Yesterday, I got the shock of my life.
I had just returned from work and Stella came out to meet me in the garage.

She was jumping and yelling though not in panic; more like excitement.

I tried my best to calm her down and find out what the matter was but she refused to tell me, rather she kept insisting that I come quickly with her into the house and I did immediately.

At the door of the kitchen when we were yet entering, I caught a slight glimpse of mom a few feet away standing in the parlor and smiling at us from where we were standing.

At first, I didn't think anything was strange because I was too eager to find out what Stella was so excited about.

From the kitchen, we entered the parlor and only then did my eyes widen.
I realized I hadn't played attention when I saw mom from the kitchen a few seconds ago.

She was standing..... without the wheelchair......on her own two legs and smiling at us.
So that's what Stella was so excited, I thought.

I blinked several times wondering if what I was seeing was real until a large spring-like feeling slowly but surely began to bubble up inside as I stood there and then I began to laugh.

I couldn't stop; the laughter just kept flowing and I dropped my bag and walked over to her.
I hugged her tightly and even as I laughed, tears rolled down from my eyes; tears of joy and I hugged her tighter.

Just then, Stella began to tell me all that happened.

About a few minutes before I arrived, she was helping mom exercise her legs like they had been consistently doing since the last visit to the doctor.

Suddenly, she said that mom asked if she could hold the crutches and support herself.
She reluctantly agreed but after a few steps, mom dropped one of the crutches and immediately, she rushed to help but mom told her to stay put.
Mom then carefully dropped the other crutch and to Stella's surprise, began to walk unaided.

It was then she said, I arrived and so she ran out screaming to meet me.

Mom on the other hand, as Stella recounted the story was smiling all through.
Mom then explained further that she had felt a strong power rush through her legs earlier and because she didn't know how to explain it to Stella, she said she asked instead to support herself on the crutches.

In actual sense, she didn't need the crutches because she said she already knew she could walk.
It was just a way to escape explaining her feelings to Stella because she herself was in shock.
There was a voice in her spirit that said, 'it's time to walk' and so she did.

When I heard that, I began to pray in other tongues with joy and they both joined in.
It was truly a communion of the saints that night as we thanked God in tongues of angels.

When we were through, we all prepared dinner together and ate as a family.
It was another one of the best nights of my life, the night Brian first took me out being the first.

When I went up to my room that night, I called Tomi immediately and told her the news.
She was so overjoyed; you'd think she was the one who got healed.
It was just like when I told her that Brian and I had gotten back together.
We talked on the phone for over two hours and she kept reminding me of how faithful God had been ever since and it brought back memories.
Memories of how God had never left my side even when I was still my confused mess.

I smile and pick up my straightener breaking away from my thoughts and run it through my hair a few times, evaluating my look in the mirror.

Cecilia was so ecstatic when I told her I'd be coming over to visit today and find out how Sophie's been doing so far that she practically screamed in my ears.
I'd never known she could have such an enthusiastic side to her until we became this close.
That was when I found out that a book can be totally and I mean entirely different from it's cover.
The same thing happened when I told her I'd become born again.

That day, I called her with face time and so I saw her jumping up and down on her bed in excitement.
When I told her about Brian, since he's the one that took me to church the day I got born again, she vowed to meet him and thank him.
So yeah, now I'm preparing to leave for their place right now. Cecilia says I'll be able to meet her husband too since it's Saturday.
As I pull open the door to my room and proceed towards the stairs, I am hit suddenly by a heavenly smell wafting up the staircase and I inhale deeply, smiling to myself.

Mom is back again.

Simpering, I descend the stairs and immediately make my way to the kitchen.

Mom is there with her favorite floral apron tied to her waist bustling round the kitchen just like old times.
I smile, remembering how I didn't know if she was going to live a few months ago when she fainted on this same kitchen floor.
Those were the dark times of my life, but now I've come to see the light and I never want to go back.

Stella is beside her helping out with the cooking and I understand from the large quantity of food being prepared that it's for the dinner tonight.
Mom, yesterday after the great surprise, called a dinner for tonight and everyone is going to be there.
Throughout today, while at work, I kept sending invitations out to all our friends and they all agreed to be here tonight.

Brian with Mr. Wayne, Danielle and Travis and Lily; Tomi, with Uncle Tom, Aunt Talia, Max and Sam and Cecilia with Mr. Blake and Sophie.

It's gonna be a very full house and I'm so excited to be having us all together even if it'll just be for a night.

So I said to quickly make my visit to Cecilia's since today's practically going to be my only free time the rest of this month and next.
This is because the date for the sale of the hospital is still on the fifth and since I'm a board member of the hospital, I need to be available because there's a lot of paper work to be done before that time.

Brian and I prayed about it though when I was at his place and we trust that God has perfected everything concerning it but in the meantime, I'll do what I have to do.

Secondly, Tomi and Max are getting married on the 12th of November, the same month.
There's a lot to be done; what with the invitations, the venue, the catering, the photoshoots, the fitting, the bridal shower and so much more. Again, I'm her chief bridesmaid therefore making my schedule seriously packed until then.

The visit therefore can only be today.

"Hey mom." I walk over to her side and give her a light peck on her cheek.

"Thanks honey, where are you off to?" She paused from dicing the green peppers turning her attention to me.

"I need to go see Cecilia briefly before they come over tonight." I reached out and picked one chocolate topped strawberry from the bowl behind her.

"Okay, send my greetings to her and baby Sophie." She returned to cutting the peppers.

"I will, bye." My eyes catch Stella's breifly as she's busy washing a few dishes and I wave at her before turning to leave.

I pull out of the garage and towards the gates that Mr. Ranch is already holding wide open and nod at him before I drive through.

     •••••••

I follow the Google map as it directs me to a pretty white house bordered by a beautiful fence decorated sparsely with wall plants. It was such that you can still see through and admire the pretty lawn spotted with a few shrubs here and there.

Since we're in the fall months, the shrubs are shedding their leaves but it still leaves it a wonderful sight to see.

Since I have a garden too, I know a few things about plants myself and I know that the shrubs are flowering shrubs.
In the spring time, each and everyone of them sprout flowers with the colors of white, cream, peach, pink, and purple.
I laugh to myself realizing that Cecilia had to have picked them herself because they are the colors she likes best.
She's always dressed in either white or white with touches of some or all these colors.

I park my car and am let into the house.

The inside looks just like the outside would have if we were in spring. There are flower pots everywhere and even though I know Sophie would love it, I wonder how her husband puts up with it.
But indeed her husband is a gentleman and I don't think he'd mind at all.

"Maya!" I turn towards the sound of my name coming from the staircase and see Cecilia's petite form descending the stairs with Sophie cradled in her arms.

"Cecilia." I smile warmly and immediately stand up and run towards her to help out with Sophie.
Once I reach her, Sophie turns on her mothers arms and her blue eyes land on me.
She blinks them at me a few times before her pink lips spread slightly in a toothless smile.
My heart leaps at that and I reach out to touch her rosy cheeks.

"Oh, you remember me princess." I say and in response, she smiles even wider and claps her tiny hands together.

"Can I hold her?" I look up from Sophie at Cecilia.

"Yes, sure you can." Cecilia nods and hands Sophie over carefully to me, positioning my arm well enough to cradle her.
Once she's in my arms, I rock her affectionately back and forth and it makes her giggle softly.

"You're so big now honey." I switch to motherese. She nuzzles her nose into my dress fondly and tugs at it.
I turn and look at Cecilia who's busy smiling with Sophie's napkin in her hand watching both of us. "She's so beautiful." I whisper to her and she nods.

I look back at Sophie who's now drooling on my dress.
"Uh oh, she's drooling." I laugh.

"Oh no, I should've put her napkin on your shoulder first!" Cecilia apologized and quickly rushed to wipe the drool off.

"It's okay, I have other dresses. I came here for Sophie and if it means her drooling all over me then so be it." I convey and Cecilia laughs shaking her head.

"You shouldn't stand for too long, come have a seat." She directs me to the sofa nearest to the window and I tread cautiously because I don't want to jerk Sophie in my arms.

"Dave will be down in a minute." She assured and took the wicker chair beside me.

"So how has she been doing so far." I glance at Sophie who's playing with my hair and back at Cecilia.

"It's been from glory to glory Maya, that's all I can say. She's so healthy now, eats so well and plays a lot."

"Just like every other child." I complete her sentence.

"Yeah, but even better." She chuckles.

"God is truly faithful." I sigh looking at Sophie and remembering the first day I set my eyes on Sophie. She was so frail and barely surviving.

Now she's literally bubbling with life.

As I tickle her face, she grabs my fore finger in her tiny hands and squeezes it as tightly as she can and I laugh, enjoying every moment of it.

"So how has it been so far as a born again Christian?" She pulls up her legs and hugs them to her chest fitting her small stature perfectly into the chair.

"It's been wonderful really. I can't begin to explain it. The love, joy and peace I feel now is so extraordinary, life has taken a whole new turn."
I beam and rock Sophie further.

"That's beautiful Maya, I'm so happy for you." She replies excitedly. "Do you speak in tongues yet?"

"Yes I do and it's wonderful, better than anything I've ever felt in my life." I nod happily and almost immediately, her eyes move behind me and she smiles, unfolding herself and standing up.

"Doctor, good evening." I hear from my rear and turn immediately to see Mr. Blake,  Cecilia's husband descending the stairs.

"Good evening Mr. Blake." I remain seated because I'm still carrying Sophie. Unfortunately, she senses her dad's presence and suddenly begins stretching her hands towards him. "Uh oh, she wants her daddy." I remark and they both laugh as Mr. Blake approaches to take her from me.
Once she's in his arms, her face relaxes and I shake my head smiling.

"Thank you for coming doctor."

"I had to, your daughter was a very special patient to me." I take his left hand that he stretches out to me while his other holds Sophie firmly to his chest.

"Cecilia and I are really grateful for all you did." A thoughtful frown etched upon his face.

"No, it's my job. It's what I'm paid to do. It's  God that did it because at some point, I didn't know what to do anymore, I was just too scared to tell you that she was going to die but God turned the situation around for good." I relay earnestly.

"Yes, that is true; right Cece?" He turned and smiled knowingly at Cecilia, all the time rocking Sophie.

"Yes honey, absolutely." He reaches out and pulls her to him with his free hand. I look at them in admiration and long for when I'll be doing that too with my very own husband.

"Let me leave you to get ready for the dinner this night." I speak up.

"Alright then." Mr. Blake smiles and shakes me again. "It was a pleasure meeting you again doctor."

"Likewise." At that, Cecilia escorts me out of the house back to where my car is parked.

"See you later." She calls and I nod as I get in the driver's seat and fasten my seatbelt.

            ••••••••

Tomi arrived earliest with Max, Uncle Tom, Aunt Talia and Sam followed by Cecilia and the family, then Mr. Wayne, Danielle, Travis and Brian, Lily close at his heels.
It was such a joyous moment that I'll forever cherish.
Apart from mom, Brian was the talk of the day.
Everyone, especially Tomi kept badgering him on how on earth he managed to take me to church and get me born again too. I had to save him from their pestering on several occasions but it was all wonderful to behold.
Sophie was looking absolutely adorable in her sky blue flannel dress as she basically played with Lily all the while.
There wasn't a dull moment as everyone kicked off immediately with each other sharing stories, experiences of precious times with each other.
Stella and Danielle found out they both shared common ground on their passion for designing which is still a surprise to me.

Travis and Sam talked shop most of the while, and Mr. Wayne even teased them about being boring.
Brian teased him back about liking the most boring sport in the world when he and Uncle Tom began talking about the prominent golf players.
Brian and I occupied ourselves talking, and afterwards we played with Sophie and took pictures together.
In one beat, dinner was a very pleasant blast indeed.
Eventually, it was time to say goodbye and we did but not before coming together in prayer and thanking God for his faithfulness.

I am so sorry my readers 😩. Like I said, I've had to write an exam and it's taken all of my time. I therefore haven't been able to post at all. I'm so sorry 😢
But there is good news 😊, I'll be done  with all my papers on Saturday and will have time to post as regularly as you want me to. I'll even return to posting twice a week 😋
I know y'all are happy about that and I am too 💃
So I hope you love this chapter because I have to go now. I just finished my first paper today and have to study for the next so bye 👋 and happy reading 😁🤗

Chinwe_epistle ❤