BEYOND HIS CALLING

CHAPTER 6

          Two days had passed since their last meeting and Alabi's anticipation grew with each passing hour. As planned,Alabi
arrived at the designated oak tree in the evening.Folashade was already there,seated on the grass and her eyes fixed on the horizon.
   He approached quietly,not wanting to startle her.
'Fola' he said softly,settling beside her. She turned,with a hint of smile on her lips,their eyes met and he sensed a mix of emotions
in her.
  'so how did it go? what did the priest say?' he asked
  She took a deep breath
  'He confirmed your suspicions.Your abilities are ancient,tied to old lore that once flowed through our land...but...'  
   'But?'

    'you cant keep using it,it is not in the will of the gods' she said.
   Alabi eyes narrowed as he tried to understand what she was saying.
    'Your gift.....it is not just healing it is manipulation of life itself' she continued
  'i don't understand'
  'you are playing God,Alabi. That is why it is forbidden'.
  His emotion swirled
  'This can not be right'Alabi muttered,shaking his head.'I have healed so many things since i was a child.My grandmother,when
i was eight....she was fine afterwards'.
   He looked at folashade,seeking reassurance.
  'What has changed?why would the priest say it is forbidden?"
   Folashade's expression turned somber.
'perhaps it is not the healing itself,but the cost.The priest spoke of balance,of consequences'.
  'Consequences?what consequences?my grandmother is alive isn't she"
     Folashade's gaze locked onto his ,her eyes holding piercing intensity.
'wait,i haven't actually seen her in a while..but no,it cant be'
   As He talked Folashade just stared at him in confusion,she didn't understand what he was saying.
His face pale,Alabi shot to his feet.
   'I have to go,now' He said abruptly with his voice low and urgent.

        Folashade's eyes widened slightly 'Is everything alright?'
His response was a curt nod,he didn't look back as he was already turning to leave.He quickened his pace disappearing into the fading
light.


       Alabi's feet pounded the earth,his 30 minutes walk home reduced to half the time.His mind raced with conflicting emotions;anxiety
,confusion ,and a growing sense of unease.
  The setting sun cast long shadows across the landscape,the evening air thickened with the scent of cooking fires and damp earth.Alabi's
breath came in ragged gasps and his heart was racing with anticipation.
    As he approached his family's mud house,the thatched roof and earthy scent brought a fleeting sense of discomfort,his resolve
remained unwavering.
    He burst through the front door,foresakeing his usual stealthy window entrance.The creaky door announced his arrival,echoing through
the quiet evening,as his siblings were in their rooms
   Inside the parlor was warm and golden,lit by flickering candles and the soft glow of lanterns. His parents were seated on worn wooden
chairs,they froze mid conversation,thier eyes snapping towards the door
      The silence was oppressive,heavy with unspoken tension.Alabi's mother,her hand clasped tightly in her lap,looked pale.His father
his face stern,seemed to darken the air around him.
         'Alabi'His mother said with her voice trembling.'where...where have you been?'.Her eyes darted towards the door as if fearing
her discovery.
     The air vibrated with tension as the evening tranquility was shattered.His father's face hardened with a mixture of shock,anger
and concern etched on his face
  'Alabi you know you are not supposed to be outside.How did you leave?'
    He stood tall,with his determination unwavering
'that is not important.what is important is why'
  His father's expression darkened
'what are you talking about?'
  Alabi's voice dripped with determination
'Are you afraid of me?'
  His father's brow furrowed.
'Afraid of you?'i don't understand'.
  Alabi's words spilled out,fueled by pent up emotions
'you have locked inside all these years ,controlling every aspect of my life.Why?Because you are afraid of me'
  His father face paled 'Don't say that Alabi,you must have had a long day.Come,let us pray'. 

         His voice rose with anger and frustration boiling over
'Stop it!Stop pretending with all this christian nonsense!You knew what the priest would say,didn't you? You've been to see him,asked
him about my inherent powers.You're afraid of what i can do'
     His mother's gasps sliced through the tension.
  'Alabi,that's enough!' His fathered thundered.
    'what about my grandmother'
     Alabi's father's demeanor shifted from anger to despair.Tears welled up in his eyes as he crumbled under the weight of Alabi's
question
   'she was fine for weeks'he sobbed'but the repercussions were too much'
   Alabi's intensity grew
  'why didn't you tell me?'
  'i was trying to protect you'
  Alabi's words spilled out in anguish'protect me?you lied to me!And now she's gone because of me'
  His father's body shook with sobs
   'No don't say that,it's not your fault'
  Alabi's pains remained raw."i'm a monster"
  His father rushed to embrace him,with tears running down his eyes.
  "No,you're not a monster"
  Alabi pushed him away,nodding his head
  "i don't think i can forgive myself"
  "listen...her death was not your fault.It was an accident"
    "what if it happens again?"his voice trembled
  "it won't"
"You dont know that"He shook his head with tears in his eyes "That's why you locked me away isn't it?"
'I was scared of loosing you,scared of what others would do to you'
   "No,you were scared of me" His word cut deep


     Alabi turned,tears streaming down his face,and fled the parlor.The weight of his grandmother's death and his father's secrets
crushed him.He rushed to his room and slammed the door behind him.
       Alabi collapsed on his bed,burying his face in his pillow.Tears soaked the fabric as he mourned his grandmother he never
really knew and the lies that shattered his trust.