life above all episode 42&43

LIFE, ABOVE ALL

Episode 42

CELINE

Light was streaming in around the edges of the dark curtains i slowly opened my eyes and looked around at my surroundings, trying to make sense of where i was, confusion raked through me when i realized i was lying in my bed.
I grabbed my phone to look at the time and it was 6: 30 confusion raked over me as I tried to recall the events of the previous day with much difficulty. The last thing I remembered was preparing food for Ganizani and Thoko. I remembered getting angry and barging into mum’s room.
And then I remembered the strange old man holding mum’s forearms. How on earth did I lose track of time? It was 13 in the afternoon when all this transpired, how come it’s 6: 30 in the morning?
Have I been sleeping for more than 24 hours? Who brought me to bed? How did I sleep? For a minute I wondered if that had really happened but I could tell that it wasn’t a dream it seemed so real.
A million thoughts were circling my mind as I sat there.
‘There’s got to be a logical explanation to all this,’ I thought.
Soon the door creaked open and mum walked in, she held a tray in her hands with food in it. I gave her a questioning look there was something about her that kind of made me uncomfortable.
‘Morning darling,’ she placed the tray on the small stool next to my bed.
I didn’t respond.
“Are you alright?’ she asked as she sat on my bed
I began to speak but found my voice resistant to the effort and cleared my throat, pausing a moment to catch my confused bearings before I tried again.
‘Celine is anything the matter?’ she asked concern filling her voice.
‘What happened to your husband?’ I asked
Mum clasped her hands together a bit tighter, ‘He fell sick at work a few months ago,’ she said
‘Why haven’t you taken him to the hospital? Why are you keeping him in your room? What exactly is wrong with him?’ I asked
‘He was taken to the hospital and they ran some tests but we were told he is perfectly healthy.’
I laughed, ‘Does he look healthy to you? That man could be dead? Why haven’t you taken him for prayers?’
She shot me a deadly stare when I mentioned prayer.
‘I am just concerned,’ I shrugged
‘He is my husband and not yours,’ she said
I cleared my throat, ‘The old man in your room, you on the floor naked. Does that ring a bell?’
‘What old man? What are you talking about?’
‘Maybe I was just dreaming,’ I said, I didn’t want to argue with her over this.
‘I am sure.’
‘I took a deep breath, ‘You are a wicked woman mummy,’ I said
Her eyes widened, ‘I am wicked? How? Why? Where is this coming from?’ she stood up
‘Ganizani and Thoko need to start going to school again, you need to stop treating them like dogs in their father’s house. And Tiya has been missing for a long time now, have you been making follow ups on her case?’
Mum closed her eyes lightly turning her head completely the other direction, I could see she was fuming with anger. A moment later she turned and looked at me. She took a deep and held it for a moment before she let it out.
‘Thank God you are my only child otherwise I would have killed you this very moment,’ she said in a deep voice I couldn’t recognize. Suddenly I felt a cold chill of fear sweep through me.
In my mind i began to panic, there was definitely something wrong with my mother.
‘I brought you breakfast darling, thought I could spoil you,’ she said with a smile playing on her lips.
‘Thanks,’ I said almost immediately.
‘I will be going to the hospital to see my mother in law, when I get back we can go out and do some shopping,’ she said
‘Okay.’
‘I love you,’ she leaned in and kissed my forehead.
I didn’t respond. I just felt this nagging at the pit of my stomach.
‘No I love you too mummy?’ she enquired
‘I love you,’ I said
She smiled, ‘See you later.’
‘Sure.’
She walked out of the door, as soon as the door was closed, I sighed feeling the anxiety of everything relentlessly tugging at my thoughts. Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet tapped the cold tiled floor sending a chill shudder through me.
Standing, I headed for the bathroom, I undressed and took a shower. After an exhilarating hot shower, I felt more awake and alive. I exited the bathroom and went back to my room.
Thirty minutes later, I was fully dressed, grabbing my purse I walked out of my room and walked straight to Ganizani’s room, I knocked and he asked me in instantly.
He was sitting on the bed with Tiya teaching her how to read I stood there for a minute and just envied their relationship, they have been through tough times but what amazes me is how they always have each other’s back.
‘Hey!’ I said
‘Tsup.’
‘Can we talk?’ I asked
‘Sure.’
We left Tiya in his room and walked out.
‘Would you mind telling me about what happened to your father?’ I asked
He cleared his throat, ‘My father’s illness is still a mystery,’ he began, ‘He fell ill at work, they took him to the hospital where the doctors ran some tests but couldn’t find anything wrong so they brought him back.’
‘That is really sad.’
‘Yes it is, I don’t even know why your mother keeps locking him up in her room, I wish she could take him to another hospital and seek their opinion or even to a man of God,’ he said.
‘I don’t think his case needs a doctor, that case must be spiritual,’ I responded.
‘You think so?’
‘Yes and I think I know who can help us.’
Unlike my mother, my father’s girlfriend is a deep woman of God, she is has been mentoring me spiritually the past few weeks, I even gave my life to Christ and I have been attending her church.
‘You do?’
‘Yes.’
Unlocking my phone, I dialed her number and she picked on the first ring.
‘Hey sweetheart,’ she answered happily
‘Hey there, how is the vacation going?’
‘Fine, how are you? How is your mum?’
‘She is okay, how is dad?’
‘He is fine.’
‘I have a little situation here.’
‘Shoot.’
‘My mother’s husband has been very ill for the past few months, he can’t talk neither can he walk,’ I said narrating his ordeal.
‘Oh that’s sad.’
‘Yes, a lot of strange things have been going on here, I just feel this whole place needs prayers.’
‘I will call Pastor Denise, she will be able to assist you,’ she said
‘I will really appreciate.’
‘I will give her a call just now then I will also send her your line so she can call you, I think she can come over if she is free so she can pray with you.’
‘Thank you very much.’
‘You are welcome baby.’
‘Say hi to dad and pinch him for me.’
‘I will.’
‘Later,’ I ended the call.
‘Let’s keep our fingers crossed, someone might come and help us.’
‘Will your mother agree?’
‘Will see what I can do.’
*******

Episode 43

TIYA

I awoke to a tiny ball of glowing white light hovering in front of me. I was afraid but I couldn’t take my eyes off it, all of a sudden it started getting bigger and bigger until I was totally engulfed by the light.
A moment later, I saw my mother step through the wall into the room. She was wearing a white dress and her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, she looked so radiant and young.
I froze for an instant unable to believe what I was seeing.
I closed my eyes for a moment then I opened them quickly and blinked rapidly. She was still standing there though she now had tears seeping down her cheeks.
‘Mother,’ I said softly, to my surprise my voice was audible enough.
‘When life gets tough and you feel like giving up, look up to your creator, He will be your strength,’ her words started ringing in my ears.
Before mother died, she taught us how to pray and how to read the Bible.
‘Life is not for the fainted hearted Tiyamike, some days will be tough so tough that you question the reason for your existence,’ she told me one time when she was sick.
‘But I want you to remember something,’ she had continued.
‘When life gets tough and you feel like giving up, look up to your creator, he will be your strength, God can never leave nor forsake you, when you call him, he will definitely come to you.’
These were the last words my mother said to me before she died.
‘You need to pray,’ she said
‘How?’
‘I taught you how to pray, pray Tiyamike pray,’ she said softly
‘Mother can I at least touch you even for a second?’ I asked
She shook her head but that didn’t stop me,
I extended my hand towards her so I could touch her but instead of grabbing her, my hand simply floated through her. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t reach her even though she was right in front of me.
‘Please,’ I pleaded as I tried to touch her again but this time she moved back further until she was pressed against the wall.
‘Pray,’ she said again before she started to disappear before my eyes.
‘Mother!’ I shouted but my voice was no more than a whisper.
Finally she was gone.
“Lord Jesus I need you right now, I now you are able and I know you can please save me,’ I said
I don’t know what happened next but I somehow felt some warm energy spread through my body and the pot on my head broke spilling all its contents.
Then I managed to stand up.
Getting down on my knees I began to pray like never before, I wanted to be delivered from the chains of darkness, I wanted to leave this place.
****

CELINE

‘Are you really sure about this?’ Ganizani asked
‘100 percent sure,’ I responded turning the key into the lock of mum’s bedroom. I had called Pastor Denise and told her about the problem at hand, she was on her way to the house.
‘What if your mother comes back? Won’t she be mad about this?’ he asked
‘I know my mother will be mad if she finds us but I have a feeling she won’t be coming back home soon, she went to see your grandmother at the hospital.’
The door finally opened, ‘We got the right key,’ I said excitedly.
‘I can see that,’ he said
We entered the bedroom and looked around, it was dark inside and all the shutters were closed.
“This room looks spooked,’ he said
‘I know,’ I responded turning on the light.
‘I wonder what your mother has been up to,’ he said glancing around.
‘I find it strange that your father is in this state and mum locks him up each time she goes out.’
There was a knock at the door several minutes later, we both left the room and went to see who it was. Pastor Denise and some of her church members were standing on the door step.
I opened the door wider and asked them in.
‘You are welcome woman of God,’ I said
She glanced around the living room in a strange way then she closed her eyes drew in a sharp breath and let it out slowly.
‘This house had a dark aura around it,’ she said in a loud voice
‘What do you mean?’ I asked
‘Where is your mother?’
‘She has gone out.’
‘Take me to the sick man,’ she said
I led them to my mother’s bedroom and the minute they walked into the room they all began to pray in loud voices. Ganizani and I joined in the prayers.
As we prayed, I started feeling rather queasy and i fell down with a thud. The room seemed to be spinning violently around me, I couldn’t focus on anything I felt very sick.
The spinning grew faster and faster and most of the church members were thrown onto the ground, Ganizani inclusive but Pastor Denise remained standing, she was walking from corner to corner praying in tongues with tears rolling down her face, I could hardly understand what was going on with her.
I clutched onto the ground desperately trying to find a way out or something that would stop the spinning.
‘Consume every evil and wickedness in this room with your fire dear lord,’ was the last thing I heard before the room became dark.
****

STELLA

I parked my car in one of the free outpatient parking spot next to the doctor’s office building, grabbing my bag I walked through the main entrance & went straight up to my mother in law’s room.
She was lying on the hospital bed with an oxygen tube inserted around her nose. She looked so weak and pale, there were dark circles around her eyes plus her skin had become dark and dull.
There was no one else in the hospital room, I walked closer to her and touched her arm she opened her eyes slowly. She had a frightened look on her face.
‘Hello mother,’ I smiled
‘What do you want?’ she struggled to get the words out of her mouth. I could see she was in so much pain.
‘Aren’t you happy to see me?’ I asked feigning sadness.
‘Leave,’ she said
The door swung open at the very moment and Tina walked in.
‘Asisi,’ she smiled at me.
‘Hello sister.’
‘I didn’t think you were coming,’ she said
‘I wanted to surprise you.’
‘How thoughtful of you, how are the children?’
‘So so my sister, they are worried about their father and Tiya.’
‘Poor children.’
‘It shall be well.’
‘My brother is lucky to have you oh, some women would have left you are a strong woman.’
‘I love your brother,’ I said
‘I know.’
My mother in law clicked her tongue, I almost burst out laughing, even in her condition the evil woman just can’t humble herself she surely deserves to die.
‘I was just telling mum that I would like to pray for her,’ I said
I had applied the lotion on my hands and if I touched her stomach just once she would be dead in an hour or so.
‘That is fine with me,’ Tina responded
I placed my bag on the table and was about to touch her when I felt flames dancing on my skin, the flames sort of quickly spread through my body, my eyesight wavered and danced, I shook uncontrollably.
‘Are you okay?’ Tina asked, her hand touched my shoulder.
‘You are burning up do you have a fever?’ she asked
I quickly grabbed my bag, ‘I have to leave.’
‘Stella?
‘Later,’ I hurried out of the room like a mad woman. I got into my car and slammed the door shut.
‘You need to hurry home and clean the mess,’ he spoke
‘Aw!’ I screamed, I had not expected to find the wise one in my car. ‘You startled me,’ I said
His eyes blazed with fury, ‘You must go back home and sort that mess out,’ he said again.
‘Okay.’
He blew some air on me and I felt much better, I started the car and drove of the hospital.
***

To be continued