SHORT CHRISTIAN STORIES

RELIEF

UNEDITED

I sat on my bed exhausted and annoyed after pacing round the room for so many hours- I couldn't even keep track of the time. I felt a strange thud in my chest-but this time, it wasn't fear or anxiousness..it was something entirely different... something more calm- I heard a voice.

"Be still and know that I'm still God..."

I shoke my head, trying to wade the thought off. I closed my eyes tightly and collapsed on the bed. I was aware i was hungry- I haven't had anything to eat all day. I felt every kind of emotion wash all over me. I didn't want to feel this way, I tried fighting it but I couldn't...it kept coming back, harder and harder.

"God. Why?" I sniffed. "Why me? Why now..."

"Maybe you should try to relax"

"What?!" I forced myself up. I should probably stop hallucinating. I looked over my shoulders. I wasn't scared i heard a voice, I was astonished at the fact that I knew exactly where that voice was coming from and I didn't know why. I stood up slowly, diverting my eyes to the other side of the bedroom.

"Stella, is that you?" I muttered. "Joe, Rachael, are you there...?'

"What am I doing?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

I was fully aware my siblings were not in the house. My family had gone on a family trip without me- I was home alone for the weekend. Well, I would have been with Joanne if that did not happen. I leaned on the wall with my head slightly bent. I was very bitter and with the voice in my head, I was now more confused than ever. I slumped down onto the tiled floor, my eyes heavily dropping. It had been a long day.

*******
" Ada!..."
"Open the door!...."
"Ada!"

I jumped up from the bed, racing down the stairs to get the door. I tried peering through the little hole on the door to see who was knocking.

"Ada, I know you're in there. Please open the door!"

"Mrs shirley?"

"Yes Ada. Please open the door now"

I unlocked the door quietly. I always wondered why Mrs shirley never had a spare key to our house by now. She was always around, preaching the gospel to my family. After her husband died, she moved from the UK to Nigeria to be closer to her children. I guess they never wanted her so she made it her obligation to help the "other kids who needed her" She would always say. Sometimes, I would laugh and joke along with her but most times, I would look into her eyes and see so much sadness and lonliness, I had no other choice but to listen to her gospel stories. She was a middle aged woman, still so young and sweet, always telling I and my siblings about Jesus. I once followed her to her little fellowship down the road. That was the day I became born again. She told me that being born again and getting baptized was going to give me eternal life and a happy one too!
I guess she lied. Ever since I gave my life to Christ, I've had relationship failures, failed friendship and a very unhappy home. I was in so much despair and pain.

"Mrs shirley, I'm really not happy with you" I groaned squarely. " Please sit" I offered her a sit close to the kitchen counter.

She walked in wearing a smile on her face. As always. "Oh dear, what is wrong?"

"I-"

" Before that," she stopped me abruptly with a frown." Why haven't you been picking your calls? Your parents have been so worried about you, they've called me thousands of times today. I had to leave-"

"I'm sorry Mrs Shirley. I'll let them know I'm fine."

"Ada, what's wrong? You look pale"

"Mrs Shirley..." I sobbed.