COACHILLA

*Ego and Lies of the enemy* Ever wondered about these verses? "Never allow the sun to go down on your anger or you will give the enemy a foothold.." "The devil is the father of lies.." "The enemy comes to kill, steal and to destroy.." "Be angry but do not sin." "Anger lies in the blossom of fools." "Whatever is good, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is of Good report, think on these things." Many times in marriage we have issues with our spouse and we get so angry with them and many times we fail to resolve the issue, to forgive each other before we sleep. This is dangerous, because it can breed bitterness, unforgiveness, disunity and divorce. We don't need that. Look at this scenario: A wife has a an issue with her husband and she goes silent and shuts down on him. Then he leaves the house in anger, to "cool off" and came home very late. During the night, the anger grew.. then she started G...

"Mummy why Are We Packing?" Teye Asked. Mfon and Teye began to push their boxes to the center of the room, just as I ordered them to do. It was the easiest work their tiny hands could do. "Mummy why are we packing?" Teye asked. "The day after tomorrow, we will be leaving for the mainland." I said, folding the clothes into a basket. "but mummy our school is on the Island." Mfon said. I nodded silently. "yes I know. no more questions, let's start packing. you both should gather all your clothes, a truck will be here to start packing." They continued to push the drawers and their boxes with all their might. After few moments, the kids paused. "mommy we are tired." Mfon said weakly, giving a childish attitude. "me too mummy." Teye said. "Let's all rest a bit." Teye laughed and blew an exaggerated kiss back. Mfon and I joined in the laugh, it was a meaningless laugh, Teye ma...

Red glowing eyes stared back at me, and I tried to see clearly who it was. Metal claws closed over my forearm tightly, and I whimpered. Then I noticed he looked like David, the man with the red eye had his height and shape of his head. Then the strange being suddenly turned into my mother inlaw. The fear finally began to set in as my heart pumped. "Ekomobong!" Her deep voice rumbled and echoed at the same time. I woke up immediately sitting upright in shock, it was a dream. The bed was soft under me, but the covers were thickly hot. I was sweating through my pyjamas shirt. I looked at the other bed, Teye was sleeping peacefully wrapped in her pink mickey mouse duvet. My heart eased a bit, I kept repeating in my head that it was only a nightmare. "Mummy are you okay?" Mfon asked, her voice was soft and tender, I held her into my arms. ""yes, I am fine my love."  I said as I pulled her under the sheet and covered her up. The feel...

I remember the pain in her eyes more than anything else. Then I remembered the pains I went through when my husband left me for her. I imagined her in bed with David, I imagined him kissing her and making love to her. I thought to myself, what if the baby was his, what if the baby wasn't SS genotype? What if? Then she wouldn't have been here kneeling right in front of me. She wouldn't have been preparing for the wedding, happily preparing to marry David. Bitter resentment crawled inside of me, making my anger boil. Part of me wanted to just beat her up, scream obscenities at her,  and send her out of the house. Then the other part  wanted to forgive her and let her go. Then my heart reminded me that God rewrote my story, it was up to me to make it beautiful. When I finally tried to recollect myself, breaking away from the hurtful thoughts that I had been in. I took a good look at Ifeoma, my fist literarily clenched. "You can go now, I have forgiv...

It took me few minutes to compose myself and face her. "What do you want from me Ifeoma? What else do you want?" I asked her meanly, while she looked at me with stoned expressionless face. "I came here to clear my mind to you, to confess and seek for your forgiveness madam." my heart was beating at a faster rate than ever. "ghen, ghen! what more do you have to say? we all know you slept with pastor David."  Lizzy said and shook her head sympathetically. "There is more." "don't tell us you used juju or charms on pastor." Lizzy asked with her eyes wide open. "tufiakwa, I am a christian, I can't do that." "if I hear! you? hmmm. what you did to your madam is what a witch can do, it's same as using juju of course? talk please time is going." Ifeoma looked at me, and then Lizzy. "I was in love with Usman when I first came here. He loved me too. He even said he was going to marr...

You can't marry or sleep with all the ladies that come your way! Beautiful women will always be there. You will meet beautiful ones daily! Learn to be disciplined and have self-control. Just pick one and make her your queen it saves you money, time, drama, and disease ....moreover, there is no medal to be won over number of sexual partners you have! You're just blocking your blessings and sending yourself to early grave. So, be self-controlled. And I also believe that this is applicable to ladies too. Be contented with one person and save your self the stress..There is no gold in any pubic zone... They are all the same.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my stomach was beginning to protrude, I rubbed my hands on it, and felt a tiny kick, there was deep joy in my heart, the one I had never felt before. The news about David's separation from Ifeoma spread like a wildfire. The night was still young, and I had just returned with a new Sim card. I wanted to change my life, change my world and rebrand it for the holy spirit to come dwell with us forever. By this time, I had made up my mind to sign the divorce papers and move to America with the kids. My stomach was protruding, and I didn't want anyone to see me, especially the church members of Hills ministries. "I thought you said divorce is a sin?" Lizzy asked shrilly, looking aghast. "I have gotten what I wanted." "Don't say these things Ekom, You prayed for this moment, you fasted, wept to God. And now it is finally here, why do you want to just let it go all of a sudden?" ...

Abigail's face had softened, her eyes misted over and for a moment, she was calm. "I am going to be a real aunty for the first time in my life Ekom." she said tearily and smiled brightly at the same time. "You are an aunty already mbok, don't let the kids hear that." Lizzy called at that moment. "Ekom, I am very close to your house, I had a long day already at work, so I decided to just come give you the injection at home and then tell you about something I discovered at the hospital." "I hope all is well Lizzy?" "very well, don't be scared." I ended the call. few minutes later, I heard the horn of Lizzy's Car. "She is here." Abigail said and immediately stood up to fix the throw pillows in place. Not Long Lizzy walked in, smelling of vanilla body spray. she was wearing jeans, a boot and huge cream colored sweater that came halfway down her thighs. She frantically looked around. ...

I had been desperate to leave Lizzy's office since the laboratory scientist took my blood. While I watched Lizzy surf with her laptop, my mind had gone far as to the kind of diseases or sickness the lab test might result. "I was thinking that I should go pick the kids and come back for the result." I said. "No hold on a bit, the lab guy will be done soon." moments later, there was a knock on the door. "Come right in." Lizzy said shrilly. The lab guy appeared like a ghost, leaving my heart to tremble, I watched him handing a white envelope to Lizzy. "Done?" Lizzy asked politely. "Yes Doctor" Lizzy opened the envelop hastily and I tugged on my ear thoughtfully. "What's the result?" I asked, still tugging my hands in my ears. Lizzy shook her head and stared at me for a while. "Hmmm... Ekom it's malaria and typhoid jare." She handed the envelop to me. Opening one of the envelops,...

Lizzy whipped off her lab coat and threw it on the floor. I must have made a face because she looked at me and laughed. "I am so tired Ekom." She said, while getting water from a dispenser." "Obviously." I said meanly. She gulp down the water and then took a deep breathe. "you know I haven't seen you since you returned, it's been 5months now. what has been happening? you look really different." "nothing much. David is seeking for a divorce." "grant him. After all he has a son now from his maid. the baby falls sick almost every single day. I am tired of treating him." She reeled off, while trying to put on another lab coat." "Did she put to birth here in your clinic?". "No. I heard she put to birth in London. I wasn't even around at that time. I was on a 3month course in Australia." "oh okay. Lizzy I think the kids and I will be relocating to America by next year."...

Outside the sky was gloomy. Heavy clouds were ready to drop down rainfall. I heard a roll of thunder, a storm was coming, it came with heavy rainfall. In the midst of this was beautiful set of well dressed choristers ministering on the podium. The singing was louder, and then suddenly I couldn't really hear them anymore, because of the heavy downpour. Ushers rushed to close the doors and louvres. And while the ministration was still going on, a young lady dressed in same uniform as the ushers whispered to my ears. "Good evening ma, please your name is on the list of women who will speak today." But I didn't respond, I only nodded. After series of prayer points and Singing, A few women of God whom I had association with in the past spoke before my turn. "Ladies, please a round of applause for an award winning speaker, a woman of God, and a motivational speaker, Mrs Ekom David." My heart trembled, my legs shook. The thunderous hand cla...

I remembered our vows, I remembered the way he held my hands and said to me that ours will be for better for worse. I remembered the way he preached, the way he talked about God, the way I stood and nodded in support of my husband. I remembered the last time we made love. I remembered his cold dark eyes, how he glanced at me, and kissed me so passionately. For twelve years, I loved him wholeheartedly, prayed with him, and prayed for him. I remembered my sweat, the evangelism, how I convinced people to join the church so we could make a large congregation. These thoughts made a shiver run down my spine. I became sick instantly, as Abigail, the kids and I watched him break our wedding frame. He ordered the boys to burn them into ashes. "David you are a bastard! man of God my foot! years back, you almost died when my sister refused to marry you. Now look, the devil has knocked your head again!" Abigail screamed. But David acted like non of us existed. Hi...

Abigail  stared at me right in the face, as I narrated all that has been happening to me. She is my immediate younger Sister, who is a stunt feminist and very independent. "Sis, Why did you tell him that you will be patient? you should have granted the divorce and become free."  Abigail clucked and sighed loudly. "I am people's mentor and role model. A lot of young women in the church look up to me. I have to live a life worth emulating. what will people say if I get divorce and still stand on the church podium to preach marriage and love?" I asked looking at her like I demanded a pity. "This is what you women always say. last week in Ibadan, a lady called Modupe was brutally beaten by her husband, she died." Her voice got a bit emotional as she continued. "she didn't tell anyone of what she was going through. She thought things were going to change. she thought that one day Jesus was gonna come down and rescue her, or st...

The cool air felt heavy against my bare arms, as if they were holding onto raindrops that were reluctant to fall. It was a cold Sunday evening, I sat comfortably under the comfort of my children's duvet, while I watched them sleep. Then I heard familiar voices in the sitting room. David and Ifeoma were back from church. "Don't worry, she won't do anything to you. Take off your jacket, let's go inside." David Instructed, serious faced as they entered the sitting room. Ifeoma sat quietly on the couch. Her heart skipped a bit when she saw me appear in the sitting room, immediately she sensed my watchful eyes, she became bold and confident. "You should let me be please madam Ekom. it is not my fault that pastor wants me." she said in a shaky tone. "Get prepared for where God will be taking you to Ifeoma. Very soon, you will be so ashamed of yourself, God has revealed to me how such a day will be." "And I hope he also...

He sneaked into the children's bedroom while I was about to pray. The imagery of how he sneaked into Ifeoma's room was now clear, but it didn't hurt me anymore. "Baby.....Please can I see you?" He said as his voice trailed off. I stood up gently and followed him to the sitting room. I found myself holding my breath, I folded my hands in my lap and waited. "i have missed you, despite all of these. I am sorry for the way mom talked to you, she is only acting of concern for me. I am her only child." "So you are going to marry Ifeoma after she puts to birth?" I asked in a low tone. There were sadness in my eyes. He pulled me close and began to kiss me softly. "I feel like we are doing this for the very first time." I admitted softly. My voice a broken whisper as I gave him my whole body. Now my limbs entwined with his, it was a joy unparalleled to have the freedom to slide my hands down that strong, lean back wi...