CONCEIVED IN DARKNESS

Chapter 26

The car stopped right in front of her and the driver quickly came out  and screamed at the young girl still lying on the road “what is wrong with you lady?  Do you want to get yourself killed?” He took a closer look at the young woman in question who had ignored her  and she was full of shock “Adanna?” she called out.

It was then Adanna stood up to see who it was that called her by her name

“Pastor?” Adanna said equally  startled that she was seeing Pastor Unini right in front of her.

“oh no pastor, it shouldn’t have been you or your car coming down the road. How? Why?”  She queried.

“what do you mean by that. Did you intend on getting yourself killed?” she asked.

“I did not Pastor” Adanna replied head bowed then continued “I do want to die” meeting the eyes of her pastor .

“what! Adanna, you mustn’t think like that . why would you want to do such a thing.” Cars haf started to pass through now and she further said “come my child, lets get you in my car”

“Adanna resisted and struggled  “No pastor, let me be.”

“Please you can't do this. Okay give me thirty minutes. I' ll park by the next junction we see. If you still want to go ahead with this, then I won't stop you.”

Adanna respected her Pastor so much. She was a good spirit filled woman, although she knew nothing her pastor  said or did could change what  she had set her mind to do. 

She took a long look at the pastor before saying "okay, but promise me ma that after 30 minutes, no more no less  you will let me go” 

"As you wish" Pastor Unini replied making sure not to promise anything.

Then Adanna got up and plodded till they  got in the car.

As she started the car , pastor Unini said silently 'Lord so she is the reason the lights took so long.'

"hmm" Help me Lord, speak through me so I can reach her. She prayed with her lips  as she drove to the next junction and parked there.

Fortunately , there were still some open stores and few people chatting by a bar so it wasn’t too lonely there. 

“Adanna, where have you been since? Your parents have been looking for you for so long. Just a few weeks ago, your dad came by my office in tears because he had just heard you were missing when he got back. We had looked in a lot of places, no one would have thought of Kaduna."

“Adanna sighed before responding “ I don’t know Pastor. Anywhere at the time was better than home.”

“Adanna”  Pastor Unini called and turned completely to face her “what happened, why do want to end your precious life?”

Adanna said nothing but turned away to face the window to prevent the Pastor from seeing her droplets of tears.

“Please Adanna, talk to me.” Pastor Unini pleaded softly.

“I don’t know where to start from pastor” She replied sincerely.

“anywhere is good. Take you time.” The pastor cheered.

“My mother has been treating me differently since Condolesa’s death. She blames me for her death. But I didn’t leave her alive in the fire Pastor.I was tired of telling her because it felt like my words fell on fell ears. I avoided her most of the time in hope that my father would soon be back when he travelled. But his travelling was extended for another two weeks and it was then mother laid hands on me, almost killed me because of a minor incident. I spilled water on the floor and she tripped before I could mop it. she told me that I wanted to kill her as I did Condolesa." Adanna paused as hot tears streamed down her face then forged on “I couldn’t take it anymore. When my mother looks at me all I see is hate, anger so much of it and the pain she was going through.  I told her I was going to leave and she told me to go. It hurt so much but I knew I had to leave. I was hurting too, still is. I loved Condolesa so much, she was my sister. And I being the last to see her in that  cold state is torture. The image still plays all over again in my head and there’s no one to help succumb it or vent my anger at. It was overwhelming.