Overflow Books

UNTAMED
Episode 11 (unedited)

"Mr Daniel Raphael was always joyful despite his medical condition. He was always singing songs that glorifies God and light up everyone that listens to him", Lydia said smiling. "He was always radiating joy that when he told me about Jesus, I had no hard time accepting Him".

Yeah! That sounded like her dad alright, Tamilore thought. He is a very good singer. She wondered how God works. Her own father was the same person that told Lydia about Jesus. Her absentee dad who was not even there for her and her sister during trying times was busy preaching Christ in a hospital. Then it dawned on her. A hospital?

Is he fine now? Like has he left the hospital?
Oh yes, he has. He was discharged years ago. Last I heard, he is no longer in the country. Why did you ask?

"I suspect that this Mr Daniel Raphael is my dad who abandoned me and my sister", Tamilore said. She felt the pain of him leaving all over again. He could have stayed. Instead he left with her younger brother. Maybe he felt a son was better than daughters?

Lydia shakes her head. "No, not this Mr Raphael. He would never abandon his kids. He even has a son, Muyiwa".

"Muyiwa is my younger brother", she stated flatly. She slowly remembers the good old days. Everyone had known her as a daddy's girl. Her daughter especially when he lost his job was very attentive to the emotional needs of his children. It had not mattered that he was not wealthy.

"It has been twelve years, Lydia. Twelve solid years without my father and my baby brother", Tamilore said. And to think her father is no longer in the country.
Lydia was not expecting this. The same Mr Raphael who brought her to Christ is the same man who allegedly abandoned his family. "I am so sorry Tamilore, but I am sure there must be a good reason why he has not visited since he left".

"Oh! He called a couple of times after he left and then later, we just did not see him again", Tamilore said. She started to sniffle holding back tears. The memories were painful. Memories of her hoping he would come for her matriculation ceremony as he promised. Memories of her waiting for her father whenever her mother was in a mood to cheer things up as he always did.
Lydia gave her a hug. "All will be well, Tamilore. Remember that all things, good or bad work together for the good of those that serve the Lord. The failures of those we trust is not the failure of God".

Tamilore cried out. How peculiar cases are? One who was abandoned by her father and emotionally abused by her mother and another experiencing another kind of abuse for a man she trusted and called "uncle".
~~~~
After morning devoution the next morning at Mrs Obatale's. They all greeted themselves with hugs as was their culture. "I want to talk to you guys this morning. Lydia, let us see first", Mrs Obatale told her mentees.

"How are you my dear?" She asked Lydia. " Oh! Sit down".

"I am very good mummy", Lydia answered sitting down opposite her mentor. Mrs Obatale was practically her mother and she felt comfortable around her.

"You have spent over six months with me in this house and I have seen you grow from the woman trying to be consistent in her walk with God. I have seen you submit your heart to God for healing. I have seen you cry and I have seen you smile. I have seen you change from that woman who found it difficult to converse with people to this woman who enjoys good communication with others. I love what God has been doing and I am happy for how far you have come".

The mentee was listening attentively and with a smile. She was really grateful to God and for her mentor.

"Now, Lydia. Do you have any male friends?"
Lydia was shocked. Male friends? Why is her mentor asking her that of all questions. "No, I don't ma", she answered. What on earth will she use a male friend for?

"Why?" Mrs Obatale asked.

Her mentor should know why, the younger woman was thinking. "I don't want to marry".

"Explain yourself, Lydia", she urged.

She swallowed as she reflected on how best she could answer the question. "I don't want to keep male friends. Having one of those gender has a friend puts me in a position of saying"no" to relationships. Already, I have guys I have turned down".

She looked at her mentor's face to see her reaction. They had been over this in her early months of mentorship. Not everyone was uncle Tade, they are good men out there, her mentor had said. She knew that in her heart. She no longer hated men as once did because of her best, but the thought of marriage makes her frown at any guy who looks at her in a funny way.

"I knew that was it, but Lydia. You are entering a new season and I want you to commit your heart to God in prayers. Your heart needs to be open to marriage", her mentor counseled.
"Thank you ma. I will do just that ".

"Please do. Of course I will be praying for you too. Go and rest. You need it after your night's shift. Kindly tell Tamilore to come".

© Deborah Oluwasegun

As Inspired By The Revealer of Secrets

Overflow Books

Episode 8

Untamed 💔

Tamilore ended up calling her mentor that night. Mrs Obatale drove over immediately. Tamilore begged her mother to allow her to stay, but her mother was unmoved.

"You have taken my daughter from me already. She listens to you more than she listens to me. You have taught her to ignore my instructions. Just take her with you. I do not want to see her anywhere around me," Mrs Raphael raved.

"Please ma, it is not like that. I would never counsel your daughter wrongly or teach her to disobey you," her mentor pleaded gently.

"I have respected you enough, Iya Peter. Take this useless child and leave with her," her mother said, her voice shaking with a bitterness that startled even her.

For a moment, the room went still. Tamilore stood frozen, tears slipping down her face. Mrs Obatale tried again, but it was clear nothing would change her mind. After several minutes of pleading without results, she quietly told her goodnight and led Tamilore out.

On the drive home, Mrs Obatale prayed silently. She had never experienced such drama over a mentee. Mentoring Tamilore already promised to be a heavy assignment, and her mother's posture made it even more complicated. No matter how she had tried, Eniola had never liked her after her divorce. Before the divorce, they had been close friends. Birds of the same feather. Similar temperament. The same sharp, uncontrolled tongue.

A memory flashed. Years ago, both of them laughing in her kitchen while making dinner. Eniola sprinkling pepper carelessly, both of them teasing each other. That was before everything changed. Before God broke her and remade her. Before Eniola pulled away without explanation.

Now she was despised by someone she once called friend. Till date, she still did not understand why Eniola resented her so deeply.

God, why did you instruct me to mentor her daughter? Was this a path toward reconciliation? Or was it simply to mould Tamilore, who desperately needed discipline and structure? The latter seemed more likely. The gap between her and Eniola felt too wide to bridge.

She glanced at Tamilore, who had been sobbing quietly earlier. She had fallen asleep, her face still stained with tears.

God, help me to help her.

The first days in Mrs Obatale’s house were heavy. Tamilore remained withdrawn and fragile, but her mentor was patient. There was another lady living there, a fellow mentee named Lydia. Lydia checked on her often, sometimes offering small smiles or a soft hand on her shoulder. Tamilore would nod, grateful even when she had no strength to speak.

This time, unlike her breakup with Joseph, she was not angry at God. She simply needed clarity about the vision she had seen. When she opened up to her mentor, the counsel was simple.

"Go on a retreat, my dear. No one will disturb you. Take time to seek the face of God concerning this matter. As much as you have questions, God also has much to say."

The next morning she began. Three days passed. In the quiet of the guest room set aside for retreats, the atmosphere felt still, almost heavy. Sometimes she prayed on her knees. Sometimes she lay on the floor and wept without words. What God kept ministering to her was not answers, but healing. Deep healing.

She had not realised how much of Joseph still lingered in her heart. Not to mention Emeka. She had been carrying wounded places she never acknowledged. Now, in the quiet, they surfaced one by one.

My joy does not come from a relationship, but from God.

She whispered it until peace settled over her chest like a warm cloth. Slowly, she began to feel like the woman who loved her Lord again. She was healing. God loved her and that was enough.

Today again she waited on God for understanding. She had fasted throughout the day. As she prayed, her body stilled and her surroundings faded. She slipped into a brief trance.

The same revelation appeared. She saw Emeka again, removing dirt from her eyes. But now the image sharpened. The dirt he removed was only a tiny bit compared to the thick, dark smears covering his own eyes. They looked heavy, almost glued in place. He could barely see.

She gasped and jolted out of the trance.

Oh Lord. She had stepped into a marital journey with someone blinded by specks of his own. The hypocrite in the scripture was not her. It was Emeka.

Then something unexpected happened.

Pray for Emeka, she heard in her spirit.

She froze. A cold resistance rose in her mind.

Pray for Emeka? After everything? After the hurt, the confusion, the emotional whirlwind? Pray for him?

Her heart recoiled.

© Deborah Oluwasegun

As Inspired By The Revealer of Secrets

Overflow Books