THE MAN IN THE BROKEN MIRROR Episode 5

CHECK 5

She stood at the bus stop looking confused and lost. She was yet to recover from the experience. What made her to believe that he had changed? She went to his place with the intention that he will help her overcome her weakness. " Funny" she said to herself. She has lost count of buses going to her direction beckoning on her at the bus stop. " This is a time for serious sober reflection". Her mind raced back to all the times she had gone to the alter to rededicate her life to God. "God knows I want to serve Him with all that I have and all that I am but how can He allow this thing to keep happening to me?" She would have avoided going to see him in the first place. It was supposed to be her first visit since they decided to call of their relationship and seek the face of God for His purpose for their lives. They both agreed that they have been playing church and not anywhere near the throne of God. It has been two years since they last saw each other. She could remember back then when he will be all over her and she just can’t resist. That is her only problem. On her own she can do without it but once she is with someone she has crush for the temptation is high especially if the person makes a move on her. One of her Doctor friend has always told her;

1. Do not stay alone in the same room with someone you have strong feelings for. You cannot fight your flesh with your emotions. Avoid temptations.
2. Do not depend on other people’s strength to help your weakness because the day their strength will fail may be the day you need them most. Work on your weakness.
3. Do not go back to your vomit even if it has been garnished with spices.
4. Do not take goat-meat-pepper-soup if you do not like goat meat (She is still asking him for the full explanation of this).
5. Do not romance sin. Sin is sin no matter how it presents itself. Never you make excuses for what is wrong. Flee every appearance of evil.

 Just then a blue 2005 Toyota Camry pulled over at the bus stop. It was Doctor Uma. " This man with his wahala again" she muttered to herself. Doctor Uma had had so many dreams and revelation about Chioma and at all times he was always correct. Sometimes, she just wondered why the man didn't marry her. There were times when she will come to Church and all she is seeing is Doctor Uma. He preferred being addressed as a Doctor rather than a Pastor. Since 2012 he has been assisting Pastor Kelvin Adeyinka at one of the Parishes in New Heaven Enugu. He is a smart and nice man. Doctor Uma was always looking out for young people and he is so good at it that you just wish he adopts you.

The Month before he introduced his wife to be at the Youth Meeting, Chioma traveled to Lagos to see her parents. Her relationship life in Lagos wasn't what she likes talking about. She had never told anyone that she had a childhood friend who was so dear to her. Something strange and ungodly had developed between she and her childhood friend while they were growing up. The kind of stuff they did way back are things that you won't want to mention. Sometimes she wondered how she and Odafe managed to do all those stuffs. She wasn’t from a deep Christian family unlike Odafe that was raised by a seasoned preacher and evangelist. Going to Lagos is like going back to her past. Just the night before she left Lagos back to Enugu something strange happened again. She was alone at her parent’s place and suddenly began to think of Odafe. The only thing that came to her mind was Odafe. She dressed up, touched her face with some brown powder, applied a little red lipstick and left the house. Just as she stepped into the family car her phone rang. It was Doctor Uma. He told her of the dream he had last night about her and that if she was going to see an old friend that she shouldn't go. "This must be some joke" she said to herself. She went anyway and the result of that visit to Odafe is not what you would want to hear now. Till today Chioma still believes that the incident was why Doctor Uma didn't marry her.

"Hello sister Chioma" his voice boomed as if he was on the Church Pulpit. She pretended as if she did not hear him. He highlighted from his car and walked to Chioma. "No bus yet?" He asked her. Chioma ignored him and walked straight to his car and sat at the front seat. He got back into his car and drove off. "Where are you going to he asked her"? " Just take me to my house". Traffic was already building at Mayor and so he navigated through Achara Layout. Any route to avoid Agbani Road. They came out through Kayata and drove pass to Zik Avenue. "Where are you going to"? She asked him. "I am going to Park 50 to get something then I will drop you off". He had sensed something is not right with her but he refused to ask questions because she had not spoken another word since they drove off from One Day bus stop. Maybe it was God's leading that he drove through Garki from University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH). His normal route has been through the Expressway to New Heaven. "Something is bothering you" he said to her. "What are you going to get at Park 50" she asked him". He smiled and told her that wifey wants Isi ewu. They got to Park 50 and ordered for three Isi ewu. As they sat down to wait for their orders there was sporadic gun shots from across the road. Everyone ducked for cover. The gun shots continued. Just then a young man in his late twenties ran into Park 50 with blood stain all over him. Two men ran after him and loaded some bullets into him and ran away. The gun shots continued down towards New Layout.

Doctor Uma was confused and didn't know what to do. The young man had stop breathing instantly and lay lifeless on the ground. He has never seen such thing all through his life. Even during his campus days at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus he only heard of cult clashes but never saw one. He needed to make a quick decision because just across the road is a Divisional Police station. Should he go and make a report or should he just leave this Isi ewu and leave the crime scene. Chioma had already jumped into the car and beckoning on him to get into the car. Just as he was about to drive out, the dead man moved his hands and signaled for help. "Please move this car out of here" Chioma shouted at Doctor Uma who was about to step out of the car. As he drove to the gate, two Police vans arrived at the scene.

Extracts from THE MAN IN THE BROKEN MIRROR

#Unedited

Ota Uma Ben

18/11/2016