[Story] Too late – S01 E23

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 23

Rosa walked into Evangelist Chris office so seducingly dressed. He was also a pastor of his own church.

After exchanging pleasantries, she sat opposite him and smiled. Baba Ifa had given her a cream to rub.

“The moment he sees you, forget, he will fall for you. Nothing will make him not to fall.” He had said.

The Evangelist asked what brought her to the church. She told him her mother was sick and she needs prayers urgently for her.

“What actually is she diagnosed of?”

“Cancer” She lied.

“Alright” He said

He scribbled something on a piece of paper then picked his phone and made a call. Few seconds later, an usher came in.

“Take Sis Rosa to my wife” He said handing to the usher the piece of paper he scribbled on” She knows what to do.

Rosa was confused. This was not how she planned it.

“I came to see you, not your wife or any other person” She said “My mother’s case needs urgent attention”

“I know!” He said calmly not betraying his irritation.

“Look at me” She commanded.

The Evangelist looked at her and smiled.

“Why are you so tensed? Relax! Your mother will be prayed for. My prayer team is ready”

“Alright”

Rosa followed the usher to the main church auditorium. There, sister Martha the evangelist wife and others were praying. As soon as the usher handed the piece of paper to sister Martha, she read and understood. She told Rosa to join the prayer for prayers will be raised for her mother according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The prayer team began to pray as prayer points were raised. Suddenly, the evangelist joined them.

Prayer was still ongoing when sis Martha stood in front of Rosa.

“Your mother is not sick of cancer. She has been dead a long time ago. Why are you lying?” She asked “What exactly is your gain for lying or what is your mission here” She asked boldly.

Rosa stepped back. She was surprised. She opened her mouth to talk but no sound came out.

“You better repent before it’s too late for you” She warned

“Don’t you talk to me like that. You are embarrassing me”

“But your hands are soaked in blood” the evangelist told her.

“You need to repent. Give your life to Christ. Your salvation is in Christ”

“You may not have this chance again. Remember, there’s no repentance in the grave. Surrender to Jesus now. He loves you. There’s no greater love than the price he paid on the cross. Grab this opportunity before it’s too late. Come to Jesus now”

” You cannot hide your sin from God. Accept Jesus now…

Rosa was visibly shaken and embarrassed. Her face betrayed.She frowned for she felt exposed. Like lightening a slap thundered on the evangelist Chris twice.

“Hey!, You slapped my husband” sis Martha shouted.

“And so what?

With surprised expression on Everyone’s face, they watched her move backward.

“May God help you” evangelist said.

Rosa and the evangelist locked eyes before she rushed out of the church premises. She had seen the look on the evangelist face and great fear came upon her.

“She came to seduce our own evangelist oo” A member said.

The Evangelist smiled.

“We know!” He said “God revealed it last night. God showed us but we didn’t know it was coming like this.

“She rubbed cream and juju on her face so that my husband will look at her and get carried away. But that battle was won last night” sis Martha said.

“Let’s thank God then” the evangelist told them.

And in one accord, they held hands and began to sing to God.

———————————–

Chioma had since left her son in the care of her sister. She could no longer leave the bed, let alone take care of her son.

Other tenants have started complaining about the odour that oozes from her. They met with the landlord to send her away. It bothers them that Chioma smells of rotten flesh.

Initially, they suggested different solutions to her problem, but there was no headway. Chioma refused to oblige them. She would lock herself in until majority of them had gone to work. She would sit outside to take fresh air until children start returning from school and parents from work.

Chioma had just entered her room when the landlord came knocking. The pounding on the door was enough to frighten a little child. She opened the door and greeted the landlord who stepped backward as soon as she opened her door.

“Let’s talk outside” He said and Chioma locked the door and followed behind weakly.

“You are not owing me madam but I want you to leave my house. Abeg pack”

“I understand sir. Please I don’t have money to start looking for….”

“That should not be my concern madam. Just pack”

He left her still standing. She walked painfully to her room and cried. Human beings can be so cruel. How can other tenants connived to send her away. She began to think different things. How was she to get money to rent another house. She was not working and she depends on her sister. She looked at her pitiful state and cried the more. She was still crying when suddenly she dosed off. She had a dream where she found herself in a hole. She was trying to come out to no avail. Then she saw a hand stretch towards her but chioma refused to go close.

“Bring your hands let me help you out” a man told her smiling deeply. Chioma made as if to stretch her hands then withdraw suddenly.

“Why?” The man asked.”I want to help you or you will die here”

“I don’t need anyone’s help” Go away please. Just go away. I can find my way out.”

“Please let me help you. Without me you can do nothing”

“Leave me alone.”

The man stretched his hands again but chioma refused to hold them.

It was the knock on the door that woke her up.

Chioma gazed at the door when she heard another knock. Ebuka, a neighbour’s son entered. He was just about 21yrs old. He greeted her and sat beside Chioma on the bed not minding the smell.

“I came to check on you” He said “How are you feeling?” He asked.

“I am not fine. Nothing is well in my life. The landlord asked me to pack out” She complained

“When last did you talk to Jesus?” He asked

Chioma looked at him surprised. She never expected such question from him. She always sees him with a bible going to church but she never knew he was this serious.

“I… can’t remember the time Ebuka. It’s been long.”

“I think you should go back to him ma. What is happening to you is not physical. Last night when I was praying for you, I had a revelation that a woman is behind your sickness. You need to stand up and pray or this sickness will claim your life”

“God forbid!. It’s not my portion. Aah aa!. Are you a prophet of doom?”

“What I am saying is that, you have derailed. You missed your way. God showed me and He wants you to return to him. You need to reconcile with Him ma. The battle you are fighting will not be won with the physical weapon” He said as he stood up.

“Let me tell you a story. I am a married woman oo and with all my prayers the stupid man of a husband still married another woman. He bought a car and land for her oo. The painful part is that my first son died too. Where was Jesus when all these bad things happened to me?. I served him faithfully but he failed me. I am grieved in my spirit”

Chioma angry now stood up from the bed.

“Stanley, wherever you are, it won’t be well with you. On this planet earth, you will never succeed. Your hands will never gather money…”

“Aaah madam!. How long will you carry that extra baggage. It will weigh you down. This is not what Jesus expects from you. Please forgive him no matter…”

“Shut up my dear. You are not in my shoes to feel my pain”

Ebuka sighed deeply. Chioma already exhausted sat down again.

“I pray that you find it in your heart to forgive your husband”

“I can’t forgive him” She said with finality.

“I will keep praying for you” He said smiling.

“Don’t waste your time Ebuka”

“I want to invite you to a programme organized by the church. Please try to attend. Its a day after tomorrow at 4 o’clock in the evening. I will give you the address and…”

“I am not coming” She said.

Ebuka walked to the door and paused.

“Jesus loves you. Give him a chance in your life and I…”

“Will you get out of here” She said irritatively.

Ebuka shook his head sorrowfully and left. He wondered how she allowed the devil to sit in her heart. As Ebuka closed the door behind him, Chioma hissed and folded her hands on her chest. She wondered how she was going to get money for a new house. Which landlord or landlady will give her a house for rent with her condition? Where was she to go now?. Who was she to ask assistance from? She was bothered. It’s so obvious no one would employ her with her condition.

Going out to buy things is becoming a problem. Another thing she notice, is the ceasation of her menstrual flow. She has no money to go to the hospital. At least she would like to know the cause.

Her nights were filled with nightmares. She would dream of masquarades and even Cows pursuing her. If she didn’t dream of that, it would be a woman threatening to kill her with a matchet. Chioma would try to take the matchet from her but never succeeds . As the matchet cuts her, she would scream and wake in fright, soaked in her own sweat.

The one that baffles her most was the cry of a baby in her window. Every night the cry would persist. The cry persisted one night and Chioma put off her light and quietly opened her window. Fear almost crippled her when she discovered it was a goat crying like a baby. She screamed. Was she hallucinating? Did she imagined a baby turned a goat

If Chioma had known that the spiritual govern the physical, if she had known too that she can pray her way through difficult problems, she would have engaged in a warfare prayer. She would have shut all doors of anger, bitterness, hatred and enlist the help of her creator. For God’s word says, call upon me in the days of trouble and I will answer you. He also says, I will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.