeks turned into months, and our connection blossomed into a long-distance relationship. The physical distance didn’t feel like a barrier but rather a challenge that brought us closer. Then, Mardia made a life-changing decision to move from California to Pennsylvania, just hours away from me. It felt like destiny had given me the perfect opportunity to meet the woman who had captured my heart. When we arranged to meet in person, I was a bundle of nerves. What if our connection didn’t translate into real life? But deep down, I knew what we had was special. On the day we met, I drove to Wilmington, Delaware, to meet her at the train station. I was early, pacing back and forth, heart racing. When I finally saw her walking toward me, all my worries disappeared. Seeing her in person for the first time overwhelmed me with emotion. She was everything I had imagined and more. Her beauty, grace, and presence made my heart feel at home. That moment marked the start of something truly beautiful. From MySpace to reality, from countless phone calls to real-life moments, our love story continued to unfold. Years later, I still look back with immense gratitude. Whenever I hear “African Queen,” I don’t just hear the song; I see her—Mardia’s smile, her spirit, her love. She is my heart’s rhythm and the one I’ll spend forever with. Through the miles, late-night talks, and every moment that brought us closer, she became my everything. What began as a simple message on MySpace grew into a lifelong love story. And now, as we step into our future together, I know one thing for sure: SHE is my AFRICAN QUEEN, the girl of my dreams.