Four years down the lane and standing before God and my family, the pastor declared me as the wife of Ebere Obinna. The day wasn’t necessarily bright but I was. That was enough. I rose my head shyly as my husband leaned in for a kiss. The church roared in applaud when our lips collided.
Everything after that was irrelevant to me as the most important thing had happened already. I became a wife to Ebere. My life is beautiful.
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Thirty-five years later and I was burying the only man I loved all my life. I stood beside the grave, watching his body be laid to the ground.
‘Grandma stop crying.’ My third grandchild gripped my leg. She’d been by my side since she came for the burial. ‘Where is grandpa? Stop crying grandma, mummy said grandpa has gone home, what does that mean?’ The five years old asked. ‘Grandma, gra—’ unable to get my attention, she started to cry.
‘Ogaga my dear, you will not understand why I am crying, you're too young. Chisom, carry your daughter from here. Take her into the house, I plan to remain here for a little longer.’
My daughter rubbed my left shoulder slightly before carrying her daughter into the house.
If I could no longer be with him in life, then I shall be with him in death. The next month, I was laid to rest.
Now, THIS IS WHERE MY TROUBLE BEGINS.
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I opened my eyes to the yells of wailing and pleas for mercy from a short distance in front of me and the people in the line. My heart raced as more screaming and gnashing of teeth accompanied the pleas. ‘Oh God!’ I jumped back bumping into the person behind me as another shriek ricocheted into the heavens. ‘Oh God! Forgive me! I know I have sinned, have mercy on me. Forgive me.’ I squeezed my eyes shut mumbling repetitive prayers of repentance.
The line was moving quickly. Fear gripped me knowing anytime from that moment, I would be face-to-face with God. Oh God! If this was what the Bible foretold, there will be no hiding place. I envied the confidence of the person in front of me. With raised head and broad shoulders, she marched on. She walked expectantly, basking in the glory around us as she sang hymns. I was too dazed to recognise the tunes she sang.
There was no judgement for her, but I stood, before the Great White Throne.
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Anne: Lost in Transit
SpiritualPain is no respecter of person, it can turn even the fiercest man to the weakest flesh. Anne desires to have a normal life, serve God and love her family. She's broken when she loses her father to a sudden and unknown sickness. Shocked that the pray...
