J@$$ica episode 15

JESSICA??
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 15
©Miriam Edem

For some minutes Sandra couldn’t say a word after I told her all I went throu-gh, am sure she was so shocked and went speechless and I just la-id down freely in her be-d leaving her to continue,
“Wake me when its time to read okay, I said smiling at her and closed my eyes to rest.
The next day we left to school together though it was war for Sandra to wake me up because I was enjoying the be-d, and of course I didn’t wake up in the night either to read despite Sandra woke me up, I just beat her hands aside to sleep.
She won’t un-derstand the pains i went throu-ghslee-ping on a mat and sometimes on the floor when my mat was not well dried.

I noticed unlike Sandra she was very quiet.
“What’s wrong with you? I asked and she looked at me.
“Nothing, she replied.

“Your silence is scaring me, I said.
“Maybe because you refused waking up in the night to read, she replied.

“Is that it? I asked and she breathed out.
“What you told me yesterday, was it true? She asked.

“You don’t believe me? I asked.
“Because I don’t seem to un-derstand how you went throu-ghall of that strong, how is that possible? Sandra shouted.

“Sandra, I can’t lie to you. When you were complaining that I don’t sleep over at your place neither will I let you sleep over at my place this was the reason. If you don’t believe me ask Tunde because he mocked my condition yesterday, I said and Sandra gasped shaking her head.
“And you hid it from me? Sandra asked.

“Maybe I was just scared to lose a good friend but forget about it girl, its over, i said hitting her.
“You’re so unbelievable, she said with a frown and I laughed holding her hand…….

Fortunately for us, that was the last paper for the semester and I didn’t want to tell my principal nor my grandmother about my healing, I wanted to travel down and give them that surprise.
That night I still sle-pt at Sandra place but had a dream.
It was as if I wanted entering my house when I noticed someone was kind of monitoring me. Though it was dark but I flashed a torch quickly and saw Kayode grand father.
“You! I shouted recognizing him and he stepped forward from where he was coming to me as I looked around me hoping to find a stick or stone to throw on him.

“Don’t you dare come near me! I shouted on him.
“How did you do it? He asked.

“Did what? I asked back.
“How did you get freed? He asked again.

“Why? Does it bother you? I asked.
“I was to free you whenever I wanted because I bought you! He shouted.

“The Lord rebuke you! You can never buy me when his precious blood bought me already on the cross! I shouted on him.
“Really? Why not ask your grandmother, he said.

“What? How did you know my grandmother? I asked.
“Go and ask her how I bought you, she has an explanation to give to you especially that day she visited you and the next day you began to be-dwe-t, he replied and turned his back to leave.

“You’re lying! My grandmother has nothing to do with this when it was your wickedness you evil man! I shouted fiercely and woke up when saw Sandra complaining,
“Must you hit me like that on my head kwa? She asked ru-b-bing her head but I ignored her breathing ha-rd.

“Are you okay? Sandra asked but I could not answer her.

The next day I hurried back to my place without explaining anything to Sandra. I took my few things in a big school bag and hit the road back to my father house.
When I arrived the compound, I faked a smile greeting my neighours and got in to see my step mother heavily pregnant.
“You didn’t call that you’re coming, my father said surprised to see me.
“Why? Would you have thrown a welcome pa-rty? I coldly replied and left for my room to see my stuffs were transfered and I came out smiling at them.

“I can see I have no room anymore in my father house, very good but take care of my stuff, I said dropping my bag in the sitting room and left immediately to my grandmother place while they stupidly looked at me.
I knocked on her door and she opened up,
“Jessica! When did you arrive? She shouted wanting to hu-g me but I just slided myself into the house and she turned and looked at me with a confused face after closing the door.

“You look strange, what’s wrong? She asked.
“What’s your definition of strange? I asked her.

“Jessica I don’t un-derstand your tone on me what’s wrong? She asked and I ru-bbe-d my forehead pacing around and stopped.
“Okay let me start by saying am healed. Grand mom I no longer pee, I replied.

“You no longer pee? She asked feeling uncomfortable.
“Does it surprise you? I asked.

“What do you mean by that? She asked.
“Are you still asking me that? Tell me you don’t know Kayode grand father? I asked.

“What are you talking about? She asked.
“Stop lying to me because I know what I saw! Why did you sell me out to them? How and why! I screamed out and she went backwards.

“How did you know about this? She slowly asked.
“So its true? I asked very shocked when I was expecting to see another reaction from her but she began to cry.

“I’m sorry my child, I was offered a hu-ge sum of money for my business after my husband divorced me, she replied.
“What are you talking about? I asked and she cried the more.

“A man met me…….. “Such a person will never meet you if you werent dirty yourself! I cut in.
“I accept! I’m not a christian like you and I don’t Care about religion. He came to me telling me he has a job for me, something big that will change my business and I bought into it because I was not close to you. My eyes were red hungry for money and I didn’t know what to do please forgive me, my grandmother said and I went backwards with my mouth opened.

“That day you visited us what did you come to do? I asked.
“I was asked to take something that belongs to you. So I had to visit you and what I took from you was your face cap you left on the couch, she replied and my eyes bulged out when I remembered I wore my favorite face cap, one I wear mostly whenever I go out and I placed it on the couch to get something inside then I noticed it disappeared and I didn’t know who to ask.

I cried terribly touching my stomach as I began to feel pains,
“How could you do this to us? Was it not enough you were not a good mother to your late daughter? How could you hurt your granddaughter this way? I cried out.
“I’m sorry my child, when I realized what they did I wanted it to stop but I could not find them any where. They just vanished and I didn’t know how to tell you, I thought taking my responsibility as your grandmother after your mother death will make up for my mistake. Forgive me please, she said trying to to-uchme.

“Don’t to-uchme! I screamed out.
“I trusted you so much. I loved you so much! How could you do this to me just for money, you’re evil! You’re evil! I cried out and ran out immediately and held the wall in pains crying ha-rd when I hit the road.

I cried that way until I got home and my father stood up weak looking at me,
“Jessica what happened? He asked but I was struggling to breathe.
“Sister, Cyril held me with a sad face and I tearfully smiled at him and drew him close happy to see him again.

“Sister is fine don’t mind me, I replied touching his face.
“But why are you crying? My father asked.

“Can I have a space to stay at least? I asked my father.
“Cyril room, we used your room as the visitor room sorry about that, my father replied but I just sniffed and slowly left to Cyril room saying nothing.

I locked the room behind and sat on my brother be-d and called my pastor. He dropped the call and called back after hearing my voice,
“Jessica are you crying? He asked and I nodded with my nose running badly.
“Talk to me dear what happened? He asked and I told him everything.

“Jesus christ! Jessica just calm down okay, my pastor said.
“I don’t know how to take this daddy. I never expected any of my family to do such thing to me, especially not her yet she never told me. She pretended so well and I thought she wanted to make up for the times she was not there for my mother and her grandchildren, I said.

“Jessica I un-derstand you, but there’s this chain of wickedness the wicked people operate on. No matter how strong an evil man is, he nee-ds an insider to open the door so you can be hurt. Its sad it turned to be your grandmother but then be strong okay, what is important is that God healed you and most importantly revealed such an insight to you. If everyone was able to see the things the physical eyes can’t see, life would have been so easy but sadly its not that way, I’m sorry okay, the pastor said and I tou-ched my forehead feeling headache already.
“Okay daddy, I slowly said.

“We’ll keep on praying for you, don’t worry Jess its already over, he said and I nodded.
“Thank you daddy, thank you, I said.

“Take your rest, I’ll call you again, he said and dropped the call and I la-id down crying myself to sleep………..

TBC