Mercy was discharged a week later. Aunt Aisha came by to pick them up and drop them off at home. She also brought with her a week's worth of groceries for the sisters and helped them settle down at home.

'I don't think I need any more proof that Jesus is looking out for us! You went above and beyond Auntie, above and beyond! 'Maya expressed her gratitude as she walked her to the car.

'After all you've done for me Maya? For our family?This is nothing.My husband and I look forward to your return at the restaurant.It's not the same without you.Maybe,your sister could come work with us if they don't take her back at her old place'

'Maybe.I hope they do. Please pass my regards to everyone.I promise I will make a local vegetable dish for you when I come back.'She smiled as Aunt Aisha started the engine.

'I wish I could pray like you Maya.'She said somberly.'Do not stop praying for your sister.'

'Thank you Auntie.I won't.'She watched her as she drove away and then went back in to prepare a meal for herself and her sister. Twenty minutes later, she came out of the kitchen with two plates of rice and beef. She handed one plate to Mercy and she denied.

'What's the matter now?'

'I can't eat that.'

'Why not?'

'Why should I eat the sweat of my fellow countrymen who slave off that woman and people like her?'

'Mercy! I have had enough of your behaviour! I have stood by your side through thick and thin and what do I get in return for that?Nothing!I have a life to live too,okay!'

'I never asked you to do anything for me Maya!Please take your goody-two shoes out of my sight!'

'Excuse me?'

'You heard me Maya!'

Maya walked out through the front door and slammed the door behind her.She was seated on the steps when Timothy drove through and she got up to welcome him.

'Good evening,so nice of you to come,'she said as she carried the box of pizza that was in his hands.

'No,I should have come earlier,as soon as she got discharged.'

'You're a busy person...and besides you've done too much already.'

She led him up the steps into the house where Mercy was lying on the couch

'Forgive me,this room is dirty.I haven't had a chance to clean up.'

'No worries.You're doing a great job already.'He smiled at her and then turned to face Mercy and smiled at her too. 'How are you feeling?'

'Much better,thank you.I'm sorry this happened at the most inconvenient time for you.I understand completely if you don't need me anymo...'

'No,not at all.I will admit,it has been busy,but the pressure is coming to an end.Cathy,the HR Officer told me to tell you to report to work next week Monday.'

'I will be there Sir.'

'Call me Timothy.'He smiled and turned to Maya.'I have to be on my way now'

'Are you not going to stay for dinner?'

'Next time,'he smiled and he got up.'See you soon Mercy.'

'See you soon,'she responded.

Timothy and Maya walked out to the cool early evening breeze outside.

'Is everything okay between you two?' Timothy asked.

'No...and it seems to be getting worse. I feel like I'm losing her.'

'Maybe you just need to take a step back and let her process things by herself.'

'What if she makes another wrong decision?'

'What if you trust that God makes all things work together for our good? In the darkest of valleys, on the rooftops of celebration?'

Maya smiled at him. 'Thank you for all your support and encouragement. I will start repaying you for the hospital bills you squared this month end.'

'You don't have to.'

'I want to.'

'Good night Maya,' he bowed, got into his car and drove off. Ten minutes into his drive, he got a call from his longtime friend Jack.

'Hey man, where are you?'

'I'm heading home, what's up?'

'Can we meet up, at the usual place?'

Fifteen minutes later, Timothy and Jack were sharing a Coke at their favorite hangout place called Fusion.

'So, you got this girl's name off a list of shortlisted candidates for your marketing team?'

'Yes, the HR Officer was delaying the recruitment process and....'

'Or so you think?' Jack asked sarcastically

'I'm telling you. This team was supposed to be hired six months ago.'

'Are you still keeping her, regardless of the incident?'

'Yes. She's a fast learner, and very good at her work.'

'How did you get to know her sister?'

'She came to cover for Aunt Wendy, the caterer...you know, and it's really interesting how the two of them just showed up in one day.'

'Showed up in your life too!' Jack chuckled and winked.

'No man, my heart is for Harriet.'

One of the waiters brought a plate of grilled pork chops to their table and left.

'Harriet huh?' Jack poked one of the pork chops with a toothpick and put it in his mouth

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'I don't know man. You've been gone for ten years! Have you any idea what she's been up to?'

'She told me what I needed to know.'

'And you trust her? Tim, look. If there is one thing I respect you for, it's your loyalty. Your ability to commit is crazy. And I'm glad you chose that life, some of us fall short on many levels...and I'm sorry I have to say this, but Harriet is a mess.'

'She's changing.'

'Ha! For who, for you...or herself? Tim, you deserve better.'

'And what about her? I was the one who introduced her to a lot of things I regret now.'

'If I could paraphrase one of the many things you tell me, regarding God and Jesus...when the son sets you free, you're free indeed. It seems to me that you're trying to pay for sins the Lord already forgave you for.'

Maya made her way to church on Sunday morning, dressed in a crisp white blouse, black pencil skirt and black pumps. She arrived an hour early before service, for choir practice. She found Sellina in one corner of the room chatting up a new guy in the choir and she rolled her eyes.

'Nothing good, nothing good,' she mumbled to herself. Sellina saw her walk in and she winked at her. Maya faked a smile and waved at her. She went to the front where the other choir members were gathering. Maya prayed deep down that no one would ask about her sister's situation.

'Good morning everyone.This is another day that the Lord has made. It is good to see you all.Sellina and Matt,would you please join us,we are about to begin.' Pastor Brian, the Youth Pastor spoke. He was twenty eight years old; three years older than Maya and single. He was two months old in their congregation and almost every single girl was subtly throwingherself at him. He looked into each team member's eyes as he addressed them and when his eyes fell on Maya, he smiled.She smiled back,hoping no one saw her blush. She liked him too, but kept her distance. She prayed he liked her back. Not only was he a man of God, spirit filled and led, but he also encouraged the flock to pursue education. She hoped she could get a certificate in time, to be in his league.

Timothy made his way to Harriet's town house in Area Nine. She had finally agreed to go to church with him and he was excited. He was glad he could see answered prayers on his doorstep. His work life was finally making sense; Harriet attending church and Maya's sister getting better. His mind stopped to focus on the last day he saw Maya. She had burden written all over. She sounded stronger when he had called the other day to speak to Mercy and later to her. He wondered if the sisters were now in speaking terms. He called Harriet as soon as he arrived at the gate and she told him to walk in.The room Harriet shared with her roommate reeked of booze and burnt cigarettes. He sat down on the couch in the sitting room.

'I'm sorry I'm late baby,' Harriet ran down the steps in her bathrobe. She softly jumped on the couch and kissed him on the cheek.

'Please don't tell me you're going to take a shower now.'

'No,I already have baby.'She grinned at him and cupped his face in her hands.

'Are you sure you're gonna wait till marriage to have all this?'

Timothy gently pushed her back and got up from the couch.

'Harriet!What the heck do you think you're doing?'

'I'm,I'm sorry...I was only joking.'

'Please,just go get dressed.I'll be outside.'He turned and walked out the door.

They got to church an hour later,and twenty five minutes into the service. Maya was leading the final song and her eyes sparkled the moment she saw Timothy walk in.

'What is he doing here?' She thought to herself. He flashed a smile at her and she nodded back. Her eyes then fell on the girl who accompanied him. Her face looked familiar but she had never seen her at church.

'She's beautiful isn't she...you certainly can't compete' A voice in her head surfaced.

'Father,forgive me!'She shook the voice out of her head.'I'm supposed to be in worship right now.'

The song went on for six more minutes before the Senior Pastor,Pastor Dumi, closed the worship time in prayer.

'Good morning Church! It's good to have you back today. It's good to have new faces as well. Please feel free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!'

'Amen!'The congregation chanted.

'This world we live in is a battlefield. Church is a haven. Church is our place of retreat. A place to get refreshed. A place to bandage our wounds. A place to refill ourselves. And then we go back into the world,TO FIGHT!Church is a place for the wounded;a place for the broken;a place of healing;restoration.A refill station.Along the way,to HEAVEN!'

'Amen!'

'I charge you brethren, to not get too comfortable.To not come here and refill,and stack up extra for yourselves, when there are others out there dying for the same bread;the same water; Living Water!

I charge you to go out there and seek those in need of the Living Water,Jesus!'

'Amen!'

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.This is Hebrews twelve verse one, the word of God. And so I ask today, what is blocking you?'

Pastor Dumi stepped down the aisle and slowly paced through the pews,facing the congregants as he spoke.

'And so I ask today,what sin is stopping you,from running the race before you?What is stopping you?What is stopping me?From going out there into the world? Is there anything that takes you ten steps back every time you want to take two steps forward? How can we map a solution without identifying the problem? I know some of you are wondering how you're going to answer these dozen questions I just bombarded!'

The congregation laughed. Pastor Dumi chuckled and walked back to face the people, from the pulpit.

'Church!This race is serious business.The devil is not pleased. He wants as many in his kingdom as possible. What brings greater confusion in the world? An average man,who knows not God and has been sinning from birth. Or a man, who confessed Christ as Lord but constantly found in sin?What story makes more rounds,the daily drunk man,or the pastor caught in bed with another man's wife?And so today,I come not to threaten you...but, to acknowledge some things that we take for granted in this race. And it is my prayer that you will find Jesus to be your greatest delight; your source of satisfaction, every single day. Let's pray.'

Timothy was five steps away from the church entrance, greeting people he knew as they walked out.

'Pastor Dumi,that was powerful!'He exclaimed as Pastor Dumi shook his hand and Harriet's.

'Thank you Tim. Is this the lady I've been hearing a lot about?' He smiled at Harriet.

'Yes, this is Harriet.Harriet,Pastor Dumi,'

'Nice to meet you Sir.'They shook hands again.

'You should join Patricia and I for lunch at our house one day.'

'We would love to Pastor.'

Pastor Dumi smiled,bowed and walked away.

'It's a good thing I came, 'Harriet mumbled as she tried to smile and wave at the people who were waving at them.

'Oh really?Why is that?'Timothy smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

'The way these girls be looking at you?It's a good thing I marked my territory.'

Maya walked up to them before Timothy could reply.

'Hello. It's good to see you.Are you visiting?'She shook his hand and then Harriet's.

'It's good to see you too.And no,I've been coming here for about seven months now.'

'Are you for real?This is bad,how come I never saw you?'

'Well,we never knew each other then.Meet my girlfriend,Harriet.Harriet,this is Maya,I work with her sister.'

'Nice to meet you,' said Maya.

'Likewise.Tim dear,could we please start off?These shoes are killing me!'She placed her arm around his waist

'Alright,sorry.Hope to see you again soon. My regards to your sister.'

'Regards acknowledged. 'She smiled and watched them as they walked to the car.

'You smelt that expensive perfume?Did you see her watch?'The voice came to her again.

She felt irritated in her own skin. Why would she care about Tim's girlfriend?It's not like she...

'Afternoon Maya, 'her thoughts were interrupted by Pastor Brian.

'Afternoon Pastor, 'she smiled.

'The song you led back there was beautiful.You have an amazing voice.'

She smiled at a loss for words. Pastor Brian was talking to her!

'So, tell me, how is the school search going?'

'I sent out my applications. I'm just waiting to receive a call anytime soon.'

'That's good. I encourage you to keep on.Influence and papers go hand in hand. How are you going to influence the corporate world with the gospel when you have nothing to show? I like people who are visionaries, people like you.'

Maya could feel herself blush.

'Are you waiting for your boyfriend?'

'Me, boyfriend?No,I don't have one.'

'Oh,okay.Well,have a good week.I'll be praying for you.'