Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for  you.  —1 Peter 5:7

Cast your cares on the Lord," Tobii's words played in Fola's head.

Could she do it? She asked herself.

Several years had passed since she last talked to God. Once upon a time, praying was as easy as talking to her best friend but not anymore. The day Kit died was the beginning of her crumbling relationship with God. And the day she married Chief Naade was the end of her relationship with God.

After all, why should she talk to someone who refused to listen to her?

Why should she have a relationship with someone who abandoned her and left her helpless?

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you. The words rang in her head.

She forced her eyes closed as the words became a chant in her head.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you.

FINE! She screamed in her mind and her eyes flew open. She shot up with a racing heart. Regardless of the functioning Air conditioner, beads of sweat rolled down her face.

Her eyes darted around as she slowly came back to the present. It was late afternoon, a few hours after she met with the children. She was seated in the recliner inside her study where her thoughts had taken her to a different world.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you.

There is no harm in trying, said a small voice.

I can't bear another disappointment, she replied and her heart filled with sorrow.

As they say, the third time's a charm but that didn't apply in her situation. At least not anymore. Her third chance had passed.

She was too young to understand the demise of her father but she felt his absence. And one night a year after his death she had cried out to God to bring back her father but her prayers remained unanswered. She consoled herself with the belief that it won't happen again.

However, four years later, she watched her mother slip away, she watched her mother being snatched away by a sickness called sickle cell anemia. A disease that had plagued her since she was a child.

Sickle cell disease was a genetic disease that affected the red blood cells. All through her mother's years on earth she was on various pain meds. The sickness caused her to get exhausted easily and she suffered from seizures occasionally.

However, everything was under control until after her father's death.

Two years after her father's death, her mother's health slowly declined. Her seizures became more frequent and her strength slowly dwindled and one fateful day she suffered a stroke which incapacitated her body and finally claimed her life.

It was a punch to Fola's guts to watch her mother lose a battle against sickness and death. During those times, she pleaded with God to heal her mother but it was like God was deaf to her prayers.

That was when a crack erupted in her relationship with God.

At almost 17 years old, Fola's heart was covered in bruises caused by heartbreak and disappointment. But fate seemed to have one more blow to make.

One night a few years after her mother's date, a rainstorm ravaged the earth, destroying anything on its path.

Years later, Fola could still feel the chill in the air that night. A chill seeped into the body and bones of the youngest member of the family, Kit. Their threadbare blankets couldn't protect him from the chill in the atmosphere. That truth made Fola's heart bleed.

She couldn't help but wonder what could have been if they had better living conditions.

Every time she watched Kit writhe in pain and gasp for breath, she pleaded with God to do a miracle. But yet again her pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.

That was the third time she besieged God for something. However the third time didn't work its charm and all she was left with was unanswered prayers, disappointment, and heartache.

The salty taste on her lips and the burning sensation in her eyes broke her reverie and forced her back to the present. She blinked away the tears blurring her vision and licked her lips. Her face morphed into a grimace as she tried to move her legs which had gone numb. She sat up straight and her eyes fell to her lap.

Her eyes connected to the calendar spread in front of her. All the other dates disappeared as her eyes narrowed on one particular day.

Tomorrow.

That single word caused a tremor to shoot through her. A feeling she got on days that had significance in the life of her and her siblings.

Tomorrow happened to be one of those days.

The last time she had seen her siblings was on a day of mourning but tomorrow their meeting would be one of celebration.

You are not allowed to leave this house until further notice! Chief Naade's angry words from a week ago flooded her mind.

Her stomach squeezed and her breath caught. How would she meet her siblings tomorrow when Chief Naade had grounded her?

The thought floated in her head, causing her distress. Panic surged through her and her heart lurched.

You can convince him."

Fola wanted to scoff at her thoughts. Chief Naade's words were decrees with no room for objection.

A frown marred her face and her lips pulled into a thin line. Defeat tempted to fill her.

You can't give up. You have to be there for them," said the same voice with a sternness that wasn't there before.

But how? Being with her siblings tomorrow was important. After all, it's not every day Marilyn and Jordan would be graduating from high school.

As their guardian, she had to be there. As their sister, she was supposed to be there. However, she couldn't go against Chief Naade's orders either.

She threw her head back and groaned as frustration welled within her. Why did life have to throw her into tight spots?

Tears of frustration and confusion gathered in her eyes and she clutched the calendar as her mind raced with thoughts of what to do.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you.

Fola stilled as those words flitted into her head.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you.

Should I? She asked herself. A part of her said yes but another part was clouded with doubts.

Cast your cares on God and He'll sustain you. The words played in her head.

There is no harm in trying," said the voice.

I am sure you would rather bear another disappointment than let your siblings down. Right?

Right. Fola didn't have to contemplate before answering. She would never be able to forgive herself if she disappoints her siblings.

Whatever wants to happen to her should happen; she will endure everything. But she had promised herself on the day her mother died that she would always be there for her younger ones no matter what.

Regardless of her doubts, her mind was made up. She had to be with her siblings tomorrow and she will be there. Even if Chief Naade's security official puts a bullet through her.

She was ready to do anything to be there with her siblings when they collected their high school certificates.

The third time may not have worked its charm but she was ready to risk it with the fourth time.

So she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her chest constricted as she did what she hadn't done in years.

She prayed.

                      ★★★★

Aww, my beloved Fola 😢

Press the little star in the corner to bolster her⭐

What are your thoughts on the steps she finally took?

And do you think things will be different this time around?

I look forward to your thoughts and opinions. So don't hold back.

Until next time, have a nice time ❤️