Anna....

Anna

Anna’s mother thought been married to Ebe was the best thing ever that would have happened to her. Nothing made the most sense like the day she stood before the alter to say ‘I do’ to the most handsome, adorable man to her in the universe. The first year of their marriage was filled with so much bliss and Helen felt so joyful and thankful to God for giving her Ebe.

As time passed, the couple was blessed with a beautiful baby ‘Anna’ and this brought so much Joy the family.

When Anna was 2 years old in pre-nursery school, she was involved in an accident that caused her to be admitted for about 3 months in the hospital. During these times, a great gap grew between Helen and Ebe; times were tough for the family due to the expensive hospital bills the couple had to pay to ensure anna did not have any complications with her brain from the fall on the staircase. By the time, Anna was discharged from the hospital and certified ok, Ebe’s business was almost wrecked, and Helen had lost her job because she had to be with Anna most times at the hospital. Things were tough for the family and this affected the pristine relationship that existed between the couple; they would argue over food, over bills and call themselves foul names. When Ebe found he could not bear the marital challenges anymore, he took few belongings of his and left the house, never to return. Helen was heartbroken and did not know how she could cope with her life without Ebe been around. He meant the world to her; life was meaningful because he was on her side.

For years, Helen cried and moved around very sad. She blamed Anna for the circumstance she found herself and did not hesitate to show her only daughter how much she pain she suffered. Anna did not get a chance to be educated or even mingle with other kids as she grew up. All she knew was life with a mother who showed her how much she regretted having her. Anna cried most times but soon got used to the life she was exposed to. She saw the world as a place of war where bitterness ordered life.

When Anna was 20 years of age, she got into an argument with her mother over the bad treatment she had received all her life. This degenerated into a physical fight between mother and daughter and Anna was asked to leave the house and never come back. According to Anna, her mum said ‘You stupid child, that has brought me nothing but pain since I gave birth to you, take your cursed, useless self and leave my house. I never want to see you again. You came into my life to rub me of my Joy and you think you can live like that with me for the rest of your life? You must be a Joker Anna. You are from the pit of hell and I want you out right now so you can go to hell and burn. I don’t ever want to see you again forever’  

That night, Anna wept uncontrollably, she thought of the possible reasons why her mother hated her so much but could find none. Since she had no place to go, she remained at the community square weeping and did not realize when she slept off. Early the next morning, Justin the manager in charge of the square, came for his usual inspection and found Anna there. Recognising her as someone he sees in the neighbourhood, he woke her up and said ‘Aren’t you Anna? What are you doing here?’ Anna could say nothing but cry. Consoling her, he invited her to take a shower in his house and then have breakfast, an invitation Anna agreed to.

When she was refreshed, worried Justin tried to find out why Anna slept in the square but she would say nothing to him. ‘You can stay here for as long as you want Anna until you are ready to go back home since you do not want tell me what is wrong’ Justin said.

One month in Justin’s house, Anna still carried on in grave silence. She found all kind gestures from Justin really Alien until he said to her one afternoon after Lunch ‘Anna, I have lived here  in my house with you for one month, knowing nothing but your first name and nothing else. I have trie d to probe into your life to find out what issues you have, what needs you may require that I meet for you, what your plan for life is and you have said nothing to me. I am not going to ask you ever to leave my house or push you to say something you don’t want to say but I’d just like to let you know that my life is different with you and I Love You and I am willing to help you go through whatever difficulty you may have been through because I know God cares so much about you, so I should care’

Some light came into Anna’s life because the words Justin spoke to her were delightful to her ears. Occasionally, he reminded Anna of his Love and matched them with deeds that proved right what he felt. Gradually, Anna opened up to him and told him of how much hatred she had experienced, how much she had been told about herself and what she could become – A failure. Justin empathized with her but told her how special she was every time he had the opportunity. Light came into her life and she said one day to Justin ‘I am certain that the Lord has used you greatly to heal me and give me life. I know now that I am not useless, I may not be educated now or rich, I may not know a lot of things but I know I am wonderfully and fearfully made and my life is so so beautiful and promising. Your words have encouraged me, given me life and made me so different. Thank you for your words Justin – I Love you’