I walked into the room, my heart sinking as I found Ruth lying on the floor, her body limp and still. Panic surged through me, but I quickly composed myself. I stood outside, dialing uncle James' number.
"We need to talk," I said urgently when he answered. "Please come upstairs."
Within minutes, Uncle James arrived. We went to the room together, and together we gently carried her to the bed. Her forehead was burning with fever, and tears were staining her cheeks. It pained me deeply to see her like this, knowing this suffering was something beyond her control.
"Uncle, let's pray for Ruth, I believe she'll be fine." Before I could finish talking, Uncle James raised his hand. A sign for me to stop talking.
"You saw what happened when she touched me downstairs. You want to pray for? What if something bad happens to her?" Uncle James said with anger evident in his voice.
For me, I thought I was just helping my suffering cousin, but it seems it was something else.
"Uncle James, please don't tell me that you, a pastor is afraid of prayer. If my help won't be appreciated, then please allow me move out. Assey is coming for me, and I can't allow him to use both you and Ruth as pawns in his twisted game. Please, let me go. It's for the best. I'm in danger, and he's using Ruth to get me. She's even suffering because of me. I have to face him head on."
I paused trying to steady my breath. "I want to go to Ghanaland. I need to talk to my Father. I know it's dangerous, but I believe with GOD by my side, I can end this. I know I can."
Uncle James stared at me, his face hardening. "Do you know how many years your Father spent in that tribe? He was born into it, and was in it before you were born , Anaya. And about the prayer, don't tell me how to treat my daughter."
His frustration was evident, and his words hit me hard. I frowned, unable to understand fully so I asked. " Uncle, are you scared of Assey?"
He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not scared of him. But you need to understand something. Always keep Ephesians 6:12 in your mind. You're still a baby in Christ, Anaya. It's not everything you understand just yet. Don't rush into things rashly, or you might put yourself in more danger.
Uncle James walked out, leaving me standing there, feeling small and lost. I glanced back at Ruth, her suffering breaking my heart. I couldn't just sit back and let this continue, but I also didn't want to make things worse.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I asked myself.
Why me?
What does it have to be my life?
My mother died because of me
Grandma died because of me
Ruth is suffering because of me
Am I really an abomination?
I wiped away my tears, but the weight of it all felt to much to bear.