Dirty: A Tale Of Akintoye The Wanderer

21 | Proof

‭Psalms 55:12-13 NLT‬
It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.

WHEN YOU LOVE someone you're willing to dive into a raging sea storm, battle the resistant waves pulling you back, overcome the fear of the torturous sea monsters ready to swallow you up and ride the heavy currents if it means you'd get to see the one you love at the other side waiting. Just knowing the way your heart beats for them in a suffocating manner such that they're the only one you think about, worry about, want to impress, want to stand by and be the best for. That alone is the rainbow at the end shining with all its radiant colors.

Ezra had found himself right in the middle of that raging storm. His heart fought against itself trying to contain the torrents of emotions swirling in him, watching the one he was trying to reach slip away from his fingers as she trembled silently in front of him. Her fingers drummed against her thighs, legs hitting the ground frantically and eyes clouded with tears she was trying to hold back. Her pain suddenly became his.

When she got up and started pacing about he knew he had to do something before he drowned for whatever reason. He dragged his feet towards her and embraced her in an unexpected hug. At first her body was tense but he didn't let go. Slowly her body got used to his warmth and her shoulders slumped. He heard her sniffling, trying her best to be strong for her sister who sat with another man on a bench behind them.

"Look at me," Ezra cupped her teary face in his hands. His brows furrowed together as he thought to himself. What was the attachment between her and that man which caused her so much pain? The genuineness of her concern towards him almost made him jealous. Why did she care so much? And most importantly who was he? None of that mattered presently so he swallowed those questions. "Everything is going to be fine. No, don't add any buts. I may not know your story or what you're going through, who that man is or why he's here in this hospital but I know that I'm going to be here to support you. You don't have to be strong alone because now I want to be a shoulder you can lean on. I meant everything I said to you yesterday on our date."

Naomi leaned into his touch. His palm was oddly soft and comforting. She didn't know what she'd done for God to bring a man like Ezra into her life. He seemed so interested in devoting himself to her. "Thank you. Really, I appreciate you staying here with us and I promise to explain everything to you but Ike a gwụ m, I'm tired, drained both physically and emotionally. And Lucius has been through so much, despite everything I've sacrificed for him, he's suffered a lot and seeing him regressing just..." She sighed.

"He's going to be fine." He hugged her again to silence her depressing thoughts. Be the man that leads her, He remembered. What would God want him to do now? "You trust God, right? He's going to come through no matter what. Why don't we pray, it's honestly been a while since I've prayed," He scratched the stubble on his face, chuckling softly, "But now's a good time to start. I want to be that leading man."

"So let's start. Umm...Father up in Heaven, I sometimes feel unworthy to call upon you because I've always put you aside as a second thought even as a Christian. For me my job and the world came first. I slept off in the evening when I grabbed my Bible to read, I postponed praying in the morning because I was late for work and told myself I'd do it later. Well later never came. I'd postpone spending time with you, feel so guilty but then still not do anything except forcing myself to church on Sundays to make myself feel more of a Christian like the others—"

"—But this prayer isn't about me," He held onto Naomi tightly. "It's about a man a lady I lo– care about holds dearly. We may not know what you're doing spiritually but we know that everything always works together for good for those who love you. We pray that he'll be fine. We ask that you heal him completely. And I pray that you bring peace, happiness and settlement into the lives of the people here with us. Amen."