She smiled

Bagging up the Emotions

     Isn't it funny how some people do not give up? Eight weeks after Chloe refused Frank's marriage proposal, he approached her again. She had taken time out to talk to the Saviour about his request.

She had searched her heart and realised they did not share much in common. Many of her friends enjoyed doing stuff together. They enjoy playing, gardening, fishing, and cooking.

Apart from spiritual commitments, they didn't share any downtime. It bothered Chloe.

She realised that relationships go beyond faith talk and that it was okay to look at reality too. She needed a friend as much as a spiritual partner.

Chloe tried to avoid him and yet, after service one Sunday, Frank hurried after her. He called out,

"Sister Chloe, Sister Chloe!"

It was embarrassing because she did not want to talk to him. Secondly, she really didn't like to be referred to as sister. Chloe simply wanted to be called "Chloe."

He asked to speak with her behind closed doors, and they walked to the nearby fig tree.

At first, she tried to make him understand. She was not ready for any long-term relationship.

But Frank wanted to keep her in a tight corner by insisting that it was a divine providence of God. She had no other choice.

This time Chloe flared up. She told him never to raise the topic with her again.

Chloe reached out to hug him, but Frank was too rigid to receive it. She walked away non-stop while he stood frozen.

Chloe told Mama Joe about the nightmare experience she had with Frank. It confused her. Even if God had spoken to him, he should consider that God has also given her a 'will' and 'time' to follow her heart.

In annoyance, she voiced her failures and the need to focus on passing her exams. An utter mismatch!

Mama Joe advised Chloe not to give her friends a lousy impression. She should not make a scene, even though she was not ready to have a committed relationship with Frank.

Mama Joe said,

"Chloe, you need to work on your anger. Patient and quiet answers would achieve better results."

To which Chloe responded,

"Thank you, Mama, please pray for me."

Three months after the encounter with Frank, Luke approached. There had been an unexplained vacuum between them. Chloe's impression was

"He wants to make up for lost times with me!"

However, to her amazement, he proposed marriage. It was devastating.

If only he had not walked away from her with his new friends at university. He had no clue what she had suffered.

She longed for his company, and he disappeared only to reappear for "marriage sake!"

"For heaven's sake, what is wrong with these brethren? Can we enjoy friendships without labels?"

The situation confused Chloe.

"I liked Luke, but does he not understand? It would never be the same... wrong timing! Wrong timing..."

Mama Joe was sad. She liked Luke, but she knew Chloe - once she had set a standard for herself, she seemed unbendable like a rock.

Mama Joe said nothing about it; As an adult, she left Chloe to make her own decisions. It was not long before Chloe dared to discuss with Luke.

She arranged a visit with Luke in her garden, their favourite place.