Echoes Of My Soul

Chapter One

"Knock, knock," I hit a familiar door, but there was no response from within. I groggily left to the entrance to my apartment, which was next door, when reality dawned on me that the neighbor had told me he was going out.

I dipped my hand into my black bag to access my key. I brought it out, inserted it, and the door creaked open. Entering my one-room apartment with a sitting area, I placed my hand on the gold sofa, removed my heels and wig, which left me with my short hair rolled up into a bun, and dropped my bag on the armchair.

With a heavy sigh, I sat on the big couch facing the television as I took in my sitting room as though I was new there. My wallpaper was a design of a rainbow with a blue and white color. Three gold couches, a sofa, and two armchairs were situated in their respective areas, with a coffee table beside the adjacent couch.

A small plasma television was hung on the wall with other necessary electronics on the TV stand, a long music player, and a GOtv decoder with its remote set beside the decoder. A big frame of my twenty-five birthday shoot and an artwork of my little brother were hung on the wall, which complimented my humble abode.

I leaped up, advanced towards my TV, switched on my socket switch, and my music player came to life. If there is anything I can't do without, that would be listening to music in a day. That is the potent food for my soul.

The song "Emi Ko Le Sai Sope" by Okopi Peterson came up. Just what I needed for my weary heart, so I applied pressure on the + volume button. "Not just for what you do, but for who you are, Emi Ko Le Sai So..."

His voice echoed through my apartment, and as I sang along with my hands raised in the air, I pinned my knees on the tiled floor. "Even when things are difficult and vague, Lord, I am grateful," that was me putting another verse to the song as my voice shook with emotion.

"Even when men shut their doors on me, I am so sure you will open multiple gates for me," I affirmed as the tears had been holding right from when I received the letter streamed down my face uncontrollably. My body shivered in despair as a result of my hot tears. I'm sure my favorite bowl in my kitchen won't contain my tears at the moment.

"Lord, I am..." I stopped when I felt a warm hand locked with mine. With my eyes still shut, I wanted to scream, but when the familiar cologne filled my nostrils, I knew it was him. He held my hands firmly and no one had to tell me his knees were already hooked on the floor with me. Oh! What a burden bearer he is!

My voice soared as he burst into tongues after some minutes of worship. His large palms, locked with my small palms, conveyed millions of unsaid words while my tears streamed down like a broken pipe. I hadn't been blessed with my tongues yet but I had been blessed with a beautiful voice.

As the song reached its end, his powerful utterances went down bit by bit. "Thank you, Jesus!" He muttered. We opened our eyes in unison while he caressed my palms as I tried to suppress my cries. "God is in control, Mo," he encouraged. I nodded and he passed me his handkerchief to clean my tears.

"Thank you, Nath," I sniffed. He leaned in and we did our usual side hug.

Do you know that one person we spoke to for the first time and instantly knew this person was gonna be your buddy for life? That was how my friendship began with Nathaniel. We met at our university library when we were in our 300 level and it was funny how our paths never crossed since our 100 level.

I was reading "How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer" when he approached me, and I was amazed as he relayed how the book had changed his life and relationship with God. His fluency and love for God drew me to him. He had encouraged me to read with patience and understanding, and right there, we exchanged our contact.