FAMILIAR ENEMY (EPISODE 18) Written by Glorie Adepoju

I stepped out of the compound; the gateman closed the gate behind me. The estate was quiet as usual, I wanted to buy recharge card from a super mart just down the street. I decided to stand by the gate for some time. The evening breeze was soothing.

“Holy Spirit, what plans do you have for me?” I said out loud, my duty these past years had been to care for Mayowa, but that is not even happening anymore. It somehow felt as if my assignment in this house was over.

Yet, I couldn’t judge with just my feelings, even if I leave, to where? I wondered. I couldn’t dare bring it up with Uncle Ade, he has enough on his plate now.

With the painful realization that his wife had been behind it all. He ordered the release of Daisy’s brother yesterday. Daisy’s brother then requested to meet with Uncle Ade at the house yesterday afternoon. Uncle Ade sent for me.

“Sir?” I said to Uncle Ade after greeting the visitor

“I would like you to join us.” Uncle Ade said signaling for me to sit. I did.

“Eki, this is Mr. Alfred, Daisy’s brother, Mr. Alfred, Eki is family, you can say anything with her here.”

Mr. Alfred nodded;

“Mr. Afolayan, our last meeting ended on a very bitter note. I must admit that I was bent on vengeance like I threatened. With my horrible past, it was not really a big thing to do. Shockingly, in the process, I encountered the Lord Jesus.”

I hung my mouth open in surprise, I heard Uncle Ade’s sharp intake of breath.

“An encounter that changed the course of my life. It was as if I had been given a mirror to look at my very dirty life. To cut the long story short, I gave my life to Jesus, had to relocate with my family to open a new chapter in our lives. As I began to fellowship with Jesus, I forgave you whole heartedly. You were seriously on my mind recently. I prayed every day that God would make our paths cross, so I can tell you that I have forgiven you and preach to you about Jesus.”

Uncle Ade glanced at me with a smile.

“Thank you for forgiving me. I have also given my life to Jesus. Though I’m just a few days old in Christ.” Uncle Ade said, a soft smile played on his lips

“Hallelujah!” Mr. Alfred said with enthusiasm.

“I’m very sorry for having you arrested, I wrongly suspected you for having a hand in my son’s death. I hope you can forgive me?”

“I totally understand sir, I’m deeply sorry about your son. Even in my revenge plans back then, I didn’t plan to lay a finger on your son, I was not even aware you had any child. And Sir, those words I said back then, I regret them bitterly. I’m sorry you lost something precious too. I pray for grace to bear the loss.” I looked into his eyes and I was touched by the compassion that shone there, he had truly met Jesus.

“Amen, that means a lot to me, thank you Mr. Alfred.”

The discussion ended with a prayer, and me shedding tears.

It occurred to me that if Mr Alfred had not relocated, then Uncle Ade would have arrested him easily and tortured him merciless, convinced he was the one behind it all.

Not knowing it was all the doing of someone so close. The psychiatric hospital where she had been rushed to, the doctors mentioned that she was becoming more violent by the day. She had been transferred about three times in two days.

I strolled down the street, speaking softly to the Holy Spirit.

“Holy Spirit, am I done with my assignment in this house?”

“No! this is our house!”

I froze, suddenly unable to take the next step. Not only because those words answered my question, but that familiar voice that just spoke several steps behind me. I was certain I was dreaming, my heart pounded heavily.

Slowly like a rehearsed action, I turned around. I caught my breath. Standing a little distance from where I stood, right before the gate of the house, I saw him.

“Aunty Ekiki!!” he said spotting me, he ran towards me, had he not hugged me so fiercely, I would have sworn I was hallucinating.

“Mayowa? Mayowa. It’s you, it’s really you” I said breathing heavily, overwhelmed with emotion. I touched his face, ran my hands all over his body frantically to be sure.

“You are alive! you are alive, I thought I would never see you again. You are alive!!” I kept saying as I carried him and rushed inside.

Expressions of shock, surprise, were followed by loud shouts of excitement at Mayowa’s return.

“I missed you Daddy, I thought I would never see you again.” Mayowa said hugging Uncle Ade again, Uncle Ade sniffed, wiping off tears as he hugged his son tightly.
Mayowa came to me and hugged me; “I missed you so much Aunty Ekiki. I’m very happy to see you again.”

“I’m very happy to see you again, I missed you so much.” I said, my face wet with tears.

It was an emotional moment. Uncle Ade then asked Mayowa one of the countless questions that I had in my mind. Uncle Ade planted Mayowa firmly on his laps. Sitting comfortably on his father’s laps, Mayowa beamed with excitement, almost as if he had just returned from a fun trip and not the kidnappers’ den.

“It’s a long story, but I know Jesus would help me remember if I forget.” He began, arresting the attention of everyone.

“The bad guys were driving and driving and driving, and then they took me to one old place, far, far away. Oh, I forgot, before that time, the bad guys that put me in the car, stopped and then met some other bad guys who were on the bike. The ones on the bike took me, and the bad guys with the car drove away. They put me on the motor bike, and covered my eyes with one cloth, and tied my hands and legs. They were driving very fast!!!!”

Mayowa must have been taken out of the car before the men were involved in that ghastly accident. I returned my attention to him, not wanting to miss a single part of this narration.

…to be continued…

pEn&pApEr
GLORIEADEPOJU