Daughter of the King - Summer Wishes

Chapter Seven

It was a cozy evening. Tomi was snoring away in delight beside me on the bed after drowning herself in moimoi. 

Mom and Dad were in the parlor talking in hushed tones. Soon, they'd go into their rooms and turn off the lights.

It was the same routine every day. I just had to wait a bit more patiently, then I'd have my chance.

I grabbed my phone from the desk next to my bed. It was eight o'clock. I unlocked my phone and took one last look at the message I received earlier.

Just then, I heard footsteps and a door shut. Things were going according to plan. I slipped out of bed and grabbed my jacket.

Tito always slept like a rock, so she shouldn't be a problem. The main problem was trying to get out through the kitchen without running into Mom coming for her midnight snack.

I had to be fast. I walked quietly through the passage into the living room. The kitchen door was always open. I slipped in quickly and made for our back door. The door had a pretty weak latch, which I unbuckled as slowly as you'd eat a meal you didn't want to finish. I stepped into the cold, chilly air and closed the door behind me.

It was a bright, moonlit night, the gentle wind blowing against my face. I hoped I wouldn't get caught. But **was all this** going to be worth it? My parents took everything I cared about from me in a heartbeat. All I wanted in return was just one night, to experience the highs again.

I had left the compound now. The streets were crowded, which wasn't weird; they seemed to never sleep in this city.

I was headed down the street to the bus stop. It was an eight-minute walk, and in no time I was almost approaching my destination.

My friends made the final of Sing Fest Camp, and they invited me to sing along with them – my biggest dream yet. There was no way I was going to miss it for anything in the world.

To my surprise, the venue was right where I lived. This was definitely happening for a reason, maybe even God wanted me to be here.

Wouldn't He?

But would He want me sneaking out like a thief, against my parents' wishes? That sounded wrong. That wasn't like God.

But the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

So He wants me to be happy. He'd want my dreams and my plans to fall into place.

Wait, my plans...were my plans even His plans to begin with?

Just then, a memory strolled into my mind. That night at Groove Palms, I could hear her voice almost as clearly as I did that night. The scripture she quoted echoed in my ears.

"Isaiah 55:9 says - 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.' However, Romans 8:28 assures us that 'All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'"

I looked up at the crisp, dark sky, decorated with stars. I didn't have to understand God's plans. I just needed to trust, because I couldn't really understand them. But I'd be grateful in the end because it was all going to work for my good, no matter how it turned out.

This was all wrong. I darted back home in an instant, so many thoughts racing through my mind. One thought primarily stood out: that girl in dirty clothes at the market the other day. I remembered seeing her mom giving her some dry bread on my way back. She probably gave her something that awful to eat because that was all she had.

Maybe all my parents had been giving me was all they had. I had been so selfish. I just wanted to get back to bed and lie down, then shed a tear or two.

The moment I approached my compound, I knew something was wrong. The gates were open with light peeking out. The street was a bit calmer now, unlike my heart.

Suddenly, my father burst out of the compound. My heart dropped to my knees as our eyes met. I couldn't run, I couldn't move. I just stood there frozen.

"Would you get inside this minute!" My dad yelled into the cold, chilly evening air.

I seemed to feel my legs just then, and I dashed inside the compound while leaving a reasonable distance between me and my father.

"And you're in so much trouble," he yelled after me.

My mom grabbed me the moment I stepped in and figuratively wheeled me inside with Tito strapped beside her. I could feel her shaking. My heart ached. How could I do this to them?

It was a long night with many talks. I confessed everything – where I was going and why. My parents finally explained what had been going on, albeit angrily.

Apparently my father had lost his job that's why we couldn't afford the life we once had and I was busy acting like a spoilt brat all along especially when I asked for something and my mom said it wasn't in our budget.

Funny how I always called Tito a brat and I was much worse.

I was punished and I knew I deserved it.