Chapter 19

Jesse playlist

Heart of worship

Michael .w. Smith

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PASTOR where have you been "

Nnomma asked Jesse worry etched on her pretty face,she had been standing outside the church worried that something had happened to him.

Jesse only gave a slight nod and walked quietly as she followed after him

" you skipped breakfast again,where do you even get the strength from,you hardly eat anything do you want to fall sick...

For the first time since that day when he had met her,Jesse stopped and looked at Nnomma,really looked at her ,like a man would look at a woman ,she was beautiful ,had this outstanding qualities he couldn't put in words, their was a. Untold she secrete in her eyes everyone noticed but he was still clueless, she looked so innocent and concerned, he recalled the day she had courageously looked for him in the dark despite the ruckus in the village, disregarding the fact he was a stranger .

"I will send you a helper son" the words came flushing in again he was lost in thought as he stared at her

"Did you go to oshimiri shrine ...what?" Nnomma frowned"why are you looking at me strangely"she asked confused

"You are beautiful Nnomma " he held her hands "thank you for looking out for me ,but I am fine,the flesh is willing but the spirit is not ,let's go for the service"

Jesse left her standing looking perplexed

"Did he just call me beautiful" Nnomma muttered to herself

"Are you coming" Jesse turned to see her still standing at the same spot she nodded and came to meet him.

Adanna stood at the entrance of the church watching the little drama when Nnomma came close she was already grinning from ear to ear

"Umumumum" Adanna cleared her throat as she followed after her

"Whatever that means keep it to yourself"

Nnomma whispered silently to Afanna as they found a seat at the front.

Today was a day the church members had chosen to celebrate the lives that had ones held the pillars of the church,those that died tragically because of a so called dirty, it opened old grieve and finally gave the bereaved family closure.

A service of songs was held for the dead ,he prayed for peace for their souls and for Gods grace to fight the battle to the end.

Jesse encouraged the members to walk in faith and be steadfast in prayer and fast with him for the the week before the crusade,it was a crucial time where the kingdom of darkness was at work but by the grace of God they must prevail in the fight of emancipation from oppression and bondage.

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      Ikenna  wept bitterly at the sight of his wife charlie and his daughter somma who stood before him looking tattered ,hungry and worn out ,they held each other as they grieved at what they had become,but then their union was bittersweet

"Honey!  am so sorry...am so so sorry,its all my fault if I had listened to you ,we wouldn't be in this situation" 

Charlie fell on her knees and cried at her husbands feet she reeked of her own urine ,tasted her own salty tears,her face dried and wrinkled from    life stress.

"What did those bastards do to you" Ikenna asked in fury, he was bare chested ,he had on the only pair of trousers he had found himself in when he woke up from his deep slumber, forcefully they had  shaved the hair on his head sparing nothing but his shining skull ,a ritual for purification was done on him to please there so called god.

Ikenga had promised to allow him reunite with his family on the condition on the conditions he would cooperate with them.

Ikenna looked at his family they looked weak starved and unkept he broke down to tears as he held his daughter somma "Be strong baby ,I promise to get you all out of here"

Funny enough this was there family home but they were treated like an outcast,Ikenna  helped them to sit at the wooden corner that served as a bed holding them close to him 

"They know" Charlie spoke softly into her husband chest  

"They know what" Ikenna asked confused

"About our baby ,the one we gave away years back"

Charlie felt her husband stiffened cold,so did somma,though in her weak state she raised her to look at her parents.

"Mum...Dad what are you talking about? What baby?"

Ignoring her daughter charlie looked at her husband

"Remember you asked me to trust you years back,though it hurt the both of us ,but I did trust your decision with our child,now I understand why you abandoned our first child in the street,why you never talked about your people,this land is sick ,its filled with bloodshed and wickedness"

"That innocent boy someday would have been in the same situation as I am forced to protect my family from the harsh traditions I was born into, no blood of mine will serve oshimiri,over my dead body"

Ikenna spits to the ground

"They said he is the only one that can lift the curse I carry,that can save us"

"Could it be he survived,could it be someone somewhere kind enough picked him,I can't help but imagine how big he had grown ,we were never a part of his life,how can he now be the one to save us from this nightmare" charlie had so many questioned that were unanswered.

"Can someone make me understand, who is this baby you talk about" somma asked tired of being ignored

"He is your brother,our first child" that was all charlie could say as she cried shamefully.

"What? I have a brother" somma looked at them both"how could you give your child up...this could never get worse than it already is..that means you both could have easily given me up without a second thought "somma said in tears

" its not how you are thinking it baby"Charlie replied heartbroken 

"I would have if need be somma for your own safety"

Ikenna replied vehemently looking at his daughter

"Our child life is in danger ikenna,they must not find him"

"Quiet woman" Ikenna ordered angrily 

"He is my son ,he carries my blood ,he will be fine"

Then he let his head fall as he weeped not knowing their fate.