CWRC Anthology

THE COST OF CHANGE

©2022 by Peace Ngozi Abraham

Brought to you by Christian Writers and Readers Club.

As I lay down on my bed on returning from my place of work that fateful night, I felt a sharp pain within my abdomen. It was so sharp that I had no choice but to scream out loud. Immediately, I rushed towards the bathroom to throw up. 

I couldn't understand what was going on with me because I intended to have a good rest that night when suddenly all these things started happening to me. 

I didn't even recall eating anything hazardous, and I make sure that the foods I eat are home-cooked. 

Due to the fact that I was living alone, I had to find a way to reduce this stomach pain and rush to the hospital or endure till the next morning before going to the hospital. But, the pain kept on increasing and soon, I started gasping for breath. 

At that moment, I became very scared of death. I didn't want to die. There were still lots I had to achieve. I was already choking and my breath became restricted. Life was already going out of me but I was still trying everything within me to survive. 

"Nooo! I can't die now. God, I don't want to die now.' I cried out these words in my mind because I knew that it was only a miracle that can make me survive. I couldn't hold on anymore. Everything became black immediately.

As I opened my eyes, I saw myself on the ground, lifeless, and I felt my body floating. Initially, I didn't understand what had happened to me, and then, suddenly, I realized that I just died. I, Elizabeth Tunde just died. I couldn't believe it.

I saw myself floating automatically. I left my house, through the roof, and moved towards the sky. 

I saw a young man approaching me. He was glowing so bright that I had to squint my eyes to make out his form. He introduced himself as Gabriel. I immediately I knew that Gabriel was an angel in the Bible. 

Then, he asked me if I knew where I was and why, but I answered in the negative. So, he took me by my arm to a particular door. He opened the door and we both stepped in.

As I entered, I saw something like a television on the far end of the wall. Gabriel just said that I should watch it. 

I looked towards the television and what I saw first made me to cry. It was just then that I thought about where I would spend eternity whether heaven or hell. I had never thought of it before. I felt life was just meant to be lived as it comes, but I just realized how wrong I was all this while.

I saw when I was singing in the choir in my local church so happily. 

That was when I knew that I hadn't been happy all the while. I had only been faking it.

My life was flashing to me right before my eyes how I served God diligently when I was just 10 years old (that's over 22 years ago).

I remember how my mom preached to me on that day and I gave my life to Jesus. But, I don't understand how I suddenly lost interest in God and began to see Him as a stranger. Many things have happened over the years and I was scared of what my judgement would be. 

As I watched each scene on the TV with tears in my eyes, I felt the presence of man stepping into the room. He touched me on my shoulder. Instead of feeling shocked, I just felt so much love all around me. 

I turned to look into the eyes of the man that held me; I knew immediately that it was Jesus. He hugged me and I responded immediately.

After the hug that I never wanted to end, I opened my eyes and met myself in my room.