The love story of Michael Cousette and Naadirah Fate is not a typical one.
They first set eyes on each other during a visit at the prison where Michael was incarcerated. Naadirah, a 29-year-old hairstylist from North Philadelphia, was friends with Michael’s sister, and she had come along with her to the prison to keep her company.
“When we saw each other, he was like, ‘Oh my God, I like her. She’s so pretty,” Naadirah said. “He said, ‘I’m gonna call you. I’m gonna put you on my phone list.’”
She didn’t think he would, but he did, and he called late that night. Not from the prison phone, but from a cell phone he had. They talked for more than two hours, and neither of them wanted to hang up.
Michael reminded her of comedian Kevin Hart — not because they looked alike, but because they were both on the short side and hilarious.
“From that night, we were together,” she said. “I promised him that I would never leave his side. I told him I would look out for him, whatever he needed, and when he came home, I would want to continue our relationship.”
For more than seven years, their relationship consisted of phone calls and visits. There were times when Naadirah had her doubts about their future. But when Michael was released, he went straight to her.
“He made a promise to me and he kept that promise,” she said.
Michael got a job working as an electrician and started putting some money away to buy Naadirah a ring. She started practicing Islam, which was his religion.
Within a few months, in the spring of 2017, Naadirah found out she was pregnant.
They were both excited, and while Michael said he had no preference as far as gender, Naadirah knew he wanted a son. (He already had a daughter, who is now 11.)
He talked about how he couldn’t wait to take his son to football practice. They dreamed together and made plans for their future.
But Michael would never get a chance to meet his child or make Naadirah his wife. He was shot and killed on Sept. 22, 2017 in North Philadelphia, only about a year after being released and starting his new life with Naadirah. He was 27 years old.
“It’s been really hard because Michael was my best friend,” Naadirah said, her voice breaking as her baby babbles in the background. “We talked about everything. I feel like I lost everything.”
The couple had discussed doing a maternity photo shoot together, but they never got the chance. After Michael died, Naadirah did the shoot alone and had Michael Photoshopped in.
“He really wanted to do the photo shoot, and I wanted him to be a part of it even though he wasn’t here. So for me to put him in the photo, I made his wish come true,” she said. “I said, ‘I don’t have to wish he was here. I’m just going to put you here. You’re here.’”
She posted the photo to her Instagram, which has more than 100,000 followers, and it went viral, with more than 30,000 likes.
The baby was due in March, but he came early, on Feb. 14, 2018, which was the day after Naadirah’s birthday. She named him Michael Lamar Cousette Jr., after his father.
“I feel this was Michael saying, ‘This is your birthday gift and your Valentine’s gift. Since I can’t be there for you, I’m just going to bless you with my son and we’re going to make him a love child.’ This was the biggest, best birthday gift I could ever have.”
“Every time my son smiles, I feel like Michael is around,” Naadirah said. “I know he would have loved his son.”
