The Candle In The Wind – episode 3

The Candle In The Wind

Episode 3

It was raining so profusely…

As the wipers of my car wiped the heavenly tears of rain off my car, I switched on the heater of my car and hummed ‘Amazing Grace’ so happily as my already cold-infested body came back to life gradually.

Though the road through the wilderness that I was driving through was rough, I kept on driving confidently.

I didn’t even know where I was going to…

Just then, I saw some images afar off and I slowed down to get a closer view.

When I couldn’t get a proper view, I drove closer and peeped through the window.

Who am I seeing?

Jesus Christ!

Mrs. Idile, my pastor’s wife was seated on a gossip chair on the road fully drenched in rain. She was shaking so vehemently as her teeth gnashed against themselves.

I drove closer to her side but as I opened the door , the breeze from the windy rain was too much that I had to close it back hurriedly.

How do I approach her?

Why was she in the rain being beaten that way?

Where is her car?

What about her caring husband?

Taking another look at her, I knew that I had to do something if I didn’t want to lose her.

A puddle of water was already forming round her and if care wasn’t taken, she would be swept away completely.

I looked behind me, pulled my rain coat from the back seat and put it on. I turned the ignition key and opened the door. Cold breeze rushed in,side but I had to do this.

As I jammed the car door, Mrs. Idile looked up at me. She was shivering severely. I noticed that her tummy was protruding and I was shocked.

Mummy Idile is pregnant?…i never knew!

Then, she smiled…

Oh that affectionate smile capable of calming a raging storm no matter how big in one’s heart!

But that smile…just like the one I saw on Sunday…her l-ips were blue!

I ran towards her.

“Mummy!” I scre-med, very scared. I held her hand and they were like ice.

“Sister Precious” she called out in a husky voice, still smiling.

“Mummy, what is happening to you?Exactly what?” I asked, really concerned

“It is well my sister” she said, stretching her very wrinkled hands to pat my back.

I withdrew from her touch

When did her hands become this wrinkled?

Jesus is Lord!

“Mummy, where is daddy? Why are you alone?” I asked again, a weird s-nsation running down my spine.

She smiled as tears rushed down her eyes.

Though it was raining, I still could distinguish her teary face as her face had gone red. She pointed at her left side and I looked beside her.

Just beside her!…my pastor!

He was in a very small glassy shed that looking comfortable, mere looking at it.

He was helping some men and women to get into the same shed. He was smiling, hugging and praying for them and they were all happy together.

“What! Mummy, go in,side” I shouted out of frustration. She smiled and shook her head in the negative. She pointed to the shed and I went closer to it. The inscription on the shed almost made me mad!

FULL!

What is full when I could still see empty seats in,side.

“Daddy!” I called out, very sharply. I was enraged. The pastor looked at me, very happily and opened the glassy door for me.

“Come in my sister” he said but I shook my head.

“I brought my car sir. But mummy is outside. Can’t she come in,side?” I asked and he peeped outside

“Which mummy?” he asked and I shook my head, greatly disappointed

“Your wife sir” he said and he smiled.

“Mummy would be fine. We have to tend to the sheep first. If you notice, no family member is in here. That was why I sent all the children abroad so that mummy can have time for herself. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work” he said and closed the door with a great thud.

I was shaken!

I looked behind me to look at her side and I was shocked- she had fallen to her back!

Lord have mercy!

I ran closer to where she was and lifeless as she looked, I saw blood streaming down her legs- she was bleeding!

“Jesus, have mercy!” I scre-med loudly.

I was so confused as to what to do. I didn’t have any knowledge of medicine, and I couldn’t even think straight.

“What to do Lord? What to do?” I cried as the rain fell h-rder.

I heard the sound of an approaching car and looked back.

It was my car!

Who was driving it?

Why are these weird things happening today?

I was holding my car keys few minutes ago. Where is the bunch of keys now?

The car door opened and a guy jumped out- Tony!

I was astounded!

He smiled as he looked at me and immediately wore a frown as he saw Mrs. Idile.

I was shocked as I watched on.

I checked the cloth he was putting on- exactly the same Ankara print as mine. He was looking really good and the rainfall was good on him- he looked cute!

“MMR, leave way” He said as he pushed me aside gently. He smiled and gave me a big umbrella. I unfolded it and it was big enough to cover the three of us.

MMR? What was that?

As he held Mrs. Idile and felt her temperature, I came back to life and concentrated on the dying minister of God.

He felt her pulse with his stethoscope and he looked at me, shaking his head. Tears rolled down his face.

“What?” I scre-med, throwing the umbrella away. I pulled at his shirt and he just shook his head on and on, looking downwards.

“We lost her” he dropped the bomb and I almost ran mad.

“Lost who?” I asked and he nodded again. I scre-med as I held on to her, crying profusely.

“Mummy, I never knew you were dying. I never knew you were in the rain alone. I would have rushed here to pick you up. I really would have” I cried and as Tony pulled me with his right hand, the rain stopped abruptly and the people in the shed started trooping out. They rushed to the corpse and wailed, trying to console the pastor.

“Why console him? He killed her! The pastor killed her!” I scre-med with all my strength as if my life depended on how loud my voice was.

But nobody seemed to hear me…

I looked at Tony who only pulled me up and assisted me into the car. He laid me at the back seat while he entered the driver’s seat. As he turned the ignition key, the heater resumed work, blowing with a very calming alacrity.

I sat up to check the scene I just left and I saw them laying her down into the grave

“Mummy Pastor! She can’t be dead! Mummy Pastor! She can’t be dead oh God!”

I scre-med on…

>>>>>>>It Continues<<<<<<<

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