Forever Mine Chapter Eight: The Watery Abyss

River View Estate

Yaba, Lagos Mainland

11:30pm

His parents’ room had always held an aura of comfort. It was the warm fortress he needed for his current winter. Its walls were lined with blissful nostalgia, pushing him into the fond memories of his childhood. He remembered how he would always run into the room every time he got scared at night. His parents would allow him snuggle between them, burying him in their arms until morning. It was the warmest and safest place in the world to him.

Perhaps, that nostalgic feeling was the reason he was back home. He could still feel his father’s presence in the room. His scent still hung on some of the clothes in the old wardrobe. Even in death, his father’s loving warmth hovered around the house. He was glad his mother never agreed to move to the island, even though he had protested many times.

Their home wasn’t exactly the worst place to live in. They had lived there comfortably for many years. However, after his father passed, it became immensely difficult to wake up and not hear him singing old hymns like he did every morning. Those were the worst days of his life.

His two siblings were far too young at the time to understand the concept of grief and loss. They were just toddlers. Even he was merely seven years old when he heard his mother’s sharp cry from the backyard where his father worked. He had rushed in to see her on the ground, holding up his father’s limp body in her arms. He had slumped due to a cardiac arrest. It was a sight no seven year old should have seen.

He remembered the neighbors rushing them into a car so they could get to a hospital. However, his father had passed on by the time they had reached. His young eyes watched his mother shake his father’s corpse vigorously, begging him to rise. She was in denial, and so was he. His little mind had prayed that his father was merely sleeping, and he would wake up the next day to his father’s singing as usual. But the next day arrived and his father lay cold in the morgue.

Lying in the room now, he wished life was different. Perhaps, if his father were here, he’d know what to say. He would have known exactly how to help him through this. Jacob hated that he had to do life without him. For most of his life, he had to figure many things out on his own. It wasn’t fair to him. He had never experienced the warm counsel of an earthly father throughout his adult life. He would give anything to have five minutes with his father in this dire moment.

“Obinna…” his mother’s voice called.

He snapped out of his sad reverie, his eyes calmly shifting to her. His mother was leaned against the wooden door frame, her deep-set eyes full of empathy and compassion. Her wisdom-colored hair was packed under a black hairnet. She wore a white nightgown, with two sets of native wrappers tied around her waist. The experience that lined her face did not take away the characteristic glow of her fair skin. She looked far younger than her age.

She pursed her lips, watching her son hurriedly wipe his tears. His hurt was very palpable. He hadn’t given her all the details, but the few he had managed to say was enough to sadden her tender heart. He had been in her house for three days, but she could count the number of times he had spoken. She had never seen her strong boy so broken.

“Obinna, nwam, kwụsị ịkwa ákwá, biko, o? Don’t cry. I don’t like seeing you like this…” she said softly, making her way toward him.

She settled close to him on the bed, her warm hands clasping his. Jacob raised himself on the bed, forcing a weak smile for his mum to see. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to worry too much about anything, let alone him.

They sat in comfortable silence, the sound of the ticking wall clock filling the void. Time passed slowly, like it was mourning with them. They thought about the same thing, but neither wanted to say it. Finally, Jacob did.

“I miss him…” He said quietly, his gaze on nothing particular.

“I know. I miss your father too. Everyday.” His mother replied, giving his hand an affectionate squeeze.

“I just wish he were here, right now. He always had a way of making every problem seem small. I know I was young, but I can still remember how safe and peaceful he always made me feel when he was around. I felt like I could go through anything if he was right there with me…” Jacob sighed.

His mother gently placed her delicate hand on his cheek, her eyes full of motherly affection.

“Obinna, your father may not be here with us, but that doesn’t mean we are alone. You have another One in Heaven, who loves you more than your father ever could. It is to Him, that your father prayed to when he was worried about you…” His mother said.

“I know, Mum. It’s just… its not really the same as having an earthly father around. Someone who can hold you, who can stand by you in times like this…” Jacob said, lowering his gaze.

“Mba, nwam, ekwula ihe a.” She said, shaking her head in disagreement. “Obinna, don’t say that. I know that it may not feel the same way, but it is much more than you can imagine. If He created your father, who had all these loving attributes that you have just described, how much more would He that made Him?” His mother said, raising her son’s head.

“The God we serve is the standard for all fathers. None can compare to Him in that role. He is El-Roi. He sees us, Obinna. He has declared that He is father to the fatherless. He is protector of the widows…” She declared, her eyes lighting up.

Jacob forced a one-sided smile. His mother had always been the portrait of strength. He had never really understood how someone who had lost her spouse remained so strong and peaceful. Her prayers and devotion to the Lord seemed to even increase after his father’s death. There were very few days he had seen her troubled or in panic, no matter the situation. Her strength was unbelievable.

“Nwam, I know you may be experiencing your darkest hour. But one thing I know, one thing our God has consistently shown us, is that the morning will always come, no matter how long and dark this night may be.” She said, giving his cheek an affectionate squeeze.

There was something about her words that made his heart soften. He hadn’t told her of his decision to divorce his wife yet. He was afraid his mother would blow it out of proportion. She would lose sleep over it. He turned his face away from her in deep thought.

Perhaps, that wasn’t the only reason he hadn’t told her. Perhaps, there was a part of him that really didn’t want to go through with it. But the video. Jacob grimaced visibly, the memory grazing a nerve. It didn’t matter if he didn’t want to go through with it. He had to do it for himself. He couldn’t stay with someone that could afford to hurt him that deeply.

“Kedu ihe ọ bụ? What’s the matter?” His mother asked, noticing the change in his countenance.

“…Nothing. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Mum.” He said, shaking the memory off.

“Are you sure?” She asked again. Her spirit sensed something wrong. There was something he wasn’t telling her. She stared at him for a while, trying to discern what the Lord was bringing to her attention.

“I’m fine, Mum. I promise.” He replied, resigning to the bed. He snuggled into the sheets, avoiding his mother’s scrutinizing gaze.

She pursed her lips, unsatisfied with his response. His gaze had moved to the ceiling, his countenance far more aggrieved than before. She sighed, tapping him gently.

“Alright, if you say so.” She said, raising herself gently from the bed. She readjusted the wrappers around her waist, her eyes still on him. The urge to pray earnestly for him had come on her strongly.

“I’ll be in the living room if you need me. Just try and get some sleep, o?” She cooed, giving him an affectionate smile. Jacob nodded, his eyes remaining on the ceiling.

She moved to the closet at the side of the room and pulled out her bible and her note book of written prophecies. Her son needed peace and clarity, and she was going to spend the night on her knees so he would get it.

Jacob watched her leave the room, the silence in the room becoming deafening. He calmly waited for sleep to take him, allowing his thoughts wander off to different random places. Eventually, they hinged on his wife. He let out a painful sigh and turned his body to the side. The lawyer would come within the week, and the whole saga would finally be behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The manor

Victoria island, Lagos

3:00am

The night had come with a special kind of darkness, devoid of stars or the moon’s silver light. The manor was hauntingly quiet, it’s empty halls devoid of life. There was no wind, there was no sound. Just an eerie silence.

Abigail sat in the darkness, peering into the lifeless night. She was on the front porch, her gaze sullen and broken. The bottle of whiskey in her hand was already half-empty. Her other hand was slouched limply over the arm of the couch, holding the fourth cigarette of the night. Her world was broken, and there was no savior in sight. She took another long drag from the toxic stick, the fiery end glowing in the dark.

She had sent everyone home, willing to remain alone. She was done fighting the despair that plauged her. She had surrendered to it, allowing it drag her down its dark pit. Her eyes looked dead and frozen, glazed with tears that never fell. Her cheeks were smothered, her nose clogged and runny. She could hear the dark voices in her head clearly, whispering death through the cracks of her fractured mind.

It was clear that her life was a badly-written script. Losing both parents at fifteen, being raped and set-up by her former best friend, and now losing the love of her life, there was no point waiting till the end of the story. Zamani was probably going to spread the tape around. She would lose her job, lose her friends, and suffer irreparable stigma for the rest of her life. Her life was basically over. It wasn’t worth stretching another day. Her breath was a gift that she would now return to the owner, because even He must have forsaken her.

The more she thought about all the events that led up to this point, the more guilt and shame tightened their grip on her soul. Condemnation echoed its vile opinions of her repeatedly.

Finally, she staggered to her feet, her broken gaze resting on her car. She knew where she would end it. The watery abyss was calling her, and she would go to it. She would see her parents soon. It would all be over soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Night Vision…

Black murderous clouds loomed over the entire beach. The ocean wind howled like an undead banshee, harassing the already agitated tide. The ocean had become a restless beast, rising and falling into itself with reckless abandon. Lightening flashed across the molten sky repeatedly, it’s blinding light illuminating the chaos below each time.

It looked like day and night had been forced to co-exist. There was no rain, but the clouds were beyond full. Meters away from the shoreline, Jacob sat alone on a wooden bench, almost oblivious to the threats thrown by the murderous skies. His face was fixed on the wedding ring on his finger. His eyes were glassy, his heart full of anguish and torment.

He shut his eyes, allowing the tears roll down his face. He pulled the ring off his finger, got up and started walking towards the enraged ocean. His sullen gaze was locked on the unsteady waves, indifferent about the raging tempest. He took shaky breaths, squeezing the ring in his fist. This was the end, there was no going back.

He raised his balled fist, ready to hurl the ring into the raging waters. The pain in his chest grew, his mind filling with pictures of his wife. Images of the wonderful times they had shared flooded his mind. His hand came down, unable to go through with it. More tears rolled down his eyes, feeling the weight of his decision.

He took another deep breath, determined to throw it in this time. He stepped back, raising his fist again. But just as his hand flew forward, it was repelled midway by a strong force. The ring fell into the sand.

Jacob turned around, wondering what stopped him. His face immediately paled. He staggered backwards, his watery eyes filled with great fear.

Enormous light stood glowing afar off in the shape of a Man. It was like Fire burning from a distance, yet it stood in the form of a person. There was an immense brightness about Him, and His Presence had chased the ravenous ocean tide far away from the shore. It was unlike anything Jacob had ever seen.

His breath nearly seized, his eyes unable to look away from the Man. He could see the Man’s eyes, like balls of glowing flames. They looked directly at him, piercing deep into his soul. It felt like all his innermost thoughts laid bare before Him. Nothing could be hidden from His sight.

Jacob fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the tremendous aura oozing from the Light. Those eyes were fearful, but they looked at him with an intensity of Love he could not explain. There was no sermon needed. Jacob knew instantly that he had never really loved anyone.

The Man started moving towards Jacob, His blazing eyes fixed on him. Each step He took made the ocean shriek further away from the shores like it were afraid. The winds had stopped their evil howling, and the clouds cleared as He walked.

Jacob’s body quaked with fear, feeling the blinding light approach him steadily. It was like the sun was moving toward him in a steady gait. Finally, the Man stood above him, the flames from His appearance heating up Jacob’s entire being. The storm had fled, and the ocean was now a sleeping blue.

Jacob looked into those blazing eyes, enraptured by their fiery beauty. They were sullen yet full of immense love and compassion. Many things were spoken through that gaze, yet the Man never said a word. Scriptures flooded his hardened heart like an avalanche as he looked upon Him.

“…Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things…”

“…if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you…”

“…The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him…”

“…Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends…”

“…Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily…”

And then the last, “…love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…”

Jacob’s soul drowned in the sea of scriptures. They came like a hammer, smashing through every wall of rebellion in his heart. It was intense. The last verse conflicted him deeply. He began to cry.

He gazed into the Man’s eyes. His bright face was devoid of anger, but it looked sullen, almost like He was displeased about something. However, there was comfort in those blazing eyes as well, a message that the Man understood his pain.

He watched the Man stoop down and pick up the wedding ring that had fallen into the sand. He raised and offered it to Jacob.

“Go home…” the Man breathed.

Jacob’s eyes flew open, the vividness of the dream still in high definition. He jolted from the bed, his eyes darted frantically around the room. The Man’s words still echoed in his ears, and his entire body was engulfed in fiery heat. He exhaled, trying to calm himself. He could hear his mother’s voice coming from another room. Her prayers hadn’t stopped. They had grown more intense.

“Abby…” He muttered under his breath, dropping his head down. He sat there for a while rubbing his temples, mulling over the vivid encounter. It was very clear what it meant. He let out a deflating sigh. Thy will be done, he resigned sadly.

He glanced at the wall clock. It was 3:30am. His gaze rested on the sheets. It was too late to go home, but the Man’s words had come with a subtle level of urgency. He could still feel it in his spirit like an alarm. He slipped out of bed, grabbed his car keys from the nearby desk and walked out of his mother’s room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Third Mainland Bridge

Lagos state

3:55am

The bridge stretched on like it had no end. It stood nearly three kilometers over the deep endless lagoon. Anyone with a fear of heights dared not look down into the watery abyss. Its substructure was made of reinforced concrete, and its roads were tarred like an express-way. The golden streetlights lit up the empty road, resisting the cover of darkness.

Jacob drove through it in a hurry. The alarm blaring in his heart had grown stronger. He had an overwhelming sense of dread gnawing at his heart. He couldn’t shake it off. Luckily, the roads were scanty. He would be home soon.

Suddenly, he felt the strong urge to slow down. He hit the brakes, wondering why he had to stop. There was a black Mercedes ahead, parked to one side of the bridge, just next to the railing. Jacob drove closer, feeling something odd about the car. It looked familiar. Finally, he saw someone over the edge of the railing, barely hanging on to the ledge.

Jacob experienced a new level of dread that he never thought was possible. His heart leaped into his throat. He stopped his car in the middle of the road and jumped out. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His wife hung loosely to the metal railing, the gentle wind ruffling her night clothes, her dead gaze on the dark waters beneath.

The air became very still. Jacob could feel his heart crashing violently against his chest. He took in deep breaths, his brain running on overdrive. This wasn’t possible. This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t.

“Abby?” He called out shakily, still afar off. He watched her slowly pivot to face him, her eyes completely drained of life. She looked like a ghost. He stretched his hand toward her, feeling his rapid pulse thumping at the side of his head.

“Abby… please, just… take my hand.” He shuddered, fear nearly ceasing his breath. He began taking cautious steps forward, his arm still stretched toward her. The road was completely deserted. There wasn’t a single car in sight.

Abigail stared at him blankly, her decision set in stone. The water was calling her. It was the exact spot her parents were crushed by a trailer. They didn’t deserve to die. They were good people, but life had dealt them an unfair hand. Now, she was going to join them, because life had made it crystal clear that she wasn’t God’s favorite.

Her grip on the railing loosened, her fingers now barely holding on. Jacob’s heart nearly stopped watching her body slant further over the lagoon. He stopped dead in his tracks, overcome with immense fear. His eyes started watering, but hers remained blank. She looked like she was already gone, and her body was merely catching up.

“Abby… please, just take my hand…” Jacob begged, his tears visible under the golden street lights. He couldn’t think straight. He couldn’t breathe. He just prayed earnestly that she would take his hand.

Abigail’s dead eyes stared at his outstretched hand. After all she had done to him, he still wanted to save her. She looked up and gave him a sad smile. He was the best thing that ever happened to her, which is why she had to do this. The voices said she had to save him from a life of dealing with her own mistakes. He deserved a new chapter.

Her hands left the railing.

“Abby!” Jacob screamed, rushing toward her with all his might.

Abigail shut her eyes and surrendered to gravity, feeling her body plummet down into the watery abyss. She was finally free, and so was he.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Guys? Are you there? Now, take deep breaths. That’s it. Nice and slow💙

Now, we have one more chapter to go. I’d love if we could do something. Could you post the link to the story on Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc along with a testimony of your experience reading this, and what you’ve learnt? I would love it. Be generous with your words, let many see and be blessed as well ❤️

Now, please leave a comment below🤗

Stay tuned! The last chapter won’t take long😊. God bless you for reading.