Esenam also walked away in anger leaving Akwasi by himself in the living-room. Mrs. Fiagbe came through the living-room and saw Akwasi.
“Are you still here? Haven’t you done enough already? Get lost and go and celebrate your greatest achievement. You pretender,” she said and walked into Esenam’s room. Esenam’s eyes were full with unshed tests. Her tears fell in torrents at the sight of her Mom.
“I’m sorry Mom, for being the cause of all this but I simply can’t help it. I don’t want to have anything to do with Akwasi. I don’t love him anymore. I can’t marry him. Can’t he just accept that?” Esenam stated tearfully.
“Calm down, sweetheart, don’t blame yourself for your father insulting me. However, I’ll suggest you stop attending church meetings for some time, at least until things cool off. I’ll try and talk to him but until then, please promise me you won’t set foot in that church.”
“Honestly, Mom, I can’t promise you that. I love associating with those people. It’s like finally finding something you’ve been searching for all your life. I find peace and joy anytime I’m with them. I feel alive. I feel loved. Besides, I have responsibilities in the church and I can’t give them all up now. Please understand that I can’t put my service to God on hold because my father does not like it. I love and respect Dad a lot but this is something I cannot do. We are to put God first in our lives. I’m striving to do that. Please don’t ask that of me. I can’t do it.” Esenam reacted.
“Y ou’re just like your Dad, once you get something into your hearts, nothing and no one changes that. The only difference between you two is that your father is biased most of the time. Just be discreet, okay? Be very careful of your movements. Make sure you are home when he comes back from work. I don’t want to see you suffer. As for Akwasi, I’m behind you all the way. He doesn’t deserve a woman like you. See you at dinner.”
“Ok Mom, I’ll be as discreet as possible.”
Mrs. Fiagbe left her room and went straight to the garden. Esenam dropped on her bed and prayed for divine intervention. That evening she sneaked out of the house after dinner and went to church for youth meeting. She was leading the meeting that day and didn’t want to disappoint them at such short notice. Things worked perfectly that day. No one noticed she had gone out. Esenam sneaked out a couple more times without any hitch.
One Sunday after service Esenam was chatting with Naana, a sister in Christ, when Boat walked up to them. He exchanged pleasantries with them and asked to speak to Esenam alone. Naana, who secretly have a crush on Boat, was reluctant to give them privacy.
“Boat, it’s been a long time since you paid me a visit. All the times I came to your place too, you were not around,” Naana said.
“Oh, is that so? So sorry about that. I’ve been very busy lately. I work mostly into the night, Naana. I’ll make it up to you very soon. That is a promise,” Boat replied. Naana went on about how she missed him and how she thought he had forgotten all about her. Boat reassured her that would never happen. He mentioned that he always saw her as a sister and would never turn his back on her.
Esenam moved away, a bit angry and feeling a little out of place. Boat quickly bade Naana goodbye and hurriedly caught up with her.
“Esenam, can I have a word with you?” he said to get her to stop walking.
“Okay, what do you want to talk about?” Esenam said rather coldly.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re avoiding me?” Boat questioned.
“I’m doing no such thing. That is purely your imagination.” Esenam answered.
“Then, how come I never get to see or walk you home after meetings these days?” Boat pushed for an explanation.
“I leave early, that’s all,” she shot back.
“Is it that you don’t like me walking you home or I have done something to offend you?” Boat still pressed on for answers.
Esenam explained that she left early to enable her get home before the rest of the family. She told him about her Dad finding faults with everything she did and trying his best to make her miserable. She told him her Dad had warned her never to set foot in the church or associate with anybody from the church so she usually left the house when everyone was out on Sundays and tried to be home before they returned.
“That’s very sad. Esenam, but however tough the situation gets, you have to hold on to your faith. Be strong and the God of all comforts will see you through these rough times. Keep your cool and pray incessantly to your heavenly father. I’ll pray for you too. Just trust God in this. I want you know that I’ll be glad to help you in any way I can,” Boat reassured her.
“Thank you, brother Boateng. I have to get going now. I’ll see you some other time.”
“Before you run off, can you promise me one thing?” Boat asked with a smile.
“And what will that be?” Esenam enquired.
“That you’ll call me Yaw or Boat and, you’ll allow me to walk you home after meetings and that you’ll not worry too much.”
“That’s about three things not one?”
“Yea, I know. I can’t help it. I worry about you a lot.”
“I promise anyway,” Esenam said with a smile.
Esenam looked at her watch and realized she was running late. Boat offered to walk her home but she told him it was best she took a taxi. Boat was a little disappointed but understood why Esenam had to rush home. He walked her to the roadside, stopped a taxi for her, made sure she was comfortably seated and paid the driver’s fare. He waited for the driver to take off before heading back into the Church.
Do you think Esenam should have listen to her mum about laying off from church for now? After all the bible says obedience is better than sacrifice
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To be continued…
