THE BLACK WIDOW

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

At the church, the pastor prayed and read passages from the Bible about the resurrection, but Sonia was not listening. In two years, she lost two children and now, her husband... and to the same evil person. Why? Was this why she shouldn't have married Michael, even though he was a child of God? If God showed her all this before time, would she have broken off the engagement? Tears and pains of regret and sorrow filled her entire being. The reality of being separated so early from Michael was too much to bear.

"Lord, won't you let me follow him in death? I can't survive this pain. I feel like my heart is tearing itself apart and bleeding... bleeding to my death. Abba, please allow me to follow my husband and children. I plead with you."

She prayed silently, but the tears flowed continually.

When it was time to make speeches, dignitaries, extended family members, and the few close friends all came forward. His mother was too distraught to speak, but just when the segment was about to end, Sonia stood up, and this surprised everyone. Her mother's whispers calling her back fell on deaf hears.

"Dear Lord, please do not let her make a fool out of herself and her grief." She prayed silently.

Sonia stood by the podium and spoke into the microphone.

"Thank you everyone that came to support us in this terrible times. You know, when Michael and I first met, he made a mud statute out of me." She smiled briefly.

"He loved me more than I could ask for. He was gentle and unfortunately a little gullible at times. He believed so much in human goodness and saw little, to no evil in others. Our marriage was thrown into turmoil by many challenges and the tragedies of the loss of our children, but Michael stood and comforted me through it all. Michael was someone who was not ashamed to apologise genuinely when he made mistakes. He treated me with dignity and went the extra mile, even going out of his comfort zone for us to have a peaceful life."

Her eyes met with Mrs. Rogers' briefly and then she added,

"I stand before you today and would like everyone to know that my husband's murderer is under God's curse. The person or people that sent him to his early grave shall know no peace and shall be visited with the wrath of God. Michael didn't deserve what happened to him. We didn't deserve all that happened to us, but vengeance is of God."

The guests began to whisper.

"Sleep well Michael. You have been spared the sorrows of this world. You have gone ahead of us all to be with our Lord Jesus. I will love you forever Michael. Forever."

With all that said, Sonia went back to her seat and collapsed in her mother's waiting arms, sobbing like a baby.

"Mum, this wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to end like this Mum."

"I know my dear, I know."

Sonia continued to sob in her mother's arms. Her entire being shook with grief and she could not be comforted. Her reality was too painful to stay awake and feel the raw and agonising pain of these losses. Her mother whispered words of comfort to her, but none was sufficient to ease the young woman's pain.

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At the gravesite, as the casket was lowered, the cries and wailings of the grief stricken Roger and Moses' family filled the atmosphere.

"Michael! Why have you left me?" Sonia cried out in anguish. "Why me oh God!" Her mother and Georgina held unto her as they wiped their own tears.

Mrs. Rogers could not be comforted either. Her entire being was in pain because Michael was not only her first child, but her favourite as well. Her entire life revolved around him: He was her everything.