JEMIMA

Chapter 46

The tears didn't stop. They all stared at me like they were seeing a ghost. I was not the person to cry in front of people and I've never shown that much weakness in front of anyone. Not even Olatoni. I was tired. The world needed to know I was not perfect and that the Adewale's were nowhere near perfect. They needed to see us the way we truly are, people who make mistakes. Who does the wrong things and gets broken by them.

"Jemima, it is fine" Semiloore muttered in my ear but her small voice wasn't enough to pacify me. Rather it made me cry even more. I raised my head and sighted Toni sitting just a bit away. My heart broke at the thought that she was thinking this was about her. And as if I was reading her mind. I heard her words.

"I'm sorry Jemima. I'm really sorry. You don't need to cry. Seeing you this way only breaks my heart even more. I'm so sorry"

"It's not about you Toni. I must say. My life has been so arranged and perfect that I myself wouldn't imagine anything going wrong. But I have come to know that no one on this planet earth can ever be. Not me, not you, not my siblings, my parents or anyone"

"We all are vulnerable to whatever the flesh dictates when we are far from God. Then we know that our perfection only comes from God. The beauty you see in my life was because I was in God.  And every other person close to me you seem to admire is all vulnerable to falling without God". I burst into another round of tears as my mind skimmed through the over 16 years of my life.

How my whole life was rounded and lead by God from the very beginning. I was so comfortable I forgot what God had always warned of. The adversary. He had been there from day one. Waiting patiently for the one who would make the mistake. So he could bring all the life we thought we had down. Not just me, not just my family. But as many people who had once believed through the words of our mouths and our service.

I wailed as I discovered we had been so careless. Very very careless.

" Jemima. What is wrong" Nurse Temi asked? This was beyond crying for a friend. It really was.

I knew I wanted to say something. To someone. I wanted to tell people but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. I shut my eyes and allowed the tears to fight their way out. My throat went dry and hot, my ear was shut as I could only hear the sound of the pain.

"My parents are getting a divorce", I blurted.

The looks on their faces were exactly the way I pictured it. I smiled at them. I would have felt the same way if I was in their shoes. Maybe even worse. Maybe I would have clapped my hands and shouted a 'wonders shall never end'. Or I would have screamed and rolled completely shocked. But well they had the exact expression I expected. Semiloore who was always extra was perfectly her extra self today. Mouth wide open in shock and her right hand to her chest.

Mo' who was less extra only had a twisted face like someone who just saw a dancing animal. Toni's hand was to her mouth, her baby bump very visible. Nurse Temi whose expression was one of pity, I wondered how her face will turn if she knew my parents were the famous pastors in the state.

" What!  What! Wh...a..tt..tt" Toni stuttered.

I smirked as I got up from my sitting spot. I dust off my skirt and walked towards the entrance to the house. Feeling their pitiful gazes piercing through my clothing to my skin.

        ••••••

Anne couldn't sleep. She had had the exact same dream she had some nights before. It was just that this time the dream was a little different.

She had seen her father. Drowning in the water, he had lost so much strength and he couldn't call for help anymore. She had seen a fisherman with the face of someone familiar, but Anne couldn't place a name on this person. He was struggling to help her father up but he was finding it difficult for two reasons. Her father was tired and couldn't stretch his hands for help. And the second reason, it was dark and stormy, there was no way the fisherman would be successful in helping her father all alone.

Anne had woken up from her sleep with an understanding of the dream. Her father was close to the point of death and needed help immediately, but he was too weak to cry for help. There was someone out there who was trying his best to help her father but he couldn't do it all alone. It was so much for him.

Anne knelt beside her bed. With tears in her eyes, she started to intercede for her father. Praying to God for help for her father. She prayed till daybreak. Her alarm went off by 5 am. She closed her prayers and sat on her bed.

Picking her phone. She stood up and went outside the room, not wanting to disturb her roommates any further. Reaching the staircase. She sat on one of the steps and opened her phone. The place was quiet and she was sure no one was around.

Opening her phone. She imputed her mom's phone number and dialed.

•••••

Derin woke up to the sound of her ringtone. She had slept off still on her knees. Having prayed through the night. She opens her eyes and grabbed her phone. Not standing from where she knelt.

Surprised to see Anne calling her this time of the day. She smiled at the thought that all she needed was some money.

"My darling", she greeted her daughter.

" Mom", Anne said in a very stressed voice that caused Derin's heart to skip in fear.

"What is it!" She yelled.

"Dad is drowning. Dad is dying. Dad needs help. Dad needs your help. Dad needs our help"

••••••••••

"In Jesus's name, we pray!"

"Amen! Amen! Amen! In Jesus' name!" They both yelled in agreement.

Hadassah and Joseph were on their knees. They had been interceding for the Adewale family for over four hours. It was a night of Revelation, as they saw a lot of things.

Joseph knew he needed to reach Dele as soon as possible. But he just didn't know where he was. No one knew.

"The Lord as answered our prayers", Hadassah affirmed as she stood up and sat on the couch. Joseph doing the same, sat beside her.

" Only God knows where he is. But I can tell he needs us", Joseph, said.

"That is why we need to continue praying "
Hadassah said.

"Yes. We have to!"