Chapter 40 REAPPEARANCE
With the disappearance of Pastor Melvin, Sobrina met a young doctor-to-be, through a dating website for positive people. He wasn't anything like Pastor Melvin, but he tried his best to be his best for her, even though they had never met. He was also highly religious - a Christian, he would suggest they fast and pray from time to time. Sobrina never fasted or prayed, but she was always very convincing. She had decided, she would marry a Christian if the opportunity came, while keeping her secret. She was an African, everyone she knew was Christian, she only met fellow Devil worshippers online, and they were all from different countries and races. Again, Devil worship advices against race mixing, was she going to be lonely forever? She wasn't planning to.
Sobrina had returned to Lagunde, after purchasing the application form for Masters degree, subverting all her mother had done to prevent it. Now, she needed to raise money for other things required. She needed a laptop, an apartment around the University, and tuitions. Basila was very happy to see her. It had been years since the last time Sobrina visited. The heist she had committed had been forgotten. New ladies had replaced the old ones, even though some like Basila remained.
Sobrina was tormented as she struggled to hustle. This was not the life she desired, she went back to drugs and alcohol. She would bitterly weep whenever Basila was absent in the hotel room. But every evening, she gathered her energy, and heroically left to the club where she worked as a stripper.
Her efforts were greatly rewarded, money flew in incessantly, even the University of Science refunded her for the tuition they denied.
She could no longer meditate, for lack of privacy and tranquility, she relied on her advantages as a Hell's soldier and was never disappointed. She performed her duties, making many converts for Satan using the Internet.
The young doctor had left her a few months ago, after contributing to her purchasing the application form for her second degree. They finally met at the University of Science, when she had gone to complete her application process. It was a fulfilling evening. But he informed her months later that his parents wouldn't allow him to get married yet, and therefore it was best they separated.
Her phone began to ring one evening. She stared at the screen in unbelief. She was still using the olive oil the woman at the prayer house had given her, so how manage? It was Pastor Melvin calling.
"Hello", Sobrina picked up at the third ring.
"How are you, Soby?"
"I'm good, good evening sir". She responded, while pretending as if all was well.
"It's been a while, I wanted to call you on your birthday last month but it escaped my memory. Where are you?", he had never made her birthday special for all the years they had known.
"I'm in Lagunde",
"Wow, so am I. Let's meet, where exactly are you?", He was visiting his family in Lagunde.
"I'm in Lagunde Island"
"I'll be coming to Idu International Market tomorrow, to purchase a suit for convocation. I'll call you when I arrive". He had finally graduated.
Sobrina went to the bathroom and disposed of what was left of the olive oil. She went shopping for appropriate wears, suitable for the meeting. And the next day, she went with joy to the restaurant where they had agreed to meet.
"Where have you been?" She gently questioned, when they were seated.
"I've been on retreat", he responded.
"Soby, I got close to a lady and almost got married. But I saw the future and knew I had not fulfilled my purpose. I knew I would hate her with time if I had married her, so I called it off", he later informed her.
Sobrina listened attentively to the one sided long conversation, hiding her feelings. He always spoke in parables, she wasn't sure if he was talking about her or someone else and dared not ask; what mattered was that he was back. He never apologized for his disappearance nor did he explain in detail.
Sobrina called him the following day, questioning him about it. He insisted he had taken some time off to be with God, and had turned off all communication to achieve the purpose. She wasn't satisfied with the explanation, but gradually, she forgave and warmed up to him.
"What's your plan now that you've graduated?", she questioned him over the phone one evening.
"I wish to travel to either Europe or America to further my studies, how about you?", Pastor Melvin responded.
"I'm applying for a second degree",
"Great news, which university?",
"Where else? University of Science of course", she responded.
Sobrina felt a sense of loss but there was nothing she could do. She decided she would be an equal by the time he returned from overseas, and things went gradually back to normal.
Pastor Melvin called back few weeks later, and directed Sobrina to a website where she could download and listen to messages. Sobrina obeyed against the advice of her Demon, only so she would have convincing answers if he should question her later about it. She rarely lied to him.
Her confidence was that, she had heard every kind of message before, what could be different about this one?
Sobrina downloaded a message that transformed her. She had never heard the things the preacher said. She was introduced to a wrathless God, merciful, without conditions, loving without demands, humble and meek, who would never under any circumstance leave one of His own. Unlike the angry demanding, judgmental God she had heard of, for her entire life.
She downloaded another message out of curiosity, hoping the preacher would contradict himself. But the preacher expounded more on what she had previously heard.
Sobrina was greatly annoyed. But unknowingly to her - given her Satanic background - she had believed the Gospel.
She convinced herself that all she'd heard were too good to be true, but knew it was not impossible. If the Devil could claim to be an unconditional lover, who never leaves his own, then it is possible that is who God actually is. Because deep down in Sobrina's mind, that was what she expected of God, it was astonishing to hear someone actually say so.
