FATIMA – Episode 16

©Miriam Edem

Episode XVI.

 

®Do not repost without due acknowledgement or permission of the writer.

 

Before leaving for the village, Pastor Ola first took me to the doctor just to make sure I won’t have difficulties during the trip,

“Will you be the one driving?” The doctor asked after cleaning the wound.

“Yes” the pastor replied.

 

“Just be gentle on the road, I think she can manage” the doctor said.

“Pastor I told you i’ll be fine don’t worry” I assured.

 

“I only wanted to be sure nothing will go wrong. Okay it’s fine, thank you doctor” the pastor said shaking hands with the doctor and took me away. I was entertained with old time Christian music and it reminded me of my father, he plays them a lot despite the gospel music has evolved but he still prefers those old time Christian songs with the likes of Panam Percy Paul etc.

“Why, you don’t like the songs?” The pastor asked looking at me as I sat quiet.

 

“No it’s fine” I replied.

“Are you sure? Okay I think I have Don Meon here” he said going through his discs.

 

“Oh Don Meon will be better” I said smiling.

“Ahhhh when will all this children appreciate our own music? You’re Just like my daughter, she wants to listen to foreign artiste, is our own a joke?” He asked and I began to laugh, I guess that was my first laugh in quite a long time.

 

“Sir it’s not like that, I love our songs too but theirs is cool you know” I replied.

“What is cool about something I don’t even understand? Anyway do I have a choice? Listen to your Don Meon” he said inserting the disc and I smiled.

 

“Thank you sir” I said.

“You’re welcome, and If you feel any pain say something so I can stop” he said and I nodded.

 

I eventually slept off not worried because he knew where we were going, but I heard a tap and I slowly opened my eyes looking at him.

“Are you okay?” He asked and I nodded.

“We are here, but I don’t know your exact place” he said and I immediately sat up and checked.

 

‘Oh we are here, we’ll take left” I said.

“It’s okay, here eat so you won’t eat walking on the road” he said giving me a bunch of bananas and without being told I knew where he bought it.

 

“Thank you sir” I got it from him while I directed him while eating.

We finally arrived at my grandparents place but I was too scared to come out, in fact my eyes were very teary.

“But I told you not to be scared right?” The pastor asked.

 

“Pastor I can’t do this, her name is Loveth maybe you can go ask them, am not ready to face them please” I replied and he heaved.

“Okay wait for me here” he said and left the car.

 

One of my cousins came out from the compound and passed and the pastor quickly stopped him,

“My boy please do you know anyone called Loveth?” he asked.

“Loveth? Which of the Loveth?” He asked.

 

“I mean do you know where the late Loveth lives?” He asked.

“Oh, that’s the next village” he replied.

 

“Is that so? I think I saw her last here” the pastor said.

“Yes she parades here often, but she’s not from here. Her family house is at the neighbouring village” he said.

 

“Please how can I locate the compound? Is there any easy way to direct me?” The pastor asked and he shortly directed and described the compound for him.

“Thank you” the pastor said and opened the door and got in since he was just close by and I was able to hear them.

 

“You see, very simple” the pastor said as he inserted the key.

“With the description, looks like they are rich” I said when I heard him said a storey building painted with blue.

 

“I don’t know until we get there” the pastor said and took off.

Minutes later, we arrived at the compound and it was not looking bad at all. There was no gate to stop us from entering, so we drove in and we saw a young girl came out from the second floor.

“Good afternoon sir” she greeted.

 

“Afternoon my dear, please where can I find the house of Loveth?” The pastor asked but she was just looking at us.

“Sorry is this where the late Loveth………. ” yes and who is looking for her?” A woman asked coming out and I swallowed.

 

“Good afternoon ma, my name is Pastor Ola” the pastor replied.

“Come in” the woman said and went in while I breathed out before going through the stairs.

 

We sat down and she offered us water which we only accepted but could not drink because we had enough water in the car.

“Thank you” the pastor said and rubbed his palms.

“So why are you looking for Loveth?” The woman asked.

 

“Ermmm my condolences” the pastor said and she smiled.

“It’s okay, so how did you know her?” She asked and he cleared his throat.

 

“I don’t really know her, but this is Mr Silas daughter” the pastor replied and her eyes were all pinned on us very seriously.

“We don’t know what happened between her father and Loveth, we have come to know the reason of her grievance for her father please” the pastor continued and her eyes sparked the more. I almost urinated where I sat and I looked at the pastor signalling him to take me out of there.

 

“Ma are you okay?” The pastor asked not concerned.

“So you mean you brought this bas*ard here just to ask me what my late daughter has against her father huh? Why don’t you ask your father!” She shouted.

 

“He’s dead ma” I replied at once.

“Oh very interesting, I thought he will never die so why then are you asking when they are both dead? Or is it Loveth that killed him?” She asked.

 

“No ma you misunderstand us. I came here last for my grand mother burial and that was when I saw her. She was so furious and kind of attacked us, removing curses to my family. Though I tried to know what we did to her but they refused to tell me” I replied.

“And you came here to ask me? Okay if your father is dead, what about your mother? Don’t tell me she does not know what happened” the woman said.

 

“She does not want to talk about it” I replied.

‘Why will they talk about it? In fact there is nothing to talk about, you two should leave” the woman said.

 

“Ma I understand your pain, for I know its not easy to lose a child, I can understand because I’ve lost one too” the pastor said and I looked at him.

“I had a set of twins, but one died leaving her sister behind and I know how it hurts, but we’ve come here for answers please don’t let us go this way” the pastor said.

 

‘To do what exactly? The two culprits are dead so what’s the peace talk about? It’s not like it’s going to return my daughter back to me, and for your information I have lost 2 children and all thanks to your FATHER!” She shouted looking at me and I gasped.

“My father? My father can never ki*ll someone, he’s very calm and kind he can never do that” I quickly said and she laughed.

 

“Your father is very what again? Who didn’t know your father before he claimed to accept the foreign God in the name of Christianity? He is a wicked man, and you’re nothing but a daughter of a wicked man and a co*ard woman!” The woman shouted and I stood up.

“I know I brought myself here, but I won’t watch you insult my parents! You don’t know my parents, after all it wasn’t my father who forced your daughter to commit suicide! I can remember my father cried for Loveth when he heard about it, how then is my father responsible!” I shouted.

 

“What drove my daughter to commit suicide? If your parents are so clean why are they hiding what happened from you!” She shouted back.

“Please you two should calm down, we came here to talk maturedly and not to fight” the pastor said holding my hand so I can sit down.

 

“Fatima sit down, no matter what happens she’s your elder and you must give her that respect” the pastor said when I was not interested to sit down, but I had to very angry.

“Please ma, I really want to know how her father drove your daughter into suicide please” the pastor calmly said but she sat down shaking her legs.

 

“Ahhhh Loveth! Can we just forget it? My Loveth is already gone na, why do you want to open wounds? What have I done to you? Please let my Loveth rest in peace for she has suffered a lot I beg you” she replied crying.

“I’m very sorry ma, but how sure are you that she’s in peace? Probably telling us what happened so we can know what to do may bring her that peace right?” The pastor asked.

 

‘What is there to do? She is dead and her lover is dead, what peace is left? Please just leave my daughter alone, if her mother has a conscience, let her tell her daughter how she made her life miserable” the woman said.

“Lover? Was Loveth my dad lover?” I asked her but she hissed at me and concentrated on the pastor.

 

“Ma I am begging you, I know you’re angry but please this girl had nothing to do with what happened in the past, she’s suffering right now and it’s because of Loveth’s pronunciation and you know what am talking about. She mistakenly killed her father……… ” same way he killed my son! He got what he deserved and Loveth has nothing to do with what happened to that family, they haven’t seen suffer yet, this is only the beginning!” The woman shouted and I gasped and went down on my knees immediately.

 

“Ma please whatever my parents had done, I am innocent I beg you. Please forgive us I beg you” I cried holding her leg while she looked at me………

 

Tbc

#milove