My life was a mess, tears weren't enough right now. It felt like my whole existence was about to end just by that news. I sat down on the floor in the room crying profusely, as I had never before, thankfully, the room was empty. Fikayo was yet to get back. And the other girls were in school. I felt the need to pray, but I couldn't see myself doing that. It felt too hard talking to God, and all I  felt was a deep dark tunnel of pain right in my heart, making it difficult for me to open her mouth to talk to the one I once referred to as Abba.  I had gone too far away and off the track. Guilt enveloped me, I didn't try at all, my prayer life was dead. I  was so engrossed in school life and the race to forget about my parents that I lost it. How could I have forgotten my best friend? The Holy Spirit.

All the time, I always felt the nudge to pray but ignored it. After a while, I  had stopped hearing. Church? I giggled. I had been distant, I  would rather spend my Sundays hanging out with Ephraim than go to church. Thinking about it, no one was at fault but myself. My friends had shown me pure love and friendship but I had gotten so lost in that instead of finding ways to balance.

I needed help. My parents weren't possibly divorcing, that would end me. All the people that held me in high esteem would probably think I am a hypocrite like my parents. They would watch me with contempt In their eyes that would make me want to die. Dad would lose his job when the church finds out all that he did. Then how would we survive?

"No!!!", I screamed. Tears gushing freely from my eyes. I banged my hands hard on the floor they were bleeding. Rolled and kicked, as if the pain and reality could go away but it was stuck with me. No, this was reality. This was true, my once beautiful and envious life was going to be too disgraceful to watch.

Could help ever find me?

I thought. I knew what to do but I couldn't find the energy too. I needed to pray a prevailing prayer, fast, cast, and bind.
But was that what I need?

A thought dropped into my troubled heart, it could have gotten lost in there if I wasn't paying extra attention this time. And with all the sorry I could produce I cried to my only true and faithful father.

"I'm sorry!!!", I cried. "I'm sorry Jesus. I'm sorry for betraying your love and running away from you".

And that was all. All it took to get that warm loving feeling once again. God heard me, he sure did. But I still couldn't pray. I couldn't say beyond those words. I would just enjoy that warmth, till I could sleep.

But a call disturbed me and I felt like throwing out the phone. I didn't want to talk to anyone at that time. But I did, when I heard the voice I was longing for.

Pick the call.

I crawled to where my bag was and pulled out my phone, the number on display was a foreign unknown number. I would have dropped the call, if not for the instructions I had received. I took the phone and picked the call.

The voice I heard next was all I needed.

          ~~~

Hadassah was on her way to church when Ephraim's call came in. She smiled at herself as she motioned to take the phone from the table. It was very rare for Ephraim to call her. and whenever she called he always sounded dismissive, not wanting to be a mummy's boy for a moment. Getting a phone call from him was strange and she couldn't wait to know what it was about.

" Hello son", she said.

"Mum", he sounded tired and exhausted.

" Ephraim. What is it?", Hadassah asked, genuinely worried

"Jemima", he said. It was then she remembered that Joseph had sent a message to Ephraim earlier telling him to see her.

" Jemima? What's wrong with her?" She asked

"I don't know. She received a message from home and was crying. I don't know what is wrong",

" Really?" Hadassah said. "It's okay, just continue to check up on her?"

Hadassah cut the call. Dropped the phone and sat on a chair. She rubbed her head and stared at the ceiling. A burden was placed on her heart for the family. Only God knows what was wrong.

"Lord, teach me what to do", Hadassah muttered.

          ~~~

Semiloore and Mo' were playing video games in the sitting room. Mo' was on the winning side and Semiloore wasn't having it. They started a new round and Semiloore was already winning, she was happy and excited that she got a chance to beat Mo'.

Just then her phone rang. Her ringing tone, Your wings by Lauren Daigle was loud in the room.

" Ah. Who is this now! Just when I was about to beat you up!!!!", Semiloore complained.

"Pick you to call aunty!" Mo' said laughing.

Semiloore paused the game and picked her phone from the center table.

"It's my mum oo", Shemmy said.

" Ahahn. Our Mummy", Mo' uttered.

Semiloore picked the call excitedly.

"Mummyyy!!!", she shrieked.

" Baby!!!" Her mum said. "How are you darling?" She asked...

"I'm good mom", Semiloore said.

" I miss you so much, baby. Are you eating at all",

"I miss you more mom. And I'm eating ooo"

"Ehen, so you won't grow thin like a broom", the mum laughed at the other end.

" Ah, Mummy!"

"How about you come to spend the weekend at home?" Her mum suggested.

"Yes, mum... I love that!" Semiloore loved the idea a whole lot. She was stressed from school work and really needed her mum's food. And she had to admit, she missed her mum more than she showed.

"Amazing!!!", her mom exclaimed. Obviously excited!

" Mom can I come with my friends we all need a time out of school!", Semiloore asked.

"Yes! I would love a full house after all these time. Besides I have someone I want you to meet!", Semiloore's mom said.

" Okay. See you on weekend then!"