unhealed 31

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CHAPTER 31
"UNHEALED"
© Opeyemi Akintunde  
As Inspired by the Living WORD

Tomike sat, her shoulders slumped, her face streaked with tears.  She looked at Evelyn with  brokenness in her eyes.

 “So… how did you get out?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Because I feel the same way. Broken, cheated, unwanted…”

Evelyn’s eyes softened as she reached over, holding Tomike’s hand with warmth and compassion.

 “Tomike, Jesus found me,” she said gently. “I accepted Him, and He healed me. When He said, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’ I believed His words. And it worked for me. I found rest.”

Tomike’s tears fell harder as she shook her head, her voice trembling. “It’s not that easy, Evelyn. I loved him so much…”

Evelyn squeezed her hand, her voice steady and filled with empathy. “ But you have to Love yourself now. The best show of Love is to Love yourself, then you love your neighbour. How do you love yourself now? You have to heal. You have to let go of the hurt Harmony caused you. You have to accept the painful truth that you were hurt and you need to take the wound to the Lord Jesus who is the Balm of Gilead.  Jesus was my Balm of Gilead, Tomike. He healed my heart and replaced every pain with His joy because I allowed Him to. I had only two choices: let a bitter yesterday steal the joy I have today, or let Jesus step in. I chose the latter. And you can do the same. Let Jesus step in, Tomike. Let Him take over. Everyone sees me ;  the joyful Evelyn today who is happy to tell everyone about her joy, it's because I let God heal my wounds. And let me use this medium to apologise for my lack of sensitivity, I didn't know you and my husband had a past and I was going on and on about the amazing life I was having with him. I am sorry about that.”

The words sank deep into Tomike’s heart, and with a sudden, desperate cry, she broke down, her voice filled with longing and surrender.

 “I will let God… I will let God heal me…” Tomike wailed and she felt it...She could feel the stitching happening in her heart. It was a painful experience...

Evelyn wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly as Tomike sobbed, releasing the pain she had held onto for so long. She stroked her back gently, whispering words of comfort.

After a moment, Evelyn pulled back, meeting Tomike’s gaze. “I visited my mother-in-law,” she said softly. “We talked at length, and I can assure you that she is truly sorry.”

Tomike smirked, her skepticism showing as she sniffled. “Am I supposed to believe that?”

“Believe it, Tomike,” Evelyn replied earnestly. “At the time, she acted out of ignorance...something she deeply regrets now.”

Tomike looked away, her voice laced with bitterness. “Sorry? Really? She lied to me. She saw me as a witch”

Evelyn reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. “She asked me to give this to you.” She tapped the screen and held it out to Tomike. The recording began to play, her mother-in-law’s voice gentle yet filled with regret.

“Tomike, omo mi (my daughter,) how are you? Longest time…” Mommy’s voice was soft, each word a deliberate attempt to erase the past.

“Wo,( See)  I want to really apologize for how I handled your relationship with my son. Mi o mu e la je oo.( I didn't see you as a witch). I never thought of you as a bad person. I am sorry for hurting you the way I did. Please, forgive my son and me. Find peace with your husband and with God. Don’t let what I did back then rob you of a good life, Tomike. You deserve to be happy. I pray that God compensates you for every pain you have felt. Ma binu oo. ( I am sorry)”

As the recording ended, Tomike’s face a canvas of emotions, ranging from pain, betrayal, closure, forgiveness....Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. She let out a choked sob, the years of bitterness finally beginning to break apart within her. This was all she needed all these years... Closure...Apology... Assurance she wasn't a witch... Evelyn leaned in, wrapping her arms around her, and they sat in a tight embrace, sharing in the release of Tomike’s pain.

"I have to leave you now, healing is a personal journey." Evelyn stood up and walked out of the sanctuary.

After a few moments, Tomike slowly crawled like a newborn learning how to move. Her legs were too weak to carry her to the altar.

At the altar, Tomike laid her head on the altar stairs...her voice a broken plea. “Lord, I am sorry,” she cried, her voice filled with raw emotion. “I am sorry for harboring sin, hate, and lust in my heart. Forgive me and grant me the strength to forgive those who have hurt me. I am so tired and helpless. I can no longer deny that I need You. I need You, Lord. I loved Harmony so much, and the hurt wasn’t going away, but please… help me. Heal my broken heart, Lord. Please…in Jesus name”

Her shoulders shook as she wailed like a woman mourning, her knees pressing into the floor, her hands clutching at her chest as though trying to hold together the pieces of her shattered heart. 

“Harmony, I forgive you!” she cried, her voice echoing through the empty church. “Harmony Otega, I let go of what you did to me! I forgive your mother, I forgive your brother, I forgive your friends!” Her voice grew louder, stronger, as she released each burden from her heart. “I forgive myself! I am healed! I am healed! My broken heart is mended! My home is fixed! I love my husband ! I love Adeolu! I am rebuilding! My babies are here! I am a mother! My heart is whole, my body is whole, my spirit is whole! Jesus, take over!” Tomike cried as she declared...

Her tears could fill a bucket as she cried her heart out. 15 years of bottled pain. 15 years of open wound. 15 years of carrying the wealth of an unresolved ending. 15 years of being plaqued with the question of ' Why?' ' What happened?' ' Where is he?" ...

With a final, piercing yell, she collapsed into sobs, letting out all the years of heartache and resentment in one powerful release.

 She felt it!  Relief .. Peace she hadn’t felt in years descending upon her.

" I am healed! I am healed!" 

To be continued....

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DEEP THOUGHTS NOVELS
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