CHAPTER 9

MOM SPEAKS

Temple was running. She was being chased by huge men carrying sticks, clubs, stones and cutlass. She was crying profusely, screaming as she ran, "Help me! Somebody please help me!" but the people she met on the road either joined the people beating and chasing her or looked away like they saw or heard nothing.

"Help me! Mummy, mummy! I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Just help me please, she cried"

She had hurt me so much. She had scratched her nails all over me when she wanted to leave my protective custody and I was bleeding and in pains but how can I ignore the voice of pain of my daughter?

In agony and confusion, I started running towards the direction of her voice. I ran and ran, always seeming to get close but I couldn't reach her.

Just when I saw her and the people chasing her, a man caught up with her.

"No! Noooo!! Please spare her", I cried

He laughed, "I'm not killing her. But she would wish I did".

With that, he threw her into a big ocean. An ocean so turbulent that she couldn't fight it before it swallowed her whole.

"Temple, fight for your life! Temple!! Teemmpleee!!!"

I jerked awake. My voice was cracked like I had been screaming for a really long time. There were tears in my eyes so I know this dream was real. My heart was thudding hard like it was threatening to come out of my chest. I looked at the clock beside my bed, it was 3a.m

Oh God! Oh God, please save my daughter. Please! Spare her life! She has been covenanted to serve you. Spare her please

I picked up my phone.

"Ebun, my dear, you need to reach out to your sister. I had a terrible dream about her. She is in great danger. You need to pray for her. Now is a delicate time please. Call Ola, you both need to pray for Oluwafimidara"

"Yes mum" she replied with sleep in her voice but I knew she would call her sisters in the morning. My children understands that I have the gift of sight and when I had a bad dream such as this, it wasn't to be taken lightly.

I don't know much about explaining dreams but I guess this dream was explanatory enough. The agony, the pain. I can still hear her screams as she was tossed into the ocean. I shudder. No more sleep tonight.

Dear God, with all my heart I thank you for my children. Even Oluwafimidara that is misbehaving because I know there is a plan, a precious plan for her in your word. Please save my children. Please, I beg you, help them. I don't know the kind of problem Dara is facing right now or about to face but please deliver her. Save her! Please save her in Jesus name. Amen.

I spent all night praying. By morning, I decided I wasn't going out to do the odd jobs I do to survive. I was going to stay home to fast and pray for my daughter. She must not die.

By afternoon, about 2p.m, my phone rang. It was a strange number.

"Good afternoon mum"

If I say I was stunned, it was an understatement. I honestly cannot remember the last time Temple spoke to me with so much calmness and humility in her voice.

"Temple?" I asked to be sure.

"Yes mum" she replied calmly "I just called to hear your voice and to say I was sorry for everything I had done to you"

"Hmmm" I breathed. I decided to address the first issue. I had heard from someone that she was now in Lagos and I needed to be sure.

"Where are you Temple?"

There was a pause; a slight hesitation. "There was a job offer to work in a restaurant and they were going to pay me thirty-five thousand naira (#35,000) so I followed Precious, Mummy Kome's daughter, to work in Lagos"

I smiled. I decided not to address the issue of her not telling me before she left but instead asked for her welfare, where she was sleeping and who she was socializing with. "You need to be careful Temple and draw closer to God"

"Thank you mum, I will".

At the end of that call, I kept wondering if this was the same Temple I knew and what was going on. I continued my prayer till later that evening when Ebun called back

"Mum, I spoke to Dara. Actually, she called me around 1p.m with so much respect, I was stunned. She was like, 'good afternoon big Sis'. I had to look at the phone again to be sure who I was speaking with. She asked after you and told me she was now in Lagos but the area she called is so far from where I am. Anyways, I am still shocked by the general tone of that conversation."

I laughed. "When you are far away from home, you respect the things you once took for granted" was all I told her. "It seems distance was the medicine she needed. We would just continue praying for her", I concluded.

I ended my fasting about 6p.m, ate and slept early.

*******************

Temple is pregnant.

I've not seen her but I was told that she was and I'm scared it's true because she won't let me see her. She keeps hiding from me.

"Temple, where are you? Please don't do anything stupid. Come home" I called her phone

"Mum, mum! Help me, mummy! I'm sorry for everything" I looked toward the voice - she was on the floor at the entrance, bleeding and groaning in pains

"Oh God! Temple what have you done? What did you do? I begged you. I did everything a mother should. Temple why?"

I rushed her to the hospital. Praying, pacing...

Few minutes later...

The elderly doctor had a grave look on his age-wrinkled face as he came out of the locked theatre. I knew immediately he had no good news for me...

"No... Noooo" I shook my head desperately. In hope or in prayer, I'm no longer sure. Maybe both.

"We're very sorry ma, she took some very dangerous drugs to abort the fetus which ended up rupturing her womb and some blood vessels. If she had gotten here in time, maybe we would have been able to save her." The elderly doctor said somberly

"NO! NO!! NOOOOO!!!"

I jerked awake. Again. It was 2a.m. The horror of the dream stayed with me. I could still see her lifeless body being covered up on the hospital bed. The second time in two days with these terrible dreams.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" I screamed. "God No! You can't let this happen to me. You said I will be saved and my house. That includes my children. You said there shall nothing cast their young. That's my young. That's my child. No! You have to help me" I cried in the dead of night "I have served you all my life, even when it was extremely inconvenient, even when my parents were opposed to it. I have dedicated my life to you; I have covenanted my children to you. Look at my record of service of devoutness to you and save my daughter. Save my daughter please" I became like Hezekiah of the bible.

In fact, I was ready to make a bargain. "You can take my life, just please, spare my daughter. She must not die without being born again. She mustn't go to hell. You said in your word that you don't have pleasure in the death of a sinner. Please deliver her soul from the grave. Rescue her life from death"

By morning, I was weak. I had cried for more than four hours till the tears stopped flowing and still, I prayed. I was happy I saw that dream because it means my prayers were working. What if I didn't know? I read my bible and prayed some more and then tried to call Temple around 12. Her phone was switched off

When the call finally connected in the evening and I spoke to her, she told me she was still a virgin. I was a bit relieved but the Holy Spirit told me that now is not the time to relax. Terrible things will happen if I'm not watchful. I knew I had failed as a mother and a christian as I couldn't protect my child. I pleaded for forgiveness and mercy. The tears I thought were dried up started flowing again

I have failed!

Hello Dearest Readers,

First, I want to thank you for reading this far into my book. It gives me immense pleasure to know that you not only decided to read it but you also decided to check for updates every monday. Thank you so so much.

I want to use this opportunity to let you know that the next chapters are going to be paywalled but you really don't want to miss them as they contain the turning point in our protagonist's story.

I will appreciate seeing feedbacks and comments from you so please reach out.

Thanks,

Princess Christine