J@$$ica episode 14

JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 14
©Miriam Edem

With the little savings I had left with me after paying a year rent and what my grandmother and pastor gave to me, I added Sandra money and paid it off and let out a breathe after knowing the portal was to close the next day.
“Thank you friend, thank you so much, I said after I printed out the receipt.
“Its okay, am glad I helped anyway and where is Tunde? She asked and I heaved because she was not aware of the latest happenings.

“He’s already outside the country, I replied
“Are you serious? And you didn’t care to tell me neither did he drop any money for you? She asked.

“I found out today myself, honestly Sandra I don’t know Tunde anymore. I try to tell myself he’s busy with his new family but it doesn’t look that way to me anymore, I replied and Sandra giggled.
“You know money brings out the true character of a man, she said and I was just speechless as we strolled together.

No one still heard from Tunde and I had to put myself to read for my examination despite I was hurting. Sandra made it clear to me and reminded me of the reason I came here to study,
“You came here to make your mother proud so don’t forget that. Forget him and face your studies except you want to fail and you know it won’t change anything neither will it bring Tunde from the Dubai he is, wise up my friend, Sandra will always say.

One day after I was done with the paper I had, I left the hall with Sandra and decided to check my phone but saw two missed calls from Tunde. I looked at my screen to be sure I was seeing clearly and immediately I called back with my hands shivering
“Jessica, i heard his voice.

“Tunde? Tunde what happened to you? I asked.
“Can we see now? Where are you? He asked.

“At school, where can I see you? I asked and he told me where I can see him. After I dropped the call Sandra was angrily looking at me,
“Tunde is back and he wants to see me, I told her

“Oh girl you’re too soft. So what if he’s back after leaving you that way? She asked.
“Sandra I have to hear from him first, because something must have happened, I replied.

“He better have a good explanation for what he did to you, anyways you can go welcome your lost lover, see ya, Sandra said and walked away while I hurried to go see Tunde.

I knocked on the door and he opened up. Tunde looked so different and good looking that my mouth flew open, I ba-rely recognized him
“Welcome Jessica, he said letting me In and I was even scared to hu-g him as I used to. He looked like a stranger to me as I just sat on the sofa just looking at him,

“What can I get for you? He asked.
“Nothing, I didn’t come here to drink just What happened Tunde? You left without letting me know why? I asked.

“I’m sorry I didn’t have the chance to, he replied.
“Still you could have called but you just…. You just made me look stupid and confused how is that fair? I asked.

“And I’m sorry Jessica, what do you want me to say? If my father says Tunde you are leaving now will you expect me to say no to him? He asked.
“I didn’t say you should say no, when have I ever stopped you from leaving? Even if you are to leave in the night you can still call or text me you don’t have an excuse, besides did you even care of what I was going throu-ghthat period? I asked.

“Jessica i don’t know what you want me to say, I said am sorry for not telling you then but am here for another serious thing for there’s something I nee-d to talk to you about, he said.
“Which is? I asked and he sat up well ru-b-bing his hands together.

“You see Jessica i ran into one of our member yesterday in the mall and he complained of how bad I treated my girlfriend by leaving, what’s that for? He asked.
“You know I never had such discussion with anybo-dy neither have I said any ill thing to anyone about you, I replied.

“To be on a safe side, I think whatever that happened between us should end, he said and my eyes bulged out.
“You mean? I asked.

“Jessica we are no longer on the same lane. In fact you nee-d to see my brothers babes, you can’t measure up with them and they are even whites. I don’t want to be the one on the loser side here, I want to show them that I have taste and I am not local. Don’t get me wrong Jessica you’re a good and nice young lady I must confess, but I can’t possibly introduce you to my family. What if they insist that you must spend the night with them? Of course you will have to spend the night because I have to fly you out, will you go urinate there and embarras me smelling bad? He asked and my li-ps were seriously shaking with my face we-t as I stood up taking my bag.
“Yes Tunde you’re right, but you don’t have to use my condition as an excuse. Thank you anyway, I said going to the door and he stood up.

“Jess you’re misun-derstanding me, he said but I opened the door and left and tried so ha-rd to dry my tears but it was not working. It was looking as if it was going to rain and when I arrived the compound with my handkerchief on my face trying to cover my red eyes, I got into my room ignoring the clothes I dried outside despite the weather and locked the door behind me.
I postrayed on the floor with tears and began singing to God. I didn’t know where I got that strength but I drew courage from Habakkuk 3:18 and praised God. I didn’t care if it looks as if I was cursed. I didn’t care if everything keeps crashing round me, I didn’t want to think that God had forgotten me neither did I wanted to lament like I used to. All I wanted to do was praise him with the whole of me and I can’t tell how long I la-id there worshiping God until I fell asleep.

Then I saw in the dream how I was in the middle of a sea with the water almost covering my ne-ck. Suddenly a big bird I have never seen before flew and placed it’s two legs on my shoulders and drew me out of the water, and as it flew away with me, the still sea that was calm rose up hitting itself as if a terrible wave just happened. The bird flew with me for a while and dropped me on a dry ground and immediately a thun-der made me woke up.
I fearfully stood up remembering my clothes outside, and as I struggled with my door so I can open it up I looked down and saw my clothes dry. I paused and returned to where I woke up from feeling the place but what was there was my tears alone. Jessica didn’t urinate in her sleep!!

I rushed out to get my clothes outside and began to think about the dream I just had but could not explain it, I had to call my pastor who dropped my call and called me back so I can carefully tell him everything. He shouted a big HALLELUJAH when I was done,
“Do you know what Jessica, you were not be-dwe-tting as you thought. You were just in a bondage spiritually fixed de-ep in the sea as your prison, when your eyes closes to sleep, you rele-ase and drain out what you are surrounded with in the disguise of urine. Truly the spirit rules the physical and God just set you free from that prison of shame, you are delivered my daughter, the pastor said.

“Pastor I was dry when I woke up, I said still confused.
“Jessica are you not hearing me? I just said your problem is over praise God! He shouted and I just began to cry. All I did was praise God wholeheartedly and that was where my redemption came out from and it caused God to come throu-ghfor me.

“Jessica when once the rain is over I’ll come visit you okay, just lie down again and sleep soundly, the pastor said and I sniffed.
“Thank you daddy, I said and dropped the call. I could not still believe it and in order to be sure I la-id down to sleep again.

I woke up with the knock on the door and again Jessica was dry and I rushed to open up but saw the pastor and his wife.
“Were you slee-ping my dear? The pastor wife asked as I let them in.
“Yes mommy and I woke up dry, I’m healed mommy I’m healed! I screamed and fell on her because I was convinced this time.

“Praise God, he will do more for you sweetheart this is just the beginning, the pastor wife said cleaning my face as I knelt down thanking God, then I told them what Tunde said to me.
“Tunde said that? It is well, the pastor said and I nodded.

“Don’t worry about him, besides you’re still too young and this mockery has been lifted from you. You’ll surely find someone better, his wife said touching me.
“I’ll just concentrate on my academics and with this healing of mine I have been consoled. Probably if he didn’t say those hurtful words to me my condition would have still been the same, it’s all good, I said and they smiled.

“I’m glad you know that, they said and I happily tou-ched my gown again to be sure I am not we-t, it was still like a dream to me.

That night I called up Sandra and told her am visiting because she didn’t call me afrer she left me in school.
“It’s late Sha but come na, she coldly said and I smiled and surprisedly knocked on her door because I was just outside. She opened up and saw me,
“Silly girl, she said letting me in and I fell on her be-d. Truth is I wanted to feel the comfort of a be-d afrer slee-ping on mat for so long with unbearable bo-dy pains, I just wanted to feel that softness again on my bo-dy because I have been running away from it so I won’t get carried away and mess it up.

“Hmm this one you’re this happy how did it go with Tunde? She asked.
“We’re no more, I happily replied.

“I no un-derstand, Sandra said looking at me.
“Tunde is looking for cl@$$ so he can compete with his brothers and Jessica is not just that cl@$$. I want to sleep now but wake me later to read okay, I replied and Sandra kept a confused face.

“You mean you’re slee-ping here? Common Jessica what’s wrong for something is different about you. First Tunde broke up with you and you are this happy when you should be crying, and you have never accepted to sleep at my place, you’re hiding something from me and you know that’s not fair, Sandra seriously said and I looked at her and heaved.
“You’re right, I’ve been hiding something from you because I was scared, but I have my life back now, I replied her.

“Was I friends with a walking ghost before now? Sandra asked and I smiled and faced her.
“I’ll tell you, I replied and told her my story……..

Tbc