ETERNAL TIES

CHAPTER 4

Cerel’s transformation didn’t come overnight, but it was a steady and gradual process. After months of
self-destructive behavior, he found solace in the prayers and counsel of his grand aunty, Deaconess
Gladys. She had never given up on him, even when he was lost in his grief, numbing the pain with alcohol
and reckless decisions. Day after day, she would sit with him, speaking words of comfort and faith. She
shared stories of strength, hope, and the power of forgiveness, slowly guiding him back to himself.
Through her persistent encouragement and the grace of the Holy Spirit, Cerel began to heal. The weight of
his father’s death, which had once seemed unbearable, started to lift. He poured his heart out to God,
confessing his pain, his anger, and his confusion. And, in return, he found peace—something he hadn’t felt
in so long. It wasn’t immediate, but over time, the anger, the numbness, the despair, all began to fade. He
felt renewed, a lightness he hadn’t known for so long filling his heart.
Cerel started attending his university lectures again, committing to his studies and responsibilities. The
boy who had once been lost in the darkness of self-pity was now walking a new path, guided by his faith.
He focused on rebuilding himself, telling himself he would wait—wait until he was fully healed before
reaching out to Sika. He knew that he needed to be whole again before he could even consider being
there for her.
One day, while speaking with his grand aunty, Deaconess Gladys mentioned the news that had
devastated Sika—her mother had passed away. Cerel’s heart sank. He could feel the pain in his grand
aunty’s voice as she recounted how Sika had been devastated by her loss, how she had withdrawn into
herself, unable to cope with the grief. Cerel, too, grieved for her, silently lifting her up in prayer. He knew
how much Sika had meant to him, and how much she must be hurting now.
In the quiet of his room, he prayed for Sika and her mother. He prayed for healing and comfort, that Sika
would feel God’s peace in the midst of her sorrow. He remembered the joy that had filled Sika’s spirit when they had spent time together, how she had once radiated hope and optimism. It broke his heart to
think of her so lost in her grief.
But as much as he longed to reach out to her, he understood that he needed to heal first. He needed to
be the person he was meant to be before he could share that with her again. And, perhaps most
importantly, he needed to give her the space to heal, too. They both had their wounds, and they would
need time before they could reunite.
He continued to pray for Sika, for her peace, and for the strength to carry on. Slowly, he began to find his
way back to the man he once was—the man who could face the world with hope and love, not the man
who had been consumed by his sorrow. In his heart, he knew that he would see her again. And when that
day came, he would be ready.

Sika’s heart raced as she boarded the plane, her excitement mingling with a sense of nervous anticipation.
It was her first time ever flying, and the weight of the moment felt surreal. The airport had been bustling,
but once she stepped onto the plane, everything seemed quieter, more intimate. She slowly made her way
down the aisle, her gaze drifting over the rows of seats. The hum of the engines and the quiet chatter of
other passengers filled the space, but she was lost in her thoughts.
As she settled into her seat by the window, she could feel the vibrations of the plane beneath her, like a
gentle hum of anticipation. She pulled on her seatbelt, following the instructions, and then gazed out at
the wing. The vastness of the world below suddenly felt so real.
She wasn’t just leaving Adwenepa, the town that held so many memories of her mother, of everything
that shaped her into who she was. She was heading into the unknown, a new chapter waiting for her in a
new country, a new life.

As the plane started to move down the runway, Sika felt a sudden surge of excitement mixed with a little
fear. The ground beneath her feet began to tremble slightly as the plane accelerated, and her hands
gripped the armrest. A soft thud echoed through the plane as the wheels left the ground, and the world
outside the window began to shrink, the familiar sights of the city and the airport fading into the distance.
She looked out the window, watching the earth fall away beneath her, the sprawling city turning into a patchwork of roads and buildings. The sensation of flying was nothing like she had imagined. It was both
thrilling and a little disorienting—the sense of weightlessness, of floating high above everything she knew.
The world below looked so small, so far away.
For a moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the rush of freedom. She had done it.
She had made it this far, despite everything. She was no longer just a girl with dreams; she was on her
way to making them real. She felt her chest swell with pride, her mother’s face flashing through her mind.
This was for her.
As the plane continued to climb, she felt her heart settle, her nerves calming. She was on her way to
London, to the life she had always dreamed of. The moment felt monumental, and in that fleeting instant,
the entire world seemed to belong to her.