SHADOW OF THE PAST

32 Diana's Health

(Episode Finale)

---

Pastor Etim was so frantic when Diana explained everything about her past to him. She confessed from when she had lost her virginity to Banji, the son of their bonafide church member, to how her mother had noticed that she was pregnant and kept the secret among themselves. She also confessed to her father how Mrs. Esin (her mother's cousin) had accepted her and taken good care of her during her pregnancy journey and also after birth.

She confessed further how she had lived a wayward life mingling with some group of ladies in Abuja which led her to meet Marcus (the fraudster) whom they both travel to Dubai together. She revealed how she had tattooed her body, had piercings on her ears, and nose just to feel among. She confessed to her father that she had lived a wayward life which she's still regretting.

“Why did your mother keep such a secret from me? Why?” Pastor Etim asked in annoyance. “Why is Enobong like this?” he asked sorrowfully.

••• ••• ••• ••• 
Mrs. Etim who was still in her room fuming in anger over the issue that her husband had resolved calmly heard her husband scream her name.

“ENOBONG!!!” she heard her name loud and clear and wondered what could have prompted her husband to call her by name.

Since they have been married for so many decades, her husband had never made the mistake of calling out her name for once. They usually make use of pet names in referring to each other at home. And as ‘Mummy’ and ‘Daddy’ in church or the presence of the church members.

“What could be the matter?” she asked herself as she heard her husband call out her name again. She sprang to her feet and rushed out of the room…

“Honey, what happen?” she asked in bewilderment

“Why are you like this?” Pastor Etim asked facing his wife who was standing before him. Mrs. Etim's eyes met with Diana who was on her knees pleading to her father in tears, and she wondered what Diana's offense was to be on her knees.

“Why did you keep such a secret from me? Why?”

“Honey, what secret is that?” she asked confusedly.

“Your daughter was pregnant for one of the church members at such a tender age and you kept it away from me completely. Enobong, why?”

It dawned on Mrs. Etim that Diana had confessed to her father about the secret they were hiding from him. But she doesn't know what prompted the confession. She was so angry that Diana could confess even without carrying her on. She cast an angry look at her for being so fragile to confess a long-time secret.

“I did it to protect your ministry… So, how is that a crime?” she responded without feeling remorse over what she had done.

“Enobong? How is that a crime?” Pastor Etim repeated in question. “Was that coming out from you?” he asked in surprise. “As the anchor of Marital Matters in the church, does it makes sense to you to keep a secret from your husband?” he asked “even for decades?” he added in question.

Marital Matters is a weekly program organized for both single and married in New Era Gospel Church. It was established and anchored by Mrs. Etim to build homes for the married and lead the single sisters into choosing the right partner.

“Uduak,” she angrily called him by name. “I am only protecting your image. How is that an offense to you? Do you think your members will be multiplied when such a secret is opened to everyone? Who would be attending the services if such a secret is exposed? We are still begging God on feeding, if I dare expose to them that our daughter was pregnant back then almost all the congregation would have left, and we would have suffered so much. Those coming to you for intercession will never run to you to help them intercede in prayers. They won't even believe in Your God anymore… They will conclude in their mind that you are Eli's role model. Will I act stupidly and tell you to expose your daughter in the presence of the church members just like you did to Sister Veronica (the Youth leader) who made a mistake back then? I know how you expose those who made mistakes and give them due punishment. It isn't even pleasant to hear that Pastor Etim's daughter also made such a mistake, it would have been a big slap on you and me that we have failed woefully in the upbringing of our daughter. Look at the respect we earn when Serena our first daughter got married, the women in the church were giving me due respect. Some even scolded their wayward daughters to take the step of Serena. Instead of you scolding me you need to be praising me for taking such a decision early.”