Episode 12
I was so deep and immersed in worship that I didn’t notice that my parents came in, they must have been wondering what was wrong with me, because I was all sad and depressed yesterday, and now am worshipping God, they left when they saw that I didn’t even notice them. I kept singing one of my favorite worship songs that says ”you are the love of my life, you are the hope that I cling too, you mean more than this world to me, I wont change you for silver or gold…” after the worship I prayed that God will give me the strength that I need to survive. “I have no power of my own oh lord, I can’t make it by myself Father please help me” I cried.
I felt this peace I can’t describe after my worship and prayer and I was so sure that God is telling me to trust him and keep this baby, but then I remembered that they were twins in the dream,” oh lord don’t let them be twins o, one is just ok” I said. Have lost appetite for a while now with everything that happened, but now am so hungry I can finish two plates of Amala and Ewedu with Gbegiri and Ogunfe. I love this combination so much, though I don’t have a favorite food. I made my way to the kitchen to check if there is anything close to amala to eat, but I only found vegetable salad in the fridge. So I ate that first in other to gain strength to prepare something more solid to eat. As I was “devouring” the salad, I heard some footsteps, “that must be my mum” i thought. And there she was at the entrance of the kitchen staring at the way I was eating. “Are you this hungry, you need to see how you are eating Jasmine, I wish I can record you without knowing, you are eating like a hungry goat” she said laughing “Oh mum, I am so hungry don’t mind me” I said laughing as I continue to shove the salad down my throat “Well you need to eat dear, especially with the baby you are carrying,you can starve yourself but not the baby, but since she solely depends on the food yourself take in, then you must eat well cos both of you need to be healthy and strong” she said “when you are done eating, come upstairs to your dads room we want to talk to you” she added “Daddy is around” I asked surprised “I thought he should be at work already, what is he still doing at home” I added “you are really not on this planet again Jasmine. Today is Saturday, so no work today dear” she said laughing “OMG! I have totally lost track of the time and day, don’t mind me, I will come upstairs when am done” I replied “Your dad and I was even in your room early this morning, but you were so immersed in worship to even notice” she added “Really, I have no idea you guys came, I was really immersed ” I said laughing She went back upstairs, and I also followed suit after I finished eating. It was as if I haven’t eaten for 7days, I feel so refreshed now. “Ko ko ko” I knocked at the door “come in” I heard a voice instruct from inside. “I hope your stomach is now full and you are refreshed” my mum asked “yes mum, I feel better” I said “ Come and sit beside me” my dad instructed He was sitting on the bed with my mum, so I sat in between the two, and they both wrapped their hands around my neck. “It is so unfortunate that this incident is happening to you my damsel, but I want to assure you that we are here for you. I have given it a deep thought, that was what I was thinking about through out the night, and your mum and I also prayed about it, and we have decided that we will advice you to keep the baby, we will support you in everyway if you decide to keep it. The decision is now in your court, and we will love you still no matter what you decide to do.” He explained “Yes dear, though the best is to keep this baby, this baby is innocent and should be given a chance to survive. There is a reason why God allowed him to be conceived even in this type of situation . We cant question Him he knows the best for us. Man plans but God makes the final decision. I named you Jasmine because I want you to be just like a flower, beautiful and pure, I want your life to produce a sweet aroma that will impact the world” she explained crying when it got to that part when she was explaining the meaning of my name and why she named me Jasmine.
I never knew the meaning of the name Jasmine until now, I always thought it is only names that featured in the bible that have important meanings attached to it. “But how can my life still produce a sweet scent to the world, when my purity has been defiled. I hope my life is not too messed up to be used by God ” I thought as I cried too. “ I don’t know I how will survive this challenge, but am convinced that God wants me to keep this baby” I said. They were both surprised at my decision, and I narrated the dream I had the previous night to them, and the message from the dream was crystal clear to them too. They hugged me and assured me that I am not alone. “But I pray the twins part of that dream doesn’t come to pass o, one is more than a enough for us” my dad said jokingly as I left for my room. My younger brother must have been wondering what was happening in the house since yesterday, he must be completely lost about everything happening, so I decided to check on him. He is a lover of music especially the Christian music, there is no time you will enter his room that he wont be on a headset or earpiece listening to music. Just as expected, he was on headset, sitting on a chair and backing the door to his room, he didn’t notice that someone was inside, so I startled him” “OMG! You almost killed me Jasmine, why did you startle me like that” he shouted grasping for breath “ you better stop this your bad habit of yours, always plugging in your earpiece all the time. That is how someone will enter to harm you and you wont even notice, or someone will be calling for help and you won’t ear till the person giveup the ghost” I said “God forbid, that can never happen joor, it’s like you have been watching horror movies recently this one you are just thinking about horrible things” he said “am seriously serious Joel, I need to caution you and you need to reduce the habit,it will be a little better if it is even on speaker” I said as I remove his earpiece from the phone.
The song he was listening to was just what I need to hear at the moment. The part I heard there said “Along life’s road. There will be sunshine and rain Roses and thorns, laughter and pain….and the chorus says “You will never walk alone As long as you have faith Jesus will be right beside you all the way” “This song is so on point, who sang it” I asked “I think it is Josh Groban” he ansered “What is the title, I need to get my phone so you can transfer it to me” I said “The title is you will never walk alone” he replied “Isn’t that Barcelona’s slogan or motto or what do guys you call it” I asked “Yes. so you too know football clubs and their slang” he asked teasing me “Of course, do you think it is only engineering that I know” I replied I know you must have been worried and concerned about what happened yesterday and you might be lost wondering what happen, I … “You don’t need to explain anything sis, have overheard everything. I can’t pretend to know how you feel because I don’t, but all I can say is that all will be well” he said as he hugged me. What else can be better than you having God by your side and your family to support you too, I feel so loved. “Thanks so much baby bro, you have really grown up o, the baby of yesterday that use to cry up and down is the one that is now consoling me” I said as I teased him “Continue teasing me o, I wont give you this song again if you don’t stop now” he said “I wont stop, if you don’t give me the song I will just go download it since I know the title and the singer” I said laughing. I went back to my room, to rest for a while, I couldn’t stop thinking about the dream, everytime I do I get goosebumps, thanks God he showed me that revelation, because I consider it a revelation. And it was an assurance that God was still interested in me, he can still make something out of my broken life, I don’t know what tomorrow will be like, but I have a God and father who knows and I will just put my trust in him.
I played that song my brother gave me, and I just set my phone on automatic replay. Few minutes after, my dad came in “Jasmine, I forgot to ask you about that boy that r@ped you, what is his full name and his address” he asked “What do you need that for Dad” I asked curiously “I need to give his details to the police, he cant just go scot-free, animals like him should be behind the bars where they belong” he said angrily “ Dad I don’t think that will be necessarily, it is just going to create unnecessary commotion and make everybody know what happened to me” I explained “ Are you suggesting that I should just let him go, just like that. Do you know how many people he has done this to and how many he will still r@pe in future? Maybe if he have been reported before maybe he would be in the prison and this wouldn’t have happened to you. Am not doing this for you alone, but am doing it for other naïve girls out there that may fall into his trap again. It is our responsibility to report a criminal” he said “ Don’t you think it is too late, and there is no evidence to prove it either, this case is hopeless dad. And you know Nigerian police, they are as good as nothing. No investigation whatsoever will be done” I explained “Irrespective of that, we still need to give it a try” he said “Dad please lets not do it, please for me. The news will spread faster than it should, and am not ready to be a laughing stock” I added “I don’t agree with you Jasmine, it is important we do it” he replied Just as I was about to continue begging him not to report to the police, my phone rang and guess who….
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