HE SAID NO
EPISODE 33
Amifel switched off her phones because of her parents who might try to reach her once they discovered that she had left. Thankfully, neither of them knew Grace’s house or they might go looking for her there.
Her mum in particular never liked Grace nor Blessing, she claimed that ‘Birds of the same feathers flock together and if you move with unmarried people, you wouldn’t be motivated to get married’.
Mrs. Robert practically disgraced them the last time they visited their place. She didn’t offer them a seat and when they asked of Amifel whom they called before coming, she said,
“She is not around,” the irritation in her voice was palpable.
“But we…” Blessing was about to say when she cut in.
“Will you shut up! So, apart from your singleness, you also added disrespect to your portfolio, ehn? I said she is not at home or are you saying that a woman that is old enough to be your mother is lying,”
“No ma, we don’t mean it that way, “ Grace said coming to Blessing’s rescue.
“What way do you mean it? What way? See let me warn you, stay away from my daughter, don’t smear her with your hard luck, let good men see my daughter!” she ranted.
Amifel who was inside the bathroom heard her mum shouting as soon as she got out, she wondered who her mum was shouting at but she thought that she was probably on a call.
Long story cut short, she had to go beg her friends profusely later that evening. Even after they accepted her apologies, they swore never to smell the four walls of her compound again.
Amifel laid face up on Grace’s bed as the picture of Blessing and George hugging each other lovingly at the registry replayed in her memory. She was dumbfounded. Talk of Blessing pulling stunts, none of them personally hit her this much. If George had gotten married to someone else, it wouldn’t have hurt her so badly.
“That should have been me! I should have been the one getting married to George if you hadn’t bombarded me with those scary nightmares! I thought you said you won’t let me face temptations that are beyond what I can bear? Do you really think I can deal with this?” she asked in succession while biting her lower lips as tears wobbled their way her fair silky skin.
“All my age mates are married with kids, the ones that are not are engaged and about to get married, Grace is engaged, Blessing just got married to the George you asked me to detach from, and as if that is not enough, you gifted me with insensitive parents!” she yelled as she paused for a while to catch her breath.
“Can’t you see that I am hurting? can’t you see that my strength has reached its max?” she vented on while tugging at her thick loosened hair which had scattered in different directions as she sobbing silently.
She hàd been feeling pressed for a couple of hours but as she cried,the pressure became even more intense and she was forced to stand up to ease herself.
On her way, she unknowingly kicked at the teacup that she used in taking tea, earlier that morning, which she placed carelessly beneath the bed because she felt too weak to go to the kitchen. The teacup was still almost half-full and its content had spilled on the blue rug. She had to ease herself off the pressure that had built up in her bladder before she got back to clean up her mess.
“Those that wait upon the Lord shall excel in strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint,” she heard in her heart as she dropped the teacup in the kitchen sink.
“If you want me to wait, then at least make it easy for me!” she yelled as she threw the sponge at the tiled part of the kitchen wall.
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Grace opened the door to her apartment which she locked from outside at Amifel’s insistence before she left for work. She met Amifel sleeping, she decided not to disturb her, she was such a pitiable sight to look at, she had not even taken off the trousers she wore since morning.
Now, for just one person, she had gone through too much all at once. She knew how mean her parents could be, especially her mum.
How did Amifel take the shocking news? She took it more calmly than she expected, she just returned her phone right after Grace showed her the marriage registry pictures of Blessing and George holding on to each other, after which she sat down on the bed and asked for something to eat.
Grace had asked her multiple times if she was fine and she answered each time in the affirmative,
“I am fine Grace, I am fine.”
Grace knew that she wasn’t but she had to let her be, especially since she had no proof that Amifel was not.
She waited till she started eating the sliced bread and tea that she served her before leaving for work.
“Lord uphold my friend in these times and comfort her on every side. Give me the right words to encourage her with.” Grace prayed silently as she placed the fish and vegetables she bought from the market in separate bowls which she kept in the kitchen.
She set to work, cutting the vegetables. She was making one of Amifel’s favorite, poundo yam and vegetable soup.
She was done making the soup and was almost done making the poundo when Amifel woke up.
“Ami, how are you?” Grace asked as she mopped her hands with a kitchen napkin.
“When did you get back?” she asked, sitting up on the bed.
“A couple of hours ago.” Grace answered, “How are you?”
“I am fine.” Amifel sighed as she laid back on the bed, sending a silent message that she does not want to be interviewed.
“Amifel, how are you?”
“Fine.” She answered again, her voice was slightly suppressed by her sleeping posture. Grace knew better, after she dropped the napkin on the table, she flipped her slim body over in a slightly harsh manner.
“Grace, please stop!” Amifel winced as she sat up forcefully and rolled aside her blanket.
“Not until you tell me the truth.”
“What truth?”
“How are you? Look into my eyes and tell me that you are fine!”
“Fine! I am not! If that is what you want to hear, I am not fine! “ Amifel yelled, she didn’t want to appear to Grace as weak but she could not help it as she resumed another crying session.
“What crime have I committed Grace? What have I done to deserve all of this? The man I loved is married to my friend in less than a year after we broke up!” she cried on expecting Grace to say something, ‘You won’t say anything?”
Grace, who was listening to Amifel with rapt attention just looked on with her right hand beneath her chin.
“I thought you said you were convinced that God wanted you to leave him, so why are you angry that he got married to someone else?”
“Not just someone else, Grace, my friend! I didn’t break up with George because we had a problem or because I don’t love him, on the contrary, I do, but I broke up with him because I felt that God did not approve of the union,”
“You felt? What happened to, you were convinced?”
“I am no longer sure if it was actually God that said this because the voice that told me to leave George is the same one that said he would bring a better man my way. Up until now, I have not even seen as much as a sign or snippet that any man is coming, don’t you think I am mixing things up?”
“I only think you are confusing yourself here. God warned you of the dangers of consenting to a union with George and he also confirmed this to you through other people like myself and your pastor’s wife, remember what your pastor’s wife said after your mum informed her that you had a fiancé?”
“She did not say anything straight, she only told me not to allow my parents to lead me, that It is God’s job.”
“Isn’t it obvious what she meant? Listen, God loves you and he only looking out for you. That he said George is not meant for you does not mean that he is not good for anybody else. What Blessing did might look like betrayal or maybe it is betrayal but it doesn’t matter!” She emphasized, “George might be the one for her and she probably didn’t tell us because she knew that we wouldn’t smile at the idea. Maybe I’m wrong but let’s just accept it that way since she gave us no explanation.” Grace comforted as she held Amifel’s shoulders lovingly, looking straight into her eyes with pity.
“But God also told me that he would bring someone better but up till now, I have not…” Amifel sobbed.
“Shhh…” Grace hushed her, putting a finger to her mouth, “No buts dear. When God says he will do something, trust that he will. He surely will, they that put their trust in the Lord shall never be put to shame. God will bring a man that is a culmination of all that you have asked for and more. My life is a testimony, God is in your neighborhood. Dawn is near when the sky is at its darkest. I am just so sure that your prince charming is closer than you think.” Graced pinched her nose tenderly as Amifel’s face lit up with a smile, she felt comforted.
“I can’t wait to meet my Prince charming, ”
“Keep the hope alive baby, I am glad to see those beautiful dimples!” Grace teased, “He will definitely come right on time, remember the chant of the psalmist, ‘God will help her and that right early!’ ”
“Yes, I remember, yes! Please could you pray with me?”
“Sure! Let’s pray.” She said excitedly as she held her hands lovingly.
To be continued…
Written by Sodamade Olamide Tolulope.
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