FATIMA – Episode 18

©Miriam Edem

Episode XVIII.

 

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

 

“Excuse me ma, sorry I am interfering into family matters I apologize, but I just want to know what happened between your husband and Loveth please” the pastor said.

“And what for? Loveth is dead same with my husband, what do you want to know? You’re insulting my husband spirit pastor” my mom said.

 

“Like he was a saint? I saw the look in his eyes when Loveth approached us in the village, I knew something was wrong but you two kept it away from me. When Loveth died, his countenance said it all, mommy for Christ’s sake what are you hiding from me?” I asked.

“Fatima shut up, you know nothing” she said.

 

‘I think I already do, Loveth was daddy’s lover before he met you” I said and my mother licked her lips shaking her legs and wanted getting up.

“Ma, if you don’t explain to us what happened, then we’ll have no choice than to take all that Loveth’s mother told us, and if its true, then its very bad” the pastor said when she wanted leaving us but she stopped.

 

“You have no right to judge my husband because a bitter person lied to you. Whatever happened was when my husband was in the world, I met with him here in the city and led him to Christ. He found a new purpose and took the right way and saw me fit to be his wife, how is that a problem? Is it his fault he said no to the world and accepted his new faith and making a godly decision by choosing a wife that will help him in the faith and not Loveth?” She asked back and I smirked.

“He was not wrong and I applaud him for doing that, but was restitution made? After accepting Christ did he apologize to the family he wronged?” The pastor asked.

 

“Light and darkness has nothing in common… In fact why should he apologize to an unbeliever? They both sinned and God saved him, what does he owe Loveth?” She asked.

“Apology mommy he owes her an apology! Besides there are better ways to settle this rather than calling them darkness just because you’re a Christian. Where’s humanity again? Dad hurt Loveth and her family, and do you know why he ran away in the first place? That’s because Loveth lost her brother because of daddy, and if you were in Loveth shoes after all the love and sacrifice only to be pushed aside like dirt, will you let it go?” I asked my mom.

 

“Who is feeding you with such nonsense? My husband already had plans of travelling and he told Loveth that but she began showing him silly attitude because she didn’t want him to leave. But he had to leave the village to better his life, and that was where Loveth began painting him black and having unnecessary anger for him. I cant believe you can listen to such rubbish against your own father Fatima!” My mother shouted.

“Are you trying to say Loveth brother never died?” The pastor asked.

 

“I’ve never heard of that, and my husband can never ki*ll” my mom replied and I heaved confused of everything.

“Can you do me a favour ma? Can you please call any member from your husband family please?” The pastor asked.

 

‘I can never do that, and what’s all this? Why do you have to visit Loveth’s mother in the first place?” My mom asked.

‘Because your daughter is cursed, Loveth cursed this family before she committed suicide” the pastor replied and my mother slowly sat down.

 

“Why? I mean what for? Hey! Yet Fatima you went to see the woman who’s daughter hates you so much, what if she killed you?” My mom asked.

‘I only wanted to know why I should suffer for what I don’t know about. Mommy please can you just call dad family and ask some questions for us? Probably daddy didn’t tell you everything about his past” I replied.

 

‘Fatima I can’t believe you, so you don’t know your father does not hide anything from us huh?” She asked.

‘Ma stop making things difficult for us, why not make a simple call and let’s be clear on this matter once and for all. If it’s true fine, if it’s not true then you’ve made Loveth’s mother a liar so we can know what to do next to help your daughter” the pastor said and my mom sluggishly carried her phone.

 

“You want to hear it yourself then right? Okay fine” she said dialling a number and put it on loudspeaker. After two rings a voice came on phone and I recognized it to be my dad eldest uncle. They exchanged greetings and he calmly asked what the problem is

“Not too much sir, I wanted to confirm if you know Loveth very well?” She asked.

 

“You mean the one that died that used to follow your husband?” He asked.

“Yes sir” she replied.

 

“Of course I know her very well, but why are you asking about her?” He asked.

‘That’s because I heard something I don’t understand at all. Did her brother die and was that why my husband relocated to the city?” She asked and the man was quiet.

 

“Hello sir are you there?” My mom asked and he breathed out.

“Who did you hear this from?” He asked.

 

“It’s not true right? I only wanted to confirm because people can lie a lot” my mom replied.

‘But that was in the past na, it happened years ago, why should someone bring that up now” he asked and my mom eyes bulged out.

 

“Uncle you mean it actually happened?” She asked with her voice a little bit low.

“Let’s say your husband was young and foolish then. Loveth’s brother died because he was keeping her away from your husband, but she was so obsessed with Silas and attempted to run away and the young guy pursued her but he slipped and rolled down the stairs. Loveth was not aware it was that serious until the next day he was rushed to the hospital but could not make it. When Luke heard about it, he got so scared and pushed Loveth out and ran away” he narrated and my mother lost her voice while I bowed my head with my eyes closed sad the story is true.

 

“Hello?” The man called out when everywhere was dead silent.

“Why am I not aware of this?” My mom shakily asked.

 

“It’s not me to tell you na but it’s not important again. Stop bothering yourself with gossips and concentrate on how to cover my brother face okay” he said.

“Thank you sir, bye” my mother said and dropped the call but she could not look at us. She kept her hand on her chest as if she was counting her heart beat and the pastor cleared his throat.

 

“Sadly it’s true, Loveth’s mother never lied” the pastor said and she weakly looked at us.

“Okay he was wrong but that was in the past life. Didn’t the Bible said ” any man that is in Christ is a new creature, old things has passed away and all things is new?” She quoted and the pastor nodded.

 

“That’s very true” pastor Ola replied.

“Then why should an unbeliever curse work on my family? It was in the days of ignorance and the Bible says God overlooks. I can’t believe Loveth cursed my daughter or my family, she’s only wicked and must have used some fetish means” my mom said and the pastor smiled.

 

“All the portions you quoted are all true and God’s word cannot lie, but most times we understand this Bible upside down. If I am owing my neighbour money when I didn’t know Christ, and after a week I accept Christ, will I go back to that my neighbour and say ” old things has passed away and I’m a new creature?” He asked.

“Of course he has to pay the money as a good Christian he is” she replied.

 

“That’s good, but your husband didn’t do that. Was he expecting Christ to go apologize to the family he caused so much pain? He confessed his sins to God and accepted him, first step done, but it doesn’t end there. Light and darkness has nothing to do is not in this situation, I understand he has already met you and probably loves you, but hey he messed up someone’s daughter and he caused a mother pains. Whether they were unbelievers or not, the same way Christ arrested your husband despite all his sins, can also do the same for that family and heal their pain.

As a good Christian with a better understanding, he was to pray and ask for the direction of the holy spirit on how to solve this problem and not to quote the Bible that will make them feel like vagabonds. Let it be he visited the family and begged them for forgiveness from the depth of his heart and the family is still holding grudges, his hands are clean and heaven can bear witness to it, but he didn’t and he thought he’s going to end there? I don’t think so” the pastor said and my mother breathed out.

 

“But… But Loveth wanted him to marry her that’s why my husband didn’t want to see her” my mother said.

“Are you sure? Or were you insecure that your husband will go back to Loveth? From what Fatima told me, she said you hated her so much. Ma you’re a mother now, with the experience you had with Fatima, how do you feel?” The pastor asked and my mom bowed her head.

 

“I accept, I accept I didn’t want him to go meet them because I feared they may influence him” my mom said and I gasped.

“Now you’re saying the truth, I know dad would have gone back to do the right thing but you held him back” I said.

 

“You better shut up there! Your dad loved Loveth and I didn’t want to risk it, will you say am selfish? I was only protecting him” my mom said.

“From what exactly? You watched a lady in pains and you hated her the more with no remorse without wanting to know what really happened before you came into the picture. I don’t want to imagine the pains, hatred and regret that lady suffered with yet you didn’t care, Christ will never do that!” I boldly said and my mother cleaned the tears that dropped from her eyes.

 

“Now we know the truth, I think it’s time to do the right thing. We will have to apologize to that family before your husband gets buried” the pastor said.

“No I will not, was I the one who wronged them? Besides the both parties are dead right?” My mom asked and I shook my head.

 

“You’re part of this because you are married to Silas and you two became one don’t forget that” the pastor replied and my mother gasped.

‘I can’t believe this, you mean I should go apologize to a bittered unbeliever who is probably a witch because of what exactly? And who said my daughter is cursed?” My mother asked.

 

“A believer character is all about attitude and humility, Christ showed that to his disciple and never showed himself so superior when he came across unbelievers. You judge a lot and sees yourself so righteous and it’s sucks mommy, yet the Jesus you claim you follow never despised the unbelievers, if it was you that was at the well you wouldn’t have asked water from the woman who had many husbands because you have already condemned her to death!” I said getting up very angry.

“Fatima!” My mom shouted.

 

“That’s true, you treated me the same way and yes I am cursed because I killed daddy! I gave him overdose of a sleeping tablets I bought and I can’t live with this pains and regret anymore! I shouted with tears streaming out of my eyes and my mom eyes bulged out with shock.

 

Tbc

#milove