I winced as the door creaked, unusually loud in the still silent morning.
It was still dark out, but I had to leave now if I was ever going to make it to the Assembly.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the door shut without waking anyone in the house.
Mama would be furious by the time I returned, but she didn't understand. She hadn't encountered Chukwuokike, the Creator, like I had.
I smiled at the prospect of being among fellow believers in church. I always felt at home, happy, comfortable…
I took a step forward, and my breath got stuck in my throat when I looked up.
“Papa?!" My voice came out high pitched as fear filled my stomach. He staggered forward, eyes red.
Another realization made me weak to the knees. He was drunk! Chimo! I was dead.
“Where are you going, Nneka?”he asked, drawing dangerously closer.
"Papa, I… I… " I struggled hard for something to say.
My eyes widened when I sighted the huge glass bottle of alcohol in his left hand. My body went cold all over. What was he doing with a glass bottle?! Was that what he kept spending Mama’s precious money on?
Never mind that! I had to tread carefully. Papa could be very reckless when drunk.
“You're going to that forbidden gathering again, nwannem?” he asked in his thick Igbo accent. "Nneka, you will not be the end of me! Have I not warned you against those people? They are angering the gods! And every one involved will get destroyed with their families! Do you want to destroy our family? Mmm? Nneka?!”
I flinched as he yelled my name.
" It is because you joined these people that the gods of fortune have turned away from us. We will not perish because of you. Tufiakwa!”
He spat in the sand.
Maybe if you stopped spending all our money on alcohol, we would have enough. I thought .
“But papa… God…” I started tentatively.
“Ikpa! Abomination! You will not speak that name in my house. Now go back inside!"
“But Papa, I promised Amaka that…"
“If Amaka wants to destroy her family, let her! I will not let you!”
Tears rolled down my face. Normally, I would've backed down, but not today. Courage that I knew was not mine flooded into me.
"Papa. The gods cannot help us. They have no power compared to God almighty, the Creator of the Universe…”
" I said you will not say that name in my house!” I gasped as he shattered the glass bottle against a nearby tree.
"Obi’m!" Mama had come out from behind me. She moved towards my enraged father slowly. “Please my husband, she is a naive girl,” Mama pleaded on my behalf. " Nneka, go inside,” she ordered.
"No. She's not going anywhere. I'm putting an end to this nonsense today!”
Chukwu nna muo mu! My protector! Please save me!
I prayed in my heart.
Papa pushed Mama aside as he approached me, eyes crazed.
My heart was running wild in my chest.
A single slap sent me crashing to the ground, my head ringing bells. I looked up to see the broken glass bottle coming down at me.
“Papa! No!"
My eyes widened in disbelief as my younger sister got in the way, trying to push our father. Unable to stop his momentum, the jagged glass in Papa’s hand slashed across my sister's stomach.
It was as if the world went absolutely still. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, as I watched Ngozi collapse to the ground in front of me. Mama’s scream was so loud that it drew me out of my trance-like state.
“Ngozi!" the scream ripped out of her.
The shock rendered me speechless.
As reality finally settled in, I crawled towards my sister, lifting her up into my arms.
Blood was gushing out of her so quickly that I was terrified, panic clogging my brain. I had no idea what to do, so I began to sob hard.
“Ngozi. Please, talk to me," I pleaded.
Blood was pouring out of my sister's mouth. She choked as she tried to speak. God, please no! She can't die. Please, please, please… !
My sister went still in my arms. Coldness crept all over my body.
“Ngozi?" I gently shook her. No response. Mama finally came out of her shock and rushed over to my side, but she was too late. I knew Ngozi was gone. “No! No! God why?! Why is this happening? She was innocent!”
I groaned in agony.
It is all so that they will know that I have all the power. Pray,my daughter. Do not be weary.
And I did exactly that. I prayed. The Holy Spirit put the words in my mouth.
“God. Prove to these ones that You are real. That You are God and no one else can take your place. That You specialize in the impossible. Please Lord, bring this Your loved one back to life. Prove that no one else is stronger than You are. Let this be a sign to them that You are the Almighty. Let them believe…”
" Ngozi!” Mama screamed again.
When I opened my eyes, it was to find Ngozi staring up into mine.
Exhilaration flooded my veins. God had done it!
Chukwuoma Onyeoma nna, Chukwuomaa... Chiobioma…
Mama and Papa were staring at me with their mouths wide open. Ngozi’s bleeding had stopped, and her mouth wasn't vomiting any more blood.
I smiled at them.
Thank you Jesus!
Now, it was time to hit the nail on the head.
***
Hallelujah!!💃💃
Our God is truly good all the time!
In case you were wondering, am not Igbo oo😅
I just love their culture. It fascinates me🤭🤭
So… What did you learn today?🤓
Please let me know in the comments section😁
YOU ARE READING
Trickles of Life
Short Story'Trickles of Life' is an anthology of short stories inspired by the one true muse, Jesus. It is a collection of both fictional and non-fictional stories that will open your eyes to the reality of God and His love for mankind. They are trickles from...
