Chapter 22 THE STRUGGLE

Sobrina began to grow afraid of the relationship, and of how deeply she loved Pastor Melvin. She started trying to get him to define what was happening between them. She hoped he would say they were or weren't actually dating, so she could be sure of her stance. She had discovered how he was - generally - with ladies. Even though he treated her special, he liked the company of ladies as much as they liked him. He was always found in the company of different ladies, and some of the things he would say to her were confusing, things like, "If I was to get married, there are ladies I've known for longer than I've known you" or "nothing will probably happen between us", but if Sobrina decided to leave him and move on, he started acting hurt and crazy.

It turned out he regularly responded that way to control their emotions, and save them from breaking the laws of their fellowship. He was a highly reverenced leader in the fellowship - which is why he was called a Pastor - and a mistake would be scandalous. Sobrina who didn't understand this, decided one day she was done and said as much to him.

"Soby remember how you almost died in the hospital and I had to save your life", he pleaded. But Sobrina wasn't moved, she had heard that line many times before. It was his weapon and he wielded it skillfully whenever he needed to.

Pastor Melvin was devastated, it showed in his countenance and appearance as usual. Which was how he changed whenever he felt he was losing her. He began to dress shabby, growing his hair, and left his scanty beard tattered. He stopped taking care of himself in general.

She saw this and took pity on him, reconsidered and wrote him a letter. He got better at once. And so the circle continued.

Pastor Melvin was now in his final year. But to Sobrina's surprise, he couldn't graduate with his mates when the time came that year. He told Sobrina he had so much problems. He was withholding information as he was used to doing.