,

but yahweh,
I prayed
First published in 2024 by BON Limited,
Lagos.

Copyright @ Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transported in any form or by any
means (electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or
otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher
of this book.

The moral right of Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola to be identified as

the Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance
with Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places,

and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination
or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual person, living
or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Edited by: Temitope Bolade-Akinbode

Proofread by: Wuraola Allen

i
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am beyond grateful to God for the privilege of writing ‘But
Yahweh, I Prayed’, the first novel in the Yahweh’s Triage series.
You already know that my favourite genre is romance, but this book
is more than finding love. It is a message of hope, resilience, and
trust in God, even when His plans seem unclear. I pray it strengthens
the faith of everyone who reads it.

To my amazing husband, Olatunbosun Jenrola, thank you for being

my rock, for all your feedback, and for encouraging me with every
step. And to my sweet daughter, Morayoolaoluwa, you sacrifice the
most. Thanks for giving me the much needed space to pursue this
calling.

A huge thank you to my wonderful editor, Temitope Bolade-

Akinbode. You always push me to dig deeper and bring out my best.
Your guidance has been invaluable.

I’m also incredibly grateful to my stellar Bon Storytelling Agency

team for always being ready to help, especially Busola, for keeping
our social media vibrant; Wuraola, for managing our email
marketing; Samuel, for creating all our PDFs and content; and
Ayobami, for the beautiful cover. You guys are the dream team!

To my dear mother, Ayoola Olosunde, thank you for reading every

single book I have written and giving me the most thoughtful
reviews. Your support means the world to me. Lastly, to our
amazing readers—thank you for believing in these stories, for
sharing your reviews, and for spreading the message of hope and
faith. You inspire me to keep writing!

ii
Prologue

Fourteen Years Earlier

Bode walked away quickly, not lingering to engage in small talk a er the
Sunday teenage church service was over. Usually, he would exit the hall
with his younger sister in tow, but today, Bolu didn’t come because
she’d had a serious case of menstrual pain that morning as they were
ge ng ready to leave for church. Even though she had been in great
discomfort, Bode was happy she didn’t have to endure another Sunday
of haugh ness from their supposed church members. He had
developed a tough skin against the cruelty they endured from other
kids, but he wasn’t sure about Bolu. The way his family was snubbed
used to bother him when they first started a ending Grace of God
Evangelical Church, Asokoro in Abuja, but now, he had go en over the
fact that no one would greet him.

Growing up in Akoka Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria, church was always a place of

fun and communal bonding. Here, it was different; at least for him.
Other members of the congrega on bonded, but his family was not
included. His sister had pointed out that it was because they were odd
and different. Bode didn’t think so, but he supposed when you were not
from the same social class with some people, you were different from
them. Ideally, they wouldn’t be a ending the same church as these
people, but his father, who was the driver to the newly appointed
Minister for Educa on, Professor Gbadeyan Olushola, the former Vice
Chancellor of the University of Lagos, had relocated everyone to Abuja
.
ii
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Bode missed Lagos. At least, there, they were respected and loved in
school and church because despite their poor background, he and his
sister were easily the brightest kids in their classes. Here however, they
were out of their league. Bode couldn’t help but wonder if his
acclaimed brilliance was because of the low compe on in the
government school he a ended compared to the private school in Ikoyi
that the Minister’s children went to.

When his father made the decision to move everyone to Abuja in

service to the Minister, he had made a request that his children should
not be transferred to another ill-equipped government school, but be
allowed to enjoy the educa on of the upper class. Having served loyally
for ten years, and considering the love and familiarity between them,
the Minister had easily obliged, especially because Bode and Bolu had
genius reports. He placed them on scholarship and even insisted that
they also join his children for a er church club every Sunday.

Another driver, not Bode’s father, was assigned to the children, and he
was already wai ng at the parking lot to transport all of them to the
centre. Despite not feeling like he belonged, the enjoyment that usually
awaited them at the centre was worth the humilia on of being looked
down on. Bode also relished his conversa on with the driver, who was
always ready to enter the “Abuja is be er than Lagos” debate with him.
It was him that Bode hurried to, but unfortunately, he couldn’t enjoy
the ten minutes of privacy they usually shared before the others joined
them. He had been waylaid by the Sunday School teacher who had
been wai ng for him at the church entrance, asking ques ons in a bid to
get to know him. She must have no ced the a tude of others towards
him, and Bode thought that her gesture was her way of offering him
succour. It had been comfor ng, restoring his hope that this was s ll a
church, a place where God’s people connected with one another, and
not just a mee ng loca on for the crème de la crème.

iv
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

He was a bit disappointed when he got to the car and saw that almost
everyone had arrived except the housekeeper, who was probably
looking for people that were now all in the vehicle. Bode rolled his eyes,
knowing that none of them would go and get her. They would leave her
roaming the church, looking for them. A part of him was tempted to go
in search of the lady instead of entering the Mercedes Van, but he
decided to mind his business. Few seconds later, he wished he had not!
As soon as he entered, he saw Becky and her younger sister, Lizzy. Becky
was best friends with Shalewa, the Minister's daughter, so every now
and then a er church, both girls were invited to also come to the
recrea onal centre.

Becky hated that Bode and Bolu were hanging out with them. She
rolled her eyes as soon as she saw him. “You didn’t say that this fat pig
was going to join us today?” she whispered to Shalewa, but the vehicle
was small enough for everyone to hear.

“Get used to it, Becky, and don’t be mean!” Shalewa warned her friend,
giving Bode a pleading look. She wasn’t friendly with him, but she was
not mean either, and this was under strict warning from her father.

“Do you hate him because he's fat?” Lizzy asked her older sister,
sounding genuinely curious.

If Bode’s sister was there, she would have found a way to crack a joke
that would make him smile despite the awkward mood in the car. The
last me Becky had embarrassed him, Bolu had said the two sisters
reminded her of a beast and a lizard; to rhyme with their names, Becky
and Lizzy even though their full names were Rebecca and Elizabeth, but
having been born in America and even lived there for over seven years,
the nicknames had stuck even though they were now back in Nigeria.

“If not for Daddy who made us come back to Nigeria, we wouldn’t have

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

to suffer like this, going out with someone like him,” Becky complained,
not bothering to lower her voice this me, and Shalewa sighed in
frustra on.

“Stop being mean, Becky!” Lizzy yelled on seeing the cold look on
Bode’s face, and he couldn’t help being grateful to the li le girl who
chose that moment not to be amused by her sister.

At sixteen years old, and about to finish secondary school, Bode should
have been able to stand up for himself, and usually he would, but
around these rich people, his tongue was always ed. Besides, they
were right. He was a fat son of nobody. Li le Lizzy’s shoes were
probably more expensive than his father’s salary, but as they drove to
the recrea onal centre, Bode made up his mind that it was going to be
the last me he would be looked down on by anyone. First, he was
never going out with them again. Then he was going to lose weight by
exercising ll he looked like his favourite football player, Ronaldo.
Lastly, he too was going to leave Nigeria to live and work abroad at the
first chance he got so as to give his children the kind of luxury and class
that Becky and Lizzy enjoyed. He would work hard to achieve this goal,
and pray hard for favour and grace to see it through.

As his mother always said, “What Yahweh cannot do does not exist,”
and so shall it be for him because he was determined to pray like he did
not work hard, and work hard like he did not pray.

vi
Chapter One

Present Day

Elizabeth fought another bout of nausea as she sat at the hospital

recep on, wai ng to be called. She quickly unwrapped a mint sweet
and popped it into her mouth to suppress the rising irrita on. She had
never been this sick in all her twenty-four years on earth. In fact, her
older sister, Rebecca, was always quick to say, “Lizzy is a vampire,”
referring to her seemingly unique super-power of working round the
clock and showing no signs of fa gue. However, for the past one month,
her health had been under a ack, and she couldn’t help wondering if
the heat in Lagos was the cause.

It was her first me in Lagos, and she didn’t think the city liked her.
Rebecca had warned her against coming to Lagos for her Na onal Youth
Service (NYSC), the compulsory a er ter ary study programme that
Nigerian youths were mandated to partake in before star ng their
careers. Typically, the government randomly posted students to any of
the thirty-six states in Nigeria, but Elizabeth didn’t follow due process.
She’d simply go en her father’s execu ve assistant to use his
connec ons in government to get her posted to her preferred state.
Everyone had assumed that she would naturally prefer the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja since that was the only state in Nigeria she’d
lived in briefly, from when she was eight ll she finished secondary
school at sixteen, a er which she returned to America for her
university. However, Elizabeth wanted to be as far away from Abuja as
1
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

possible. If she had her way, she would leave Nigeria and never come
back, but she would have to explain her reason to her father, and no
one could know what happened.

She messed up! As far as she was concerned, she had commi ed a
crime, and she couldn’t face her family. Rebecca would be ashamed of
her, and so she needed me away from her and everyone else. That was
why she chose Lagos. The problem though, was that the city did not
agree with her. Not only was she sick, she also hadn’t go en a place of
primary assignment. The school she was posted to had given her a
rejec on le er because she’d refused to teach Integrated Sciences.
Having studied Business Management in school, she felt more suited to
teaching Commerce or Business Studies, but those subjects already
had teachers.

Unfortunately, working in a school was the only op on. It was almost

inevitable to teach, because most graduates were posted to schools,
whether they liked it or not. And here she was, without a school to
report to, her applica on s ll in limbo. Under ideal circumstances, all
she had to do was reach out to her father, a er all, he was a poli cian
with more connec ons than she could count. One phone call, one
favour, and her NYSC woes would be over. But the circumstances were
far from ideal. The thought of going to him now made her stomach
churn. She had been avoiding him for weeks, and hadn’t spoken to him
since she le Abuja. Calling him to give him updates would mean facing
the inevitable ques ons she wasn’t ready to answer. Why had she le
Abuja so suddenly? What was she running from? Her father would
press her for answers, and Elizabeth didn’t have the strength to face the
truth herself, let alone share it with him.

Even if she wasn’t avoiding him, the thought of asking her father or any
of his poli cal friends for help felt wrong. Hypocri cal even. She had
spent years complaining about the corrup on in Nigeria, and about
how everything was done through connec ons and how merit was
2
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

always overlooked in favour of who you knew. To now turn around and
seek out those same connec ons for her own gain felt like a betrayal of
everything she believed in. A ny voice told her she already did when
she used those same connec ons to get herself posted to Lagos rather
than leave it to fate, but Elizabeth ignored the voice. She had done it
because she had no choice. She wanted to get as far away as possible
from Abuja, and Lagos had been her best bet. Besides, she didn’t trust
her father not to have used those same connec ons to keep her in
Abuja, a er all, he was the one who insisted that she come back home
and do the compulsory one year service even though her ter ary
educa on was not in Nigeria. This was why she had gone through his
execu ve assistant and kept him out of the en re process.

It was at mes like these that she missed her mum the most. Ever since
her mother died when she was only ten, things hadn’t been the same.
Her father had remarried almost instantly, and the new wife... Well, she
was there, but she didn’t really care for Elizabeth and her sister. A er
her mother’s death, it was like the glue that held their family together
had dissolved. Her father threw himself into his work, and the children
were le to fend for themselves emo onally. Money became the only
parent they had. Thankfully, a er secondary school, they had returned
to America, far from their father and his new wife. With enough pocket
money to keep them comfortable, they learnt to rely on themselves.
But now, back in Nigeria, facing this NYSC dilemma, Elizabeth felt the
absence of her mother more keenly than ever. If her mother were alive,
she would have found a way to smooth things over, using her quiet
influence to get Elizabeth a placement without a fuss. But that op on
was non-existent.

Elizabeth blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. That was
another thing that had been occurring at any slight provoca on since
she moved to Lagos. She has teared up and fallen sick throughout the
orienta on camp of the NYSC where they were lodged in a hostel and
unable to step out of campgrounds for the en re three weeks of the
3
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

programme. It had felt like prison because she’d never had to

experience such confinement in her whole life.

“Next!” the nurse called out and walked to Elizabeth to tap her on the
shoulder, when she didn’t respond. “The Doctor will see you now.
Please, go in through that door and enter the room on the right,” she
said, and Elizabeth rose to obey the instruc on, nodding in gra tude.

“Good morning, how are you today?” The Doctor said as soon as she
entered the room. His smile was welcoming, unlike the hurried
expressions she had grown to accept with Doctors who couldn't wait to
move on to the next pa ent.

“I’m not fine,” Elizabeth confessed as she took the seat opposite him.

“I promise to look a er you,” he said with an easy smile as he moved his

chair closer and fixed his gaze on her. “Tell me what you think could be
wrong with you,” he said and Elizabeth sighed.

“That’s the problem; everything seems to be wrong with me. I am just

generally unwell, some mes feverish and extremely nauseous.”

“Are you married?” the Doctor asked, making notes in the file before
him.

He didn’t see Elizabeth roll her eyes at him. She wished that she could
teleport to Florida to see a Doctor who wouldn’t ask her a stupid
ques on. “I am twenty-four, I have never had malaria, I don’t have
children, I like dogs, I have never been married, and I am a corps
member,” she blurted out.

“Oh wow!” the Doctor exclaimed, taken aback.

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

“I thought I should list out everything about me so that you can move
on to exploring what could actually be causing my sickness,” Elizabeth
explained irrita ngly, almost as though she wanted a reac on from the
calm Doctor. He didn’t give her the sa sfac on.

“You missed out on the answer I needed,” he stated calmly, smiling. “Do
you mind if I ask?” he asked politely.

“As if I could stop you!”

His smile widened and he looked unfazed at her cryp c response. “Are
you sexually ac ve, and when was the last me you had your menstrual
cycle?” he quizzed.

Elizabeth stared dead at him then stu ered. “N.. No!”

“Can you kindly answer the ques on?”

“I said no,” she snapped.

If the Doctor was upset at her sharp tone, he didn’t give any indica on.
“When was the last me you had your menstrual cycle?” he asked
evenly.

“It has never been regular, so I don’t bother keeping track,” she replied,
trying to sound calmer. “But it has nothing to do with my health right
now. Can you kindly stay on topic? I am uncomfortable with your
probing.”

The Doctor nodded and typed on his computer. This gave Elizabeth the
chance to study his face properly. He was familiar, and she wondered
where she knew him from, but her focus was more on trying to figure
out what exactly was wrong with her, so she dismissed the thought.

5
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Please, go to the recep on. They will direct you to the lab to take the
tests that I have requested for. It should be ready in thirty minutes, so
you can wait for the results and come back in for further consulta on
and medica ons,” the Doctor said, and Elizabeth rose, unable to get
away from him fast enough.

Bode pressed the ‘Do Not Disturb’ bu on to alert the nurse on duty not
to send him another pa ent. She would assume that he was not done
compiling the report from his last session, and needed me. What he
needed was to catch his breath. He had summoned all his will power to
remain polite to the last pa ent who looked like she was spoiling for a
fight. He couldn’t indulge her, he didn’t have the wherewithal to. He
had enough on his plate than to be sparring with a pa ent that clearly
looked frustrated. He too was frustrated. He opened his ipad for the
umpteenth me, hoping that he had imagined the rejec on le er from
the Canadian Embassy. He read it again, and it didn’t make sense,
ending with, “...should you wish to reapply, we suggest that you do so
only if your situa on has changed substan vely or you have significant
new informa on to submit.”

What is my situa on? What new informa on?

Bode sighed. It didn’t make sense, but there was no one to ask. He paid
his university school fees by working as a personal assistant to a
Canadian visa agent, and he had done over fi y applica ons, eighty
percent of which were successful. Why would his own fail? He sighed
again, his frustra on mixed with exaspera on this me. When he
helped people get their Canadian visa, it never occurred to him that he
would one day also need one. His goal since his teenage years was to
become a ci zen of the most powerful country in the world - America.
That had always been his first choice. But when he was denied an
immigrant visa several me, he had gone for his second choice, but
6
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

apparently, Canada did not want him too.

“God, did I mistake your assurances? You never said it wouldn’t be

possible. You gave me peace and calm.”

Bode’s phone beeped with a no fica on from Facebook. It was Deji’s

birthday. He decided to quickly send a Whatsapp message before he
forgot and would now have to compose belated birthday wishes. He
would have placed a call, but his mood couldn’t reflect joy in a phone
conversa on. Faking joy and calm with a pa ent was the job, but doing
it with a friend was wrong.

Deji was his best friend from medical school, and his brilliance was
second only to Bode, who remained top of their class all through their
me in school. Now however, Deji was definitely ahead. While Bode
had gone on a seven-year a empt to migrate out of Nigeria, Deji had
done his residency at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and was
now a junior consultant in gynaecology. He had released papers on
specialised research, and a look at his Linkedin profile showed a man
who knew what he was doing. Bode, on the other hand, became the
exact kind of person he wanted to migrate out of Nigeria to avoid
becoming: an underpaid Doctor in General Prac ce hopping from one
hospital to the other in Lagos just to get a fairly be er pay.

A knock interrupted his thoughts, and he was going to leave it

unanswered, irritated that whoever was knocking had ignored the ‘Do
Not Disturb’ sign. The person however opened his door without wai ng
for an answer. It was the Head Nurse. If it had been any other nurse,
Bode would have scolded her for interrup ng, but this older woman
was more than just a respected staff member, she was like a big sister to
him. S ll, he frowned to indicate his displeasure.

“Dr. Bode, hope there is no problem? You have been on DND for forty
minutes and pa ents are becoming too many for only Dr. Veronica to
7
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

handle.

Bode sat up instantly!

Forty minutes?

“I was trying to clear some things,” he replied.

“The lady you sent to the lab is ready for review. Her test results have
been sent to you. If you are s ll busy, I can transfer her upstairs. Dr
Khalid can do the analysis.”

She was trying to give him a bit more me even though it didn't make
sense that he wanted to be alone in the thick of consulta on hours.
That was why he loved her. The woman was always kind to him, looking
for ways to make his intense schedule easier to manage.

“No, it’s fine. I will see her.”

“Okay! Great. We will send her in, in two minutes.”

“Thank you!” Bode replied and nodded in gra tude, dismissing her, but
she remained standing, staring at him. “What?” he asked.

“I will ask you what is chewing you on the inside later, so get ready with
answers,” Nurse Helen stated, matching his stare. “For now, let’s just
work.” she said then le him to his brooding state.

Alone, he checked his system for the result of the lady’s tests so that he
would be prepared when she came back into his office for the review,
while he struggled to find the smile he plastered on to make his pa ents
feel safe and at ease.

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to go back into the Doctor’s office. He

was too familiar for comfort. She tried again to remember where she
knew him from but s ll couldn’t place it, so she went home. Home right
now was a room in Eko Hotels and Suite where she moved into last
week when she began to feel sick. A er her me at the NYSC Camp last
month, she had gone to live with her father’s younger sister in Ikoyi, but
it hadn’t been convenient. She had stayed with her because they had
had a very sweet rela onship when her Aunty lived with them in Abuja
a er their mum died. Aunty Deb had however been irritated when she
told her of her decision to move out, calling her spoilt, but Lizzy didn’t
care. There was too much interference and familiarity with no privacy.
Aunty Deb required that she ate dinner with the family daily, and the
children wanted her to do homework and watch television with them.
Naturally, these were things she would have enjoyed, but in the mood
she le Abuja with, she couldn’t bring herself to mingle. She had done
the exact thing she promised herself never to do again with the last
person she should have done it with, and now, she couldn’t face her
sister. In fact, she couldn’t face anyone in the family. They would think
the worst of her when they found out.

“Daddy’s assistant said he has a room at Eko Hotel that is permanently

assigned to him ll the end of the year. I doubt he‘ll be coming to Lagos
any me soon, so I will just move in there for now,” she had informed
her Aunty..

“Are you okay? You prefer an empty hotel room to being with family,
bonding, and having a good me. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t
approve of it. I will call your father. He should not be indulging this kind
of nonsense,” Aunty Deb had replied irrita ngly, and Elizabeth had
been sure she was going to follow through with the threat.

9
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Usually, it wouldn’t ma er. Even though she wasn’t a daddy’s girl, he

always gave her whatever she wanted, but this me, she wasn’t so sure.
Being reported would trigger a probe that she wasn’t ready for.
However, the worry was for nothing because the next day, Aunty Deb
had called her into her room to ask if they were not making her
comfortable, to which she had expressed that that wasn’t the case. She
only wanted some privacy to think clearly about the next phase of her
life. Aunty Deb had been upset that she couldn’t even cook up a perfect
lie to make moving out sound like the right thing to do, but reluctantly,
she had released her. So, now, this hotel was home! She was alone, yet,
she didn’t feel be er. S ll sick, s ll sad, and because of this Doctor who
felt too familiar for comfort, she had run away from the hospital a er
taking the test.

Why would he not just leave it at the Malaria Test and Full Blood Count?
Why did he need a Pregnancy Test?

When the laboratory staff men oned the three tests, her heart had
skipped a beat. Naturally, she would have been able to smile it off,
knowing that it was impossible. She had stopped having sex since she
rededicated her life to Christ and broke up with her boyfriend two years
ago. They had been sexually ac ve and living together on campus
despite both of them serving in the church choir. One day, she came to
the realisa on that she was deceiving herself, living as an unworthy
example of who Christ died for. Immediately, she ended the
rela onship and moved out of the apartment her father was paying for
so that her boyfriend could con nue to stay there, while she went to
manage at the school hostel.

It didn’t make sense to her German lover, Roland, who had started
a ending church just to win her affec on and was enjoying it for her
sake. But that was the problem. He was enjoying church but was not
being transformed. Instead, she was the one that was becoming like
him, and she knew that she had to flee. It was hard, but the Holy Spirit
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

made it happen. Two years of abstaining and promising Jesus that she
would not fall back into ways He did not approve. She was proud of
herself. Coming back to Nigeria and reconnec ng with family and the
church where she had given her life to Christ ten years ago was
supposed to make her be er, but it took her back. She had lost herself
in Abuja in the most unexpected way, and now, there may be
consequences. Even before the Doctor asked for the test, even before
she began to feel these symptoms, she had known that there was a
chance that a pregnancy could occur. It was why she chickened out
before the Doctor had a chance to steal the final thread of peace she
had and confirm her worst nightmare.

Pregnancy!

A child for her brother-in-law?

It was simply unheard of. And she did not want to hear it. But it certainly
could be true, and the solu on to the problem was to get an abor on.
Having this child, if there was a child, would definitely be a blow to her
sister's face. It would be too awkward for Rebecca who got married five
years ago and had been ac vely trying for a child, but s ll had none.

Oh dear God! What have I done? Forgive me.

The shrill sound of her ringing phone jolted Elizabeth from her prayers.
Not in the mood to speak to anyone, she picked up the phone only
because she thought it could be the food delivery dispatch. It wasn’t.

Rebecca.

The last person she wanted to speak to. She put the phone on silent,
unable to end the call without arousing suspicion. It was be er for her
to believe that she was not available to pick the phone. Heart bea ng
guil ly, Elizabeth kept watching her sister’s phone call ll it ended.
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Instantly, she picked up the phone to turn it off before another call

came in, but she wasn’t fast enough. Another call came through; this
me, a strange number, possibly the pizza delivery dispatch, so she
picked the call.

The bold voice of a man came through on the other end of the line.
“Hello, this is Doctor Bode calling from Oceanic Medical Centre.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes in exaspera on. “Why are you calling me?”

“Your file was sent into my office for tele-consulta on to review the
tests you took earlier. Is this a good me?” he asked, and Elizabeth’s
heart began to beat fast.

“No, this is not a good me,” she said.

“When will be a good me? Myself or any other Doctor on duty at your
preferred me later today will call to review your tests.”

“I don’t want to review the tests anymore, that's why I le . Please,

don’t bother calling me back. I am doing very well now.”

“But the test results say otherwise. Your white blood cells are low,
which means that you might have an infec on, and it must be
inves gated further. It’s not advisable to delay since we don’t know the
exact cause.”

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, speaking before she could stop

herself. “Are you saying that I am not pregnant?”

“I was told that you refused to take the pregnancy test, so that
inves ga on was not made. You can come to the clinic tomorrow for
that.”

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Elizabeth sighed. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Elizabeth, I advise that you come to the hospital so that we can take
care of you. Medical services are highly confiden al, you have nothing
to worry about.”

“Why would I be worried about confiden ality?”

“I’m not sure, but you looked familiar,” Bode said carefully. “You look
very much like a girl that used to a end my church in Abuja, and you
have the exact name she did. I’m wondering if you recognised me and
are not comfortable. If that’s the case, I could transfer you to another
doctor, but I can assure you that I have your best interest at heart, and if
you let me, I will handle your case with utmost confiden ality, ensuring
that you enjoy the best medical service from us.”

Elizabeth sighed again. She s ll couldn’t remember his face but sensed
that she was definitely the girl from his Abuja church. If this was true, he
was the last person that should have anything to do with her case right
now. Yet, for some reason, his voice sounded very comfor ng, and she
felt that she could trust him.

“This low white blood cell issue, is it a very bad thing?”

“It could be, but there’s no cause for alarm. Let us inves gate it instead.
Early interven on is key!”

“Okay! I will come tomorrow, and I will take you at your word.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth! See you tomorrow,” he said then dropped the
call.

The call officially made things worse. Pregnancy for her brother-in-law
was not ruled out, but a possible disease was also ravishing her body.
13
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Could it be that she caught a sexually transmi ed disease? Hepa s!

Syphilis…

“Oh God! I have ruined my life. Jesus, save my soul.”

14
Chapter Two

Bode had needed a distrac on badly because soaking himself into the
pain of rejec on was not helping. Canada said no to him, but that could
not be the end of the world. He had planned to go home, take a quick
shower and dash to church for mid-week service, but the traffic he
experienced ge ng home was a monster. He couldn’t go through it
again by stepping out and possibly not even arriving at church ll the
service was already over. Lagos traffic was not to be snubbed, so he
showered, microwaved a bowl of rice and vegetable he had prepared
over the weekend, and sat in front of his television to stream the church
service. As soon as he connected, his sister called him. He picked on the
first ring even though he wasn’t in the mood to talk about why she
called. There was however no keeping her away from the informa on.
She was definitely going to keep trying to know how the applica on
went.

“How are you, Bolu?”

“I am fine. How are you too? Are you in church? Isn’t that Pastor Ene’s
voice I am hearing? Why are you picking a call in church?”

Bode sighed. “This girl, leave me alone.”

“I just want to know nau. Are you in church? I just arrived too. I am at
the car park. I had to drop James off at the airport for his Port-Harcourt
business trip, then I took the kids to his mum’s place, so I was very late.”
15
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Why are you now calling me if you are that late, especially since you
think I’ll be in service?”

“Are you here? I can’t see your car at your usual spot.”

“Nope, I am streaming from home. There is too much traffic.”

“Hmm… This streaming, I’ll never understand. You are probably there,
ea ng and won’t stand up for praise and worship. Instead, you will sit
down like you are watching a film.”

Bode laughed at her accuracy. She knew him too well, but she was
exaggera ng. He only did that once when she visited, and
coincidentally, today too, but that was just because he was in low
spirits.

“Maybe call me a er the service. If this was to cri cise me, I go a go.”

“Wait, don’t go. Sorry! I just wanted to know about your applica on.”

“What applica on?” he asked, feigning ignorance. Talking about it with

her was going to deepen the wound of rejec on. Bolu was the only one
who knew how badly he wanted to leave Nigeria to start his life, and
how hard he’d been praying about it. Yet, it seemed God was refusing to
intervene.

“Canada noooooow!” Bolu said, impa ently wai ng for feedback.

“Rejected!”

“Oh my God! I am so sorry. How do you feel? Should I come?”

“No. Don’t bother. A end the service, you’re already in church.”

16
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

“Doesn’t ma er. I will be against traffic and will be at your place in me

for me to join you in watching the live stream. I could even stay over. My
family is away, so no worries.”

“I appreciate you sis, but I would rather be alone.”

“Why do you want to be alone? Please, don’t let this affect your mind. I
know all these visa rejec ons are ge ng too much.”

“Why would it affect my mind, it's only just seven rejec ons if you count
the U.S ones.”

Bolu sighed, and he could picture her face, ha ng that he gave her this
news. She was the Queen of his prayer squad, second only to him in
praying that America would accept him and give him a home. Yet, it
looked as though God didn’t want this because it always ended in
rejec on. But he had always heard clearly that America was his home
and his country; a place to make an impact. However, he had stopped
applying a er mul ple rejec ons and shi ed his focus to Canada. It was
easier, and he had experience with successfully applying for others, but
he couldn’t be more wrong. His experience counted for nothing.

“I will keep you in my prayers, okay? Please don’t fret, God’s got you!”
Bolu assured him, and he smiled. At least he could count on the fact
that she’s got him. If Bolu could sell her le kidney to secure his dream,
she would consider it.

“Thanks sis! I appreciate you. Now, go in and a end service! We can

catch up over the weekend when I am strong enough to talk about this.
For now, I am just numb. I need a distrac on and can’t soak deeper into
this.”

“Yeah, I understand. Love you bro,” she said then hung up, and Bode
sighed.
17
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

But Yahweh, I prayed!

Prayed for a chance to be an American.

Prayed for a wife to build a family with.

And you assured me that this would be my life.

Ten years a er that first prayer, and probably a thousand mes a er I

prayed it, you have con nued to show me some kind of engineer in my
dream as my wife, yet, I remain as single and alone as always.

No wife (engineer or otherwise)

No country (America or otherwise)

Oh! But Yahweh, I prayed.

The sound from the television jolted him back from his musings. The
choir was singing, a song about prayers, and how God always answers.
He believed, but s ll, at that moment, it was just too much to take in, so
he switched off his television, desperate to do something that would
improve his mood. He couldn’t allow himself to slip into depression and
be too distracted to take care of his pa ents. And for some reason, a
certain pa ent stuck to his mind. He couldn’t shake her off, so he
stalked her on Facebook and Instagram. Ethically, he would never allow
himself to do this with any pa ent no ma er how curious he was, but
this was different.

It was Lizard!

Bode couldn’t help but smile when he remembered the nickname he

and his sister had given Rebecca and Elizabeth. Beast and Lizard! The
girls, with their American accents and hip lifestyle, had been so
18
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

haughty, everyone in church had either loved them or wanted to be

them. He, on the other hand, hated them, and as far as he was
concerned, they hated him too. They represented everything he
wanted so badly to be - affluent, privileged, exposed.

Elizabeth was no longer someone he could call Lizard though, she was
beau ful. Her last upload on Instagram was two years ago, but she
looked the same as she did in his office earlier. Her bio read - Studying to
become a Business Administrator, posi oned to lead change in Africa’s
evolving global innova on space.

She was probably done now, but he knew nothing about her to be able
to determine anything. The only thing clear on her page was that she
was in a rela onship with some white looking dude who was always
pecking her in selfies.

Elizabeth was worried about being pregnant. Could it be for this guy?

He shook the thoughts of her pregnancy scare off, refusing to go into a

judgemental slope. She was his pa ent, and that was that. He couldn’t
let himself think about her sexual life. Hopefully, he would see her
tomorrow and help her with further inves ga on and medica on for
whatever was ailing her. Then he would move on; move on to brooding
in confusion because at this moment, he did not know what next to do
with his life.

Oh! But Yahweh, I prayed… So much!

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have
received it, and it will be yours.” - Mark 11:24

Bode shook off the scripture as soon as he remembered it. Some of

God’s Word seemed like they had double meaning because how can
this scripture say, whatever, yet despite him leaning into the power of
19
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Yahweh, nothing happened. Of course, he remained commi ed to his

faith and wouldn’t backslide for this. He was too mature in his walk to
disappear from the faith just because of unanswered prayers, yet this
one hurt too much. It remained a mystery that unbelievers would have
something that he, who served the living God, had been denied.

Maryland, U.S.A

She had been behind her desk for six hours, literally glued to her seat,
coding! Building the app was the easy part. Now, she needed to
integrate ar ficial intelligence to make the sensory connec on work.

Since she was a child, telecommunica on had excited her. With Skype,
her family could connect despite everyone being sca ered across the
globe with some in the U.S, some in Australia, and others in Nigeria. Yet,
they never missed the monthly update group calls. Things were much
easier now with Zoom, Google Meet, instant Whatsapp video calls and
loads of video conferencing op ons. However, in those days, all she
knew was Skype, and it was what birthed her desire to improve
connec vity beyond just hearing and seeing people. She wanted to
make it possible to touch them.

Her Robo cs Professor had mocked her when she explained her project.
He did not consider it impossible, he just didn’t believe it could happen
in the 21st century. So when he entered the lab and saw her s ll at her
desk long a er the class was over and her colleagues had le , he
laughed.

“Why are you laughing sir?” she asked even though she already knew.

The Professor grabbed a chair and sat next to her, observing the work
she had done so far for a few moments.
20
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

“There may be some breakthrough to enjoy such possibili es as this,

but not in our life me,” he explained.

“Why?” she asked, cres allen.

“Because, my dear girl, there are just not so many years for a man or
woman to embark on something like this and finish it in their life me.
Think about Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone. I am
sure he desired wireless connec vity too, but that couldn’t have
happened in his life me. There is just not enough me,” he explained
further.

She shrugged. “I know it’s ambi ous, but Professor, I will create a
sensory feature on a chat interface that allows humans to interact with
the physical touch despite distance, and I will achieve it in my life me,”
she said and rose, grabbing her bag to leave, but the Professor was not
done.

“Are you saying you will proceed with this even if I do not believe in
you?”

“My God believes in me, and my husband believes in me, I will make do
with that!”

The Professor scoffed, “I will pretend that I didn’t hear the God part
because you Chris ans believe you can walk on water.”

“‘Oh, but we can. It’s a theory that has been tested. Jesus did it, Peter did
it, and…”

She was cut short by the Professor’s laughter. “Believe what you wish, I
don’t argue with Chris ans. You guys have been brainwashed in ways I
can’t even begin to unravel, so let’s focus on your husband. I say this
respec ully because I care, so please don’t take offence, but what does
21
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

a Nigerian-trained Doctor, who moved here only four years ago,

possibly know about the possibili es in technology and robo cs?”

She sighed. “My husband’s belief in me has nothing to do with his

exper se in a field that I have mastered. All I need from him is his trust
and belief that what I am doing makes sense. And I know you
men oned his training in Nigeria as an insult, but it doesn’t s ck at all.
He is one of the most beloved G.P’s at John Hopkins. That’s a feat that
some who trained here and have lived here all their lives haven’t been
able to achieve.”

“I wasn’t...” The Professor started to say, but she didn’t let him finish.

“I will leave you now sir. Doctor Bode is wai ng for me in the parking
lot,” she said, and le before he could respond.

Lagos, Nigeria (Present Day)

“Turn your face to me, let me see you,” Bode said from where he laid on
his living room couch.

The lady jumped into the arms of a man that looked exactly like him,
dressed in a very thick winter jacket.

“How was work?” he heard himself say to the lady, but she simply
replied with, “I love you, my dear husband.”

Bode tried to turn her face to him, but he heard a loud song. It was his
ringtone. He quickly grabbed his phone to end the call, struggling to
remain asleep. He didn’t want the sleep to end, but it did. He woke up
with a start! Bolu was calling him. Church was over, and she probably
wanted to come over.
22
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Damn! He was so close. Again. He cut the call and sent her a message.

Bolu, please go home, don’t come here. I am very fine. I may drop by
your house tomorrow morning. As soon as the text was delivered, he
switched off his phone.

Gosh! This was the third me he’d had this dream in six years. The last
me was two years ago, shortly before he abandoned applying for the
U.S Immigra on Visa and switched to Canada. He had dismissed the
dream as an imagina on, but it was so vivid, it felt like he lived it.

Who was this so ware engineer? If it were true that she would be his
wife, why has the U.S been denying his applica on. Where was he going
to meet her?

“Lord, I am so confused. What are you saying to me? Please, make me

understand. Yahweh, help me. My faith is weak, and my hope is lost. I
need you to make things clear. It seems nothing has changed, and you
s ll want me to go to America. Is that why Canada rejected me? But
America is not gran ng me a visa either. Should I remain here in
Nigeria? Should I start my residency? Oh Lord, please make it clear.
Make it easy for me to understand!” he cried, groaning in prayer for
another hour before he slept off again on the couch, not receiving any
clear instruc ons or direc ons.

23
Chapter Three

Elizabeth walked back to her seat at the wai ng area of Oceanic

Medical Centre, the sound of her heels, clicking the les and turning
heads. She tried to walk slowly to avoid the a en on, but it didn’t work.
People kept looking at her, and it felt like a walk of shame. She had just
concluded the pregnancy test and was now wai ng to see Doctor Bode,
the guy from her Abuja church who had insisted that he could be
trusted. She hoped she was right about him, but had to wait for thirty
minutes when the result would be ready to find out. Hopefully, she
would not have frozen to death before then. Her teeth were cha ering,
and she was more chilly than she usually would be if she was walking on
a street in New York at the start of winter. As soon as she sat, her phone
beeped. It was a Whatsapp message from Rebecca.

Lizzy, why are you avoiding me? What is going on? I am panicking here.
You are all by yourself in Lagos, and I am not sure things are going well.
You don’t have a place of primary assignment for your Na onal Youth
Service, yet you le Aunty’s house.

Elizabeth dropped her head into her palms in despair. Avoiding Becky
was unfair. In a split second, her memory flashed back to the a ernoon
that changed everything: the a ernoon that has made her
uncomfortable with facing her sister. She quickly dropped her phone,
unable to respond, but Rebecca was persistent. She rang her line twice,
but Elizabeth refused to pick the call. Another message dropped,

24
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

It’s obvious you don’t want to talk to me. You are online. I know you are
ge ng my messages. What did I do? My husband can’t be giving me
silent treatment at home, saying I am too proud, and you, the only
person who understands me in the whole world, will be avoiding me
too. I can’t take it. Lizzy. Please let’s talk. We can fix whatever is wrong
with you together.

Elizabeth threw her head back, struggling to keep the tears that
gathered quickly in her eyes and threatened to fall, at bay, but the
emo ons welling inside her were too overwhelming, she couldn’t stop
the tears. She decided to respond.

I am sorry. Please, forgive me, I didn’t mean it that way. I am just going
through a terrible phase.

As soon as the message dropped, she saw that Rebecca was typing. A
few seconds later, her phone pinged. She looked at the message.

Finally! Thank God. Baby sis, I am going through a terrible phase too. I
am just trying to make things work. My life is a mess, and my husband is
stressing me. We can find strength when we pull together. I’m gonna
call you now. Pick, let’s talk.

Elizabeth knew she was not in the right frame of mind to have a
conversa on. If she picked, Rebecca would sense there was something
going on. She already had her suspicions and she didn’t want to arouse
them any further. The other op on would be to lie to her about what
was really wrong, and she didn’t want to do that.

Sis, please let me call you at night. I am not in a quiet place.

Where are you?

At the hospital to run some tests. I have been sick, but not that bad, so
25
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

don’t worry.

Come back home, we miss you.

Elizabeth responded with a big smile emoji and heart, the tears
gathering for another round. Another message dropped from Rebecca
as she started typing her response.

When you are be er, you can come back, I will take care of you.

We will speak at night! I have to go now. Love you sis.

“Are you okay?” a woman in nurse scrubs and crocs asked, one of her
hands on Elizabeth’s shoulder in a gentle tap while the other offered
her ssue for the tears that now have a mind of their own, and have
refused to stop falling.

“I am very fine ma, I am just... I...” she stammered and stopped, unable
to con nue.

“Can I get you anything to make you more comfortable?” The nurse
asked, but Elizabeth simply shook her head and took the ssue in
gra tude.

“As soon as your test results are ready, you will see the Doctor.”

“Thank you.”

“You can take your prescrip on at the pharmacy. It's by the first window
on your way out,” Bode said to the pa ent who was now on his feet,
leaving. He nodded in understanding to the instruc on as Nurse Helen
entered. Bode sat up!
26
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“How is she? Do you know why she is crying?” he asked, fidge ng with
his pen as soon as the door shut behind his last pa ent. Nurse Helen
stared at him quietly. “What?” Bode asked, dropping his gaze to focus
on his computer and checking the results that just came in from the lab.
“Oh! That was quick. Please, call me Miss Elizabeth.”

“Who is that?”

“The lady I sent you to check outside.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to pass this case to another doctor?”

“No!” Bode said a li le too loudly, taking his eyes away from the screen
to look at her.

“You seem a bit too invested.”

Bode sighed, acknowledging to himself that he messed up by involving

the one Nurse that had the authority and rela onship to ques on him.
Now it was awkward.

“I was just worried about her,” he stated, trying not to sound defensive.
“She seemed really sad. No big deal,” he shrugged, trying to act casual.
“Please, send her in.”

Nurse Helen nodded before proceeding to obey the order while Bode
rolled his eyes. What was the big deal in being concerned about a
pa ent, especially one he knew from his teenage days? Lizzy had been a
funny li le girl, full of energy and wit than most eight year olds. Even as
a sixteen-year-old boy, too distracted with other issues, her energy was
not oblivious to his observa on.

What happened to such a vibrant extrovert to make her look so

defeated?
27
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

He was coming from the restroom when he spo ed her in the

recep on, typing fran cally on her phone, tears dropping sadly; the
kind of tears that only close observa on would have revealed because
her face was not distorted and her head was bowed. Bode had watched
her closely, and there had been an overwhelming need to know what
the issue was so that he could take it away. Impulsively, he had sent
Nurse Helen.

Could it be the pregnancy scare?

Well, it was definitely worth panicking over! Even he was panicking. The
lab scien st was playing with his emo ons because the pregnancy test
was missing from the documents they shared.

Elizabeth stepped into his office, walking confidently in her high heels
and short black dress, you would think she came for a job interview or
business mee ng. The tears were fully wiped now. She must have gone
to freshen up a er speaking to Nurse Helen because her lip gloss
looked freshly applied and the scent of her perfume was strong, as if
she had just worn it.

Bode shook his head, trying to focus. If he was no cing such things,
then maybe Nurse Helen was right. He shouldn’t be the one trea ng
her. “Hey Elizabeth! How are you doing today? I promise to look a er
you!” he said with a smile.

“Why are you making promises? You don’t have any obliga on to me.
Just tell me what is wrong with me and give me drugs for it.”

“Calm down and tell me how you feel today. Promising to look a er our
pa ents is a compulsory catch phrase we all use here to put our
pa ents at ease.”

Elizabeth leaned into her seat and rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, I’m
28
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

just under a lot of pressure and... Hmm…”

“Do you have a headache?”

“Yes, I do, and it’s one-sided and banging badly. I threw up twice this
morning before coming. I am also very cold,” she stated then gave him a
resigned look. “Please, just tell me my fate, Doctor. Am I pregnant?”

Bode wanted to do something to put her at ease, but he was lost. He

wasn’t the friendliest guy, and he didn’t have the ability to light up a
room, so he simply turned off the air-condi oner in his office then
looked back at his computer. Thankfully, the lab had sent the result he
needed.

“Give me a moment to look through your tests!”

“Okay! Thanks for turning off the A.C”

Bode didn’t respond to her, his focus on the result. A er a brief moment
of glancing through both tests, he sighed. He had ordered an addi onal
test to screen for Typhoid because of her Full Blood Count test
yesterday, and he was right to do so.

“You are not pregnant!”

“What?” Elizabeth asked, many emo ons coursing through her at the
same me. “Are you sure?”

“99 percent.” Bode responded, happy for her. He was going to smile
when she burst into uncontrollable tears, confusing him. He grabbed
the box of ssues on his table and went to sit beside her so she could
take some to blow her nose and wipe her face.

“I am embarrassing myself, but at this point, I don’t really care. I am just

29
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

so relieved.” she said, grabbing the ssue.

“May I ask you a ques on? Off the record!”

“Yes!”

“Why have unprotected sex if you are not ready for a baby?”

“Are you judging me?”

“I am just curious, and I will always be when a Chris an does something

out of character.”

“Now I definitely feel judged.”

“I’m not judging, I…” Bode began, then thought be er of defending

himself. Instead, he pa ed her shoulder briefly then went back to his
seat. “Actually, let's not talk about this anymore. It’s unfair to put you
under such pressure.”

Elizabeth wiped her face clean from tears, some of her makeup gone
now. “I am not that type of girl. I broke up with my boyfriend two years
ago to stop being that type of girl.”

“You don’t have a boyfriend? I saw a white guy on your Instagram page,
I thought...”

“You checked my Instagram?” Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise.

Bode smiled mischievously. “I wanted to be sure you were the girl from
Abuja Church.”

“Hmm…” she murmured, s ll staring at him with a curious look. Bode

lowered his gaze, now feeling a bit silly for checking out all her social
30
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

media handles when she spoke again. “I haven’t posted on Instagram

since like forever. I am not that girl on the page anymore. That’s why I
can't seem to get over my foolish mistake. Even though I escaped this
pregnancy drama, what I did will haunt me.”

“Oh no! Ask for forgiveness and watch the Holy Spirit wash you clean.
It’s that simple.”

“I know, but some sins are worse than others. It was beyond just
premarital sex. I messed up.”

Bode tried not to imagine what she did to make it worse “Maybe go for
counselling. You will find relief by talking about it.”

“You think so?”

“I do!”

Elizabeth sighed then looked him straight in the eye, and Bode knew
that she was going to tell him. He almost told her to stop, wan ng to
preserve the dignified way he saw her. A strong nudge dropped in his
heart and he felt ashamed of himself instantly.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge
others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye and pay no a en on to the plank in your own eye?
Ma hew 7: 1-3.

“As soon as I got back, I moved in with my sister. From day one, my
brother-in-law had his eyes on me. I knew it, and I let it get to me. I
might have indulged him, thinking I was stronger than him but…” she
trailed off, her gaze retrospec ve. She caught herself and focused on
Bode, trying to sound casual, yet Bode knew that reliving the
31
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

experience wasn’t easy for her. “He is a really fine man. All the girls liked
him, and all that a en on, brainwashing, se ng the mood, and…”

“Wait! Are we talking about Rebecca’s husband here?”

“God! No! What do you take me for? My sister’s husband? If I ever did
that, I wouldn't be alive to tell the story. I am referring to his brother.”

“Oh!” Bode sighed, relieved. “The first person that comes to mind
when you say brother-in-law would be your sister’s husband or your
husband’s brother.”

Elizabeth waved his opinion away. “Actually, let’s not talk about this
anymore. It is depressing. I am just glad that I get a second chance to
renew myself.”

“Yes, you do! Don’t give this a chance to eat you up.’

Elizabeth nodded, le ng the advice sink, then a fresh bout of worry

took over. “If my sickness is not a pregnancy symptom, what is wrong
with me?”

“It’s typhoid, and it’s high. I will need to admit you here for immediate
care.”

“Oh wow! Typhoid? I guess all that bo le water they sold in the
Mammy market at camp was no good at all.”

“That’s a possibility. Knowing the cause is good for avoiding triggers in

the future, but let’s focus on ge ng you be er right now.”

“Doctor, please don’t admit me. I hate hospitals. Just give me drugs.
Now that there is no pregnancy scare, I will be strong enough soon.”

32
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“I’m happy to hear that, but we need to put you under the care of our
professional…”

“Please Doctor!” she interjected, giving him her cute face.

She was being a baby about this and he found it amusing. “Remember
when you came, I promised we’d look a er you. Well, we take our
promises seriously. I am not even sure how you are able to hold a
conversa on and look decent. From your vitals, your temperature is 39
degrees.”

“It’s that bad?”

“It requires that we monitor you, but beyond that, I would love to set up
an I.V to give you drips and some other medica ons to treat you
quickly.”

“Oh Doctor!”

Bode smiled. He was liking the way she called him Doctor with that
sweet American accent. Maybe a li le too much. Swi ly, he pressed the
bell to alert the nurse to start her treatment immediately.

33
Chapter Four

Bode leaned back in his chair, le ng out a weary sigh as he rubbed his
temples. The hospital was quiet; the kind of quiet that only came a er a
long, exhaus ng shi . Most of the outpa ents who came during the
day had been a ended to, and only Elizabeth required admission since
the other cases were minor.

He couldn't shake the image of her anxious eyes as she looked up at

him, trus ng him to make everything be er while he set up the I.V line
for her drip, out of his head. Not admi ng her was not an op on; she
had been too frail. Reluctantly, he had le her for the nurse to take care
of while he went back to his office to deal with other pa ents. Now that
his shi was over, his mind was back on her. Nurse Helen may be right. If
he was thinking too much about a pa ent, he should not be trea ng
her. He glanced at the clock. It was late, and the corridors of the hospital
were emptying out. It was the perfect me to head home, but his mind
was anything but se led. Just as he was about to rise from his seat, his
phone buzzed. He reached for it, seeing his sister's name flash across
the screen. He smiled faintly, grateful for the distrac on.

"Hey sis," he greeted, his voice betraying his fa gue.

You sound red. How’s work?" Bolu responded, her voice full of
concern.

"Long day," he admi ed, leaning back in his chair again. "But I’m okay.
34
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

I’m done with my shi . How are you?”

“I'm good," Bolu replied before quickly shi ing gears. "Listen, I came
across something today, and I think you should take a look at it.”

Bode’s interest piqued slightly. "What is it?”

"I found a link to the new American visa website," Bolu said excitedly. "I
know you’ve been trying to get that visa for ages, and I really think you
should apply again. Maybe this is the break you’ve been wai ng for.”

Bode let out a heavy sigh, his ini al curiosity fading. "Bolu, I don’t know.
I’ve been rejected so many mes, I’m red of it.”

"Don’t give up, Bode," she urged. "You know this is what God has
always told you to do. America is where you’re supposed to be. Maybe
those other rejec ons were just tests and this is the real opportunity.
Those who give up never win."

Bode shook his head in disagreement even though she couldn’t see
him. "The Canada rejec on is s ll too fresh, Bolu. I can’t keep chasing
a er something that just seems so impossible.”

"But you can’t just sit and do nothing," she insisted. "You’ve always
wanted this. You’ve prayed about it. You even saw yourself in America
in that dream you had, remember? You said you were married to a
woman in tech or something like that. Doesn’t that mean something?”

Bode hesitated, the memory of that dream flashing briefly in his mind.
"Yeah, I remember. But I don’t know, Bolu. I’m star ng to think maybe
I’ve been chasing the wrong thing.”

Bolu’s voice so ened, sensing his discouragement. "Bode, maybe this is

the final push. Maybe you’re supposed to keep trying, keep believing. I
35
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

really think you should apply again. Who knows? Maybe this me it’ll
be different.”

Bode let out a red laugh. "You’re always so hopeful. I envy that about
you.”

"Well, someone has to keep the faith," Bolu quipped lightly. "You know,
Australia isn’t a bad idea either. They’re always looking for good
doctors. You could give that a shot if you are red of America and
Canada.”

Bode smiled at her enthusiasm even though the weight of his

disappointments s ll hung heavy. "I’ll think about it.”

"Think about it? Or pray about it?" she teased.

He chuckled so ly. "Maybe both. But honestly, a part of me is just red

of praying about this. I’ve been praying about it for years, and nothing
seems to change.”

Bolu paused, then spoke gently. "Maybe we should fast together.

Some mes, you just need that extra push.”

Bode rubbed his eyes, feeling the exhaus on of the day se ling in. "I
don’t know, Bolu. I’m kind of red of praying about this. Maybe it’s me
to pray for something else."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Bolu spoke again, her
tone playful. "Like what? A wife?”

Bode laughed, the sound li ing some of the heaviness that

accompanied the visa rejec ons. "Maybe. But even that feels
confusing. I mean, if I’m supposed to be in America, then maybe my
wife isn’t even here. Maybe she’s out there, wai ng for me. It’s just...
36
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

I’m 32, and nothing seems to be falling into place.”

"It’ll work out, Bode,” Bolu said so ly, understanding his despair. “We
just have to keep praying and trus ng God. And if you’re red, I’ll pray
for the both of us. How about that?”

Bode felt a swell of affec on for his sister. "Thanks, Bolu. You always
know what to say.”

"That’s what sisters are for," she smiled. "Promise me you’ll at least look
at the website? I’m sending you the link now.”

Bode’s phone buzzed again, signalling the arrival of Bolu’s message. He

glanced at the screen and sighed. "Alright, alright. I’ll take a look.”

“Good," Bolu said, sa sfac on evident in her voice. "And don’t forget
about Australia. There are op ons, Bode. You just have to keep moving
forward.”

"I will," Bode promised, his thoughts dri ing back to Elizabeth.
"Anyway, I need to go check on my pa ent. She was pre y out of it
when I admi ed her. My shi is over, but I want to see her again before I
go home.”

"A female pa ent, hmm?” Bolu asked teasingly. “A er your shi . Okay
o”

Bode laughed, shaking his head. "Very funny. It’s not like that.”

"Well, take care of her," she con nued, s ll playful but with a note of
seriousness. "And don’t forget to take care of yourself too, okay?”

"I won’t," he assured her. "Thanks for checking in, Bolu. I’ll talk to you
later.”
37
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

"Talk to you later. And remember, keep the faith.”

As the call ended, Bode stared at his phone for a moment, feeling the
familiar tug of uncertainty and hope ba ling within him. He glanced at
the message Bolu had sent, his finger hovering over the link, but before
he could open it, his mind wandered back to Elizabeth, lying in her
hospital bed, trus ng him to make things right. With a sigh, he pocketed
his phone and stood up. There would be me to think about America
later. Right now, he had a pa ent to look a er.

As he walked into the ward, Bode chided himself for being there, yet he
couldn’t bring himself to leave without seeing her one more me. She
was more than just a pa ent; more than just the li le girl he once knew.
She was Elizabeth; grown, beau ful, and fragile in ways that made him
interested in being there for her. He knew he shouldn’t get involved; it
wasn’t professional, but the history they shared and the inexplicable
bond he felt couldn’t be ignored. She had opened up to him completely,
sharing her deepest secret. That wasn’t just what you do with your
doctor; she considered him a friend and he didn’t want to disappoint
her.

He took a deep breath, glancing down the hallway where Nurse Helen
was sta oned. If it was some other nurse on duty, she would have
closed by now, handing over to the night duty nurse, but not Helen. She
was a formidable woman; seasoned and devoted. Some mes she
remained there ll two hours a er her shi , and Bode had always
admired that about her, but this me, he wished she was different.

As he walked into the ward, her sharp eye followed him, and he no ced
her observing him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. She had
taken on Elizabeth’s care herself, which meant he had to be careful if he
wanted to see her outside his shi without raising eyebrows. He forced
38
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

a casual smile as he passed her, offering a polite nod. She

acknowledged him with a slight lt of her head but didn’t say a word.

The door to Elizabeth’s room was slightly ajar. Bode pushed it open
gently and slipped inside. The room was dim, the only light coming from
a small bedside lamp cas ng a warm glow over the space. Elizabeth was
lying on the bed, her eyes half-closed, but she looked up when she
heard him enter.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, a weak smile on her lips. Her
voice was so and sounded strained, but there was a hint of warmth
that hadn’t been there earlier.

“I know,” Bode replied, his voice equally so as he pulled a chair close to

her bed. He sat down, leaning forward, his elbows res ng on his knees.
“But I wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” she admi ed, shi ing slightly under the blanket. “But be er, I
think.”

Bode nodded, his eyes scanning her face. The shadows under her eyes,
the paleness of her skin—all signs of the typhoid she was ba ling. But
there was also a so ness in her expression, something that hinted at
vulnerability, yet strength.

“Thank you,” she murmured, breaking the silence. “For everything. For
not judging me.”

He reached out, hesita ng only for a second before gently taking her
hand. It was warm, her skin so against his. “There’s nothing to judge,
Elizabeth. We all have moments we wish we could erase. But you’re not
alone in this.”

She squeezed his hand. It was a small gesture, but it sent a jolt of
39
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

warmth through him. “It’s just... Everything’s been so overwhelming.

Coming back to Nigeria, seeing Rebecca, and then... What happened... I
just… I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Maybe it’s not about fixing,” Bode said, his voice low, almost as if he
was thinking aloud. “Maybe it’s about moving forward, about finding a
way to live with the choices we’ve made.”

Elizabeth’s eyes welled up with tears, but she blinked them away
quickly, offering him a shaky smile. “You’re wise, Dr. Bode. Wiser than I
remember.”

He chuckled so ly. “I’ve had me to grow up since then.” They both fell
silent for a moment before Bode broke the silence. “I should let you
rest,” he said even though he made no move to leave. He didn’t want to.
Being there, si ng with her in the quiet of the night, felt right.

Elizabeth shook her head slightly. “Stay. Just a li le longer.”

He smiled, surprised. Just yesterday, she had run away because she
couldn’t trust him. Now, she wanted him to stay with her. He couldn’t
complain though. He didn’t want to leave either, so he leaned back in
the chair and con nued to hold her hand un l she fell asleep, which
was about five minutes later. Quietly, he exited the room, feeling
fulfilled at having been there for her today .

Few Hours Later

Elizabeth adjusted the pillows behind her as she se led back into the
hospital bed, her phone cradled in her hand. She felt a twinge of
discomfort but pushed it aside as she tapped to answer the call.

40
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Hey, Rebecca,” she greeted, her voice so and warm.

“Elizabeth, how are you doing? Are you ge ng be er?” Rebecca’s

concern was evident, her voice carrying an anxious edge.

Elizabeth sighed, feeling the weight of the sickness in her bones. “I’m
okay, just red. The doctor trea ng me insisted I stay in the hospital for
a few more days. You know him.. Bode…“

“Bode?” Rebecca asked, a note of curiosity in her tone. “Who’s that?”

Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile, knowing Rebecca wouldn’t

immediately remember. She was such a pain to Bode those days,
snubbing him disrespec ully. “In Abuja… We met him when we just got
back that year.” There was silence at the other end, and Elizabeth rolled
her eyes fondly at her sister. “You remember Bode, don’t you? You were
his bully.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a faint, dismissive

laugh. “Bode? Oh, wait… Isn’t that the chubby boy who was always
trailing behind us? He had a sister.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Yes, that’s the one.”

Rebecca sounded incredulous. “He’s a doctor now? You’re joking,

right?”

Elizabeth shook her head as she responded, smiling. “No joke. He’s
really changed, Rebecca. He’s been incredibly kind and a en ve since I
got here. He’s the one who pushed for me to be admi ed so I could rest
properly.”

Rebecca’s tone turned scep cal. “I’m glad he’s been kind, but Elizabeth,
are you sure you’re ge ng the best care? This hospital doesn’t sound
41
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

like the kind of place you should be in, especially if someone like Bode is
the one trea ng you.”

Elizabeth’s smile faded slightly, a hint of defensiveness creeping into

her voice. “Bode is a good doctor, Rebecca. Just because he was
different as a kid doesn’t mean he’s not capable now. He’s really looking
out for me.”

Rebecca sighed, her concern evident. “I’m not trying to dismiss him,
but you need proper care, especially now that you’re dealing with
typhoid. I just think you’ll be be er off in Abuja where I can get you into
a top hospital.”

Elizabeth felt a pang of frustra on but kept her tone gentle. “I

understand, Rebecca. But I’m already here, and Bode is doing
everything he can. I trust him.” Rebecca wasn’t convinced, but before
she could press further, Elizabeth’s phone buzzed with a message
no fica on. She glanced at the screen and saw it was from her local
government inspector. “Hold on a second, Rebecca,” she said, opening
the message. As her eyes scanned the text, her heart sank.

Miss Elizabeth, please report to the local government office tomorrow

morning. We have secured a new place of primary assignment for
you—a school. Please come prepared.

Elizabeth groaned so ly, rubbing her temples. “Oh no…”

“What now?” Rebecca asked, picking up on the tension in her sister’s

voice.

“It’s my local government inspector. They’ve found a new place of

primary assignment for me—a school. They want me to report
tomorrow morning.”

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Tomorrow? But you’re s ll in the hospital! How on earth do they

expect you to go anywhere?” Rebecca’s voice sharpened with
indigna on.

“They don’t know I am sick,” Elizabeth replied with some exaspera on.
“Even if they do, they don’t care. They just see me as another corps
member who needs to be placed somewhere.”

Rebecca’s voice turned firm and resolute. “This is exactly why you need
to come to Abuja. I’ll talk to someone and see if we can get you a
transfer. You shouldn’t be running around in your condi on, especially
not for some random school.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes, the weight of the situa on pressing down on
her. “Rebecca, I appreciate your concern, but I don’t want to make a big
deal out of this. Maybe this new assignment won’t be so bad. I am red
of being in Lagos with no sense of purpose.”

Rebecca’s frustra on was palpable. “Elizabeth, this isn’t about making

a fuss. It’s about taking care of yourself. You’re in no shape to be dealing
with this nonsense. You need proper rest, and you’re not going to get
that if they’re dragging you all over the place.”

Elizabeth knew her sister was right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling
that she needed to see this through. “Let me just see what happens
tomorrow. I’ll talk to them and explain the situa on. Maybe they’ll
understand and give me some me.”

Rebecca’s voice so ened, though the worry remained. “Fine, but if

they give you any trouble, I’m booking you a flight to Abuja, and you’re
coming straight here. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”

“I promise,” Elizabeth said, though her resolve wavered. “I’ll take it one
step at a me.”
43
 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Rebecca sighed, the sound nged with resigna on. “I just want you to
be okay... You’re my sister, and I need to know you’re ge ng the best
care possible.”

Elizabeth felt a warm rush of gra tude. “I know, Rebecca. And I’m so
grateful for you. I’ll keep you posted, okay?”

“Alright,” she agreed, her voice so ening further. “But remember, if

anything happens, I’m just a phone call away.”

Elizabeth smiled faintly, comforted by her sister’s unwavering support.

“I know. Thanks, Rebecca.”

As they ended the call, Elizabeth leaned back against the pillows,
staring up at the ceiling. The weight of the inspector’s message and
Rebecca’s concerns se led heavily on her, adding to the exhaus on
that already clung to her. As she took in the quiet hospital room, with
the distant hum of the monitors and the cool air of the air-condi oner,
she couldn’t help but agree that Dr. Bode was right to keep her there
tonight. Unfortunately, she had to leave tomorrow.

44
Chapter Five

Dr. Bode sat at his desk, reviewing pa ent charts, his thoughts
occasionally dri ing to Elizabeth. He hadn't been able to get her out of
his mind since yesterday, but singling her out to go and check on her this
morning would raise eyebrows as well as ethical concerns. Yet,
something about her—maybe it was her vulnerability or the quiet
strength she seemed to carry despite her illness—tugged at him more
than he wanted to admit. Just as he was about to close the chart, Nurse
Helen knocked lightly on the door and stepped in, a hesitant smile on
her face.

"Doctor, Elizabeth has been discharged. I am not sure you are aware."
Bode frowned, a sudden wave of annoyance washing over him. “What?
Discharged? By who?”

"She requested to be discharged herself, and Dr. Ibrahim signed off on it

this morning before you came in.”

Bode's annoyance turned into anger. He stood up abruptly, his brow

furrowed. "She hasn't finished her medica on! She wasn't ready to be
discharged!”

Nurse Helen took a step back, surprised by his reac on. "Doctor, it's not
that serious. I mean, she was on the mend, it's not like she had a life-
threatening condi on.”

45
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Bode retorted sharply. "She needs to stay here. She wasn’t ready to
leave.”

Nurse Helen narrowed her eyes, observing him carefully. "Is there
something going on here, Doctor? Why is she special? Is there
something I should know because you've never been this upset about
any pa ent before.”

Bode’s face flushed with anger. He shot Nurse Helen a sharp look. “Why
would you even say that? That’s ridiculous!”

Nurse Helen quickly backed down, holding up her hands in a gesture of

apology. “I'm sorry, Doctor. I didn't mean anything by it.”

She turned and le the office quietly, leaving Bode alone with his
thoughts. He sank back into his chair, her words echoing in his mind. He
frowned, shaking his head. No, it wasn't that. Or was it? He couldn't
deny that he had thought about her more than he should have—more
than he had ever thought about any pa ent. Without thinking, he
picked up his phone and dialled her number. The phone rang twice
before she picked up.

"Hello, Dr. Bode”

Bode tried to keep his voice steady. "Elizabeth, what’s going on? Why
would you discharge yourself from the hospital?”

There was a pause on the other end before Elizabeth responded. "I’m
sorry, Doctor. I just couldn’t stay any longer. My local government
inspector wants me to come in today for a new place of primary
assignment. I didn’t want to give him an excuse to see me as unserious,
so I had to leave.”

Bode clenched his jaw, his frustra on boiling over as he remembered

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

how bureaucra c the NYSC could be. "Are you sure you’re alright? You
s ll need care. This isn’t something you can just brush off.”

"I’m okay, Doctor. I s ll have a bit of a headache, but they gave me

medica on. I’ll be fine.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Where are you staying? Do
you live with friends?”

Elizabeth laughed. "What friends? I’m staying in a hotel”

He chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. “Big girl things”

“It’s my Dad’s room though. I am just using it since he’s not there.”

“We are saying the same thing, big girl.” Bode insisted, then con nued,
"You really should take care of yourself. Like your Yankee people will say,
"You're not out of the woods yet.”

Elizabeth chuckled at his mimicked accent. "I will, Doctor. Actually, I’m
just about to head to the school they’ve assigned me to. Wish me luck.”

"Good luck, Elizabeth. I hope this works out be er than the last place.”

"Thank you, Doctor. I’ll keep you posted.”

She hung up, and Bode sat there for a moment, staring at the phone in
his hand. The conversa on with Nurse Helen s ll lingered in his mind,
and he couldn't shake the feeling that he might be ge ng too involved.
But it was too late to turn back now. He had just go en off the call with
her, yet he was already in the mood to talk to her again.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Elizabeth stepped out of the cab and stared in disbelief at the

dilapidated building in front of her. The signboard that should have
proudly displayed the school's name was barely readable, its paint
chipped and faded. The walls of the school were covered in grime, and
the en re place looked like it hadn’t seen a fresh coat of paint in
decades. As she walked through the entrance, the sight that greeted
her made her heart sink even further.

The school compound was a chao c mess. Students wandered

aimlessly, some with their shirts untucked, others without shoes. The
noise level was overwhelming—shou ng, laughter, and cha er echoed
off the crumbling walls. Elizabeth wondered if classes were even in
session. She spo ed a few classrooms, their roofs par ally caved in,
leaving gaping holes that exposed the students to the harsh elements.
In other classrooms, the students sat huddled together, some on
broken desks, others on the bare floor, trying to focus on lessons that
seemed more like a distant hope than a reality.

Elizabeth’s heart ached as she took in the scene. Is this a school or a

marketplace, she wondered, feeling an overwhelming sense of despair.
The sheer neglect and disrepair of the place shocked her to her core.
She had seen pictures of rundown schools before, but witnessing it
firsthand was a completely different experience. How could anyone
expect children to learn in an environment like this?

She finally made her way to the principal’s office, treading carefully
over uneven ground li ered with broken chairs and discarded
notebooks. The office itself was cramped and stuffy, with old furniture
and stacks of yellowed papers sca ered across a worn-out desk. The
principal, a middle-aged man with red eyes, looked up as she entered.
"You must be the new youth corps member. Elizabeth, right?”
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Elizabeth nodded, trying to muster a smile despite the sinking feeling in

her stomach.

"Yes sir. I’m here to discuss my teaching assignment.”

The principal glanced at the file on his desk and then back at her. "You’ll
be teaching Informa on Technology.”

Elizabeth blinked, momentarily stunned by the words. She had come

here hoping to teach subjects she was actually qualified in. This was far
from what she expected.

“Sir, I studied Business Management. I was hoping to teach Commerce

or Business Studies.”

The principal sighed as if he had heard the same complaint a hundred

mes before. “We already have teachers for those subjects. Info Tech is
where we need you.”

Elizabeth felt a wave of frustra on wash over her. How was she
supposed to teach a subject she knew nothing about? The thought of
standing in front of a class, trying to explain concepts she wasn’t
familiar with, filled her with dread.

"Sir, I’m not sure I can effec vely teach Informa on Technology. I have
no background in it.”

The principal leaned back in his chair, his expression indifferent.

"Oyinbo pepper, with this accent, you are definitely not from here. Is
technology not an abroad thing? We even have a curriculum to guide
you. All you need is an idea, which I am sure you have. You don’t have to
study it in school. Anyway, that’s the only assignment. If you can’t
handle it, we’ll have to reject you, and you’ll need to find another place
of primary assignment. But let me warn you, we’re one of the few
49
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

schools s ll accep ng corps members at this me of the year.”

Elizabeth’s heart sank even further. The ul matum hung heavy in the
air. If she rejected this pos ng, she’d be back at square one, possibly
assigned to a place even worse—or worse s ll, get on the bad side of
the government inspector who was already unimpressed with her. She
swallowed hard, trying to think clearly. She remembered her sister’s
offer to come home, and for a moment, the idea seemed incredibly
appealing. Just pack up and leave this mess behind. But then again, she
knew it wasn’t that simple. Leaving would mean facing her father and
asking for his help, and that was out of the ques on. Also, the idea of
being seen as someone who couldn’t handle challenges gnawed at her
pride. Refusing this offer meant facing the wrath of the local
government inspector, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. She
took a deep breath, weighing all her op ons.

Maybe… Maybe she just needed to calm down and think things
through, she thought, trying to reassure herself, but the oppressive
atmosphere of the school, the weight of the decision, and the
exhaus on from her recent illness began to catch up with her. The room
started to spin slightly, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

"I’ll come back tomorrow, sir.”

The principal simply nodded, not paying much a en on as she turned

and le the office. As she walked out of the school compound, the
noise, the chaos, and the sheer hopelessness of the place weighed
heavily on her. By the me she reached the main road to catch a cab
back to her hotel, she was barely holding it together. She couldn’t wait
to get back to her room and just lay down and enjoy the small bit of
comfort it provided.

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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Bode’s apartment was filled with the warm, comfor ng aroma of

sautéed vegetables with spices. It was his evening off, and he had been
looking forward to a quiet night in, something rare for a doctor like him.
The fresh ingredients he just picked up from the market were spread
across the kitchen counter, and he moved around the space with the
ease of someone who found solace in cooking. He loved to eat, and so
he developed a keen interest in cooking to ensure that he could always
have what he wanted without having to buy or rely on a cook.

The steady rhythm of chopping vegetables and the sizzle of tomatoes

hi ng the hot pan would be considered stressful by most men, but
usually, it calmed him down a er long days at the hospital. Tonight
however was different. Tonight, no ma er how much he tried to focus
on his meal, his thoughts kept dri ing back to Elizabeth. He hadn’t been
able to stop thinking about her since Nurse Helen’s visit earlier. The
memory of how she looked the last me he saw her - pale, weak, yet
s ll somehow holding onto that inner strength - made him frown. He
wondered if she was okay, a knot forming in his stomach from the
worry. Unable to shake the concern gnawing at him, he set down his
knife, wiped his hands on a kitchen towel, and reached for his phone,
quickly typing out a message.

“Hey, Elizabeth. Just checking in to see how you’re doing. Hope you’re
feeling be er?

He placed the phone on the counter, expec ng her to reply quickly, but
as the minutes cked by with no response, his anxiety began to creep
back in. He stared at the screen, wai ng, un l finally, he sent another
message, trying to keep it light:

No reply? Don’t tell me you’re too busy for a doctor’s check-in!

51
 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Silence.

The vegetables were now simmering gently in the pot, the kitchen
bathed in a so , golden light. But Bode couldn’t enjoy any of it. He tried
to immerse himself in cooking again, but the image of Elizabeth, alone
and possibly unwell, was all he could see. Just as he was about to send a
third message, his phone rang, snapping him out of his reverie.

“Deji, what’s up?” Bode answered, trying to sound casual.

“Guy, how far? How’s everything? I’ve got some good news for you,”
Deji’s voice crackled through the line, full of excitement. The
enthusiasm in his voice was infec ous, even though Bode’s mind was
elsewhere.

“Good news? Hit me with it,” Bode replied, s rring the pot
absentmindedly.

“So, there’s an opportunity here at UCH,” Deji began, his voice

brimming with enthusiasm. “They’re looking for residents, and I’ve
been telling them about you. Man, with the way doctors are reloca ng
these days, they’re desperate for good hands. And let’s be honest, a
doctor with your experience will be snatched up quickly. It’s a federal
government job so it’s solid and secure. And guess what? We could
even partner up and start a private hospital here while working with the
government. I have been thinking about how cool it would be to start
our own prac ce. I could focus on gynaecology while you con nue with
general prac ce for now.”

Bode paused, the spoon in his hand hovering over the simmering pot.
Deji’s offer was temp ng - job security, a chance to build something
new, and most importantly, a step towards the kind of life Bode had
always envisioned for himself. But s ll, it felt like se ling. Yet, he
mustered the courage to sound enthusias c.
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“Wow, Deji, that’s a big offer,” he said. “I’m fla ered, man. I’ll have to
think about it though.”

“Of course, no rush,” Deji replied even though his tone suggested
otherwise. “But don’t think too long. Opportuni es like this don’t stay
open forever.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks for thinking of me, I really appreciate it.”

“Any me, bro. We need good doctors like you around here. Think about
it, and let me know.”

As Bode ended the call, he found himself more distracted than ever. He
finished cooking and plated the food. Brown rice with green vegetables
was his regular favourite, but as he sat down to eat, he couldn’t shake
the nagging worry about Elizabeth. His phone sat on the table next to
his plate, the screen s ll devoid of any new no fica ons. He picked it
up, staring at it for a moment before deciding to call her.

“She’s not going to pick up,” he mu ered to himself, but he dialled her
number anyway.

To his surprise, she answered on the third ring.

“Hello?” Elizabeth’s voice was faint and red.

“Elizabeth! Hey, I didn’t think you’d pick up.”

“Yeah. Sorry… I’ve just been… Not feeling too great.”

Bode’s heart sank at the weariness in her voice. The concern that had
been gnawing at him all evening now clawed at his chest. “What’s going
on? You weren’t sounding well earlier either.”

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Just feeling dizzy. It’s probably the typhoid. I haven’t really been able
to eat much.”

“Elizabeth, you should have stayed in the hospital. You need proper
care.”

“I couldn’t stay there, Doctor Bode. I have other things to do. I can’t just
lie around when they were wai ng for me at the school.”

Bode sighed, running a hand through his hair. Her stubbornness was
both admirable and frustra ng, and even though he tried to shake it off
as silly, he liked the sound of his name whenever she said it.

“What hotel are you staying at? Are you alone?”

“It’s Eko hotel… Yes I am alone.”

“Eko Hotel? Fancy. Big girl status,” he teased lightly, though his mind
was racing with concern. It was bad that she le the hospital, but worse
that she was alone in a hotel without any support or caregiver.

“It’s just convenient,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m coming to see you.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to—”

“I’m not asking. Do you have anyone else who can come? Your sister,
maybe?”

“I don’t want to bother anyone. My sister is in Abuja.”

“Then that se les it. I’m coming over.”

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Without wai ng for a response, Bode hung up, his mind made up. He
grabbed his keys, ready to leave, but felt a nudge to pause. Sick people
o en forget to eat, so he quickly turned back and packed a meal for
Elizabeth. Sa sfied, he picked up his keys again, this me with a quiet
resolve. He was going to make sure she was okay, down to the last
detail. As he drove to the hotel, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
Deji’s offer, Elizabeth’s condi on, his own sudden compulsive need to
be there for her, all of it tangled together, making it impossible to think
clearly. But one thing was certain: Elizabeth needed him right now, and
that was all that ma ered.

Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed, her phone s ll in her hand, and her
heart pounding as the call ended. Bode was coming. The thought sent a
flurry of emo ons rushing through her, and she found herself staring at
the screen in disbelief. Why is he coming? she wondered, chewing
nervously on her lower lip.

She glanced around the room, suddenly hyper-aware of the sca ered
clothes, the unmade bed, and the half-empty water bo les clu ering
the nightstand. A wave of panic washed over her. ‘Oh my God, my
room’s a mess’, she thought, springing up from the bed. She hurriedly
began to straighten the sheets, shoving her belongings into the nearest
drawer, trying to make the space at least somewhat presentable. Then
she paused, realising with a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t even need to
enter the bedroom. He could just sit in the adjoining si ng area.

Why is he so concerned? The ques on echoed in her mind as she tried

to pick something presentable to change into. Bode was ac ng like a
long me brother and friend, but they hadn’t even been that close
growing up. There was a seriousness in his voice that she hadn’t
expected, a determina on that made her stomach flu er with a mix of
anxiety and something else she wasn’t quite ready to name. Is it just
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

because he’s a doctor, she wondered, pausing to smoothen out the

comforter. Or is there something more?

As she died up, her thoughts dri ed to the Bode she used to know;
chubby, awkward, and with a so belly that jiggled when he laughed.
She smiled to herself, remembering how they used to tease him about
his weight. Now, she couldn’t ignore how much he had changed - tall,
lean, muscular and with a confidence that made her heart skip a beat.
What did he do to himself? she mused, making a mental note to ask him
about his transforma on. It was hard to reconcile the image of the boy
she once knew with the man who had become so... striking. She shook
her head, trying to focus on something else.

“This isn’t the me to be thinking about his body, Elizabeth,” she chided
herself out loud. “Holy Spirit please help me focus”.

But the thought lingered, along with a growing awareness of how much
she suddenly cared about what he might think of her. Her gaze darted
to the bathroom door, and she quickly moved towards it. What if her
breath smells, she thought, fran cally grabbing her toothbrush and
squeezing toothpaste onto it. As she brushed, she caught a glimpse of
herself in the mirror, her pale and red eyes staring back at her. She was
far from her best, and the thought of Bode seeing her like this made her
cringe. But there was no me to worry about appearances. He was
already on his way. Rinsing her mouth, she hurried back to the bedroom
and snatched up the bedside telephone. With slightly trembling
fingers, she dialled the hotel recep on.

"Hello, this is Elizabeth in Room 305," she said, trying to keep her voice
steady. "I’m expec ng a visitor; a man named Bode. Could you please
let him in when he arrives?”

"Certainly, ma'am," the recep onist replied. "We’ll no fy you when

he’s here.”
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"Thank you," Elizabeth said, ending the call with a sigh. She sank back
onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind raced. Why did she even
agree for him to come, she wondered, guilt creeping in. Was she really
that desperate for company? But then again, he hadn’t been ready to
take no for an answer.

Her phone buzzed with a new message. She picked it up and saw it was
from her sister,

Elizabeth, you need to come home. How are you feeling now? You can’t
expect me to be okay with knowing you discharged yourself from the
hospital.

Elizabeth frowned, typing a quick reply.

I’m fine, trust me. I’m be er.

A few moments passed before another message popped up.

David asked about you. He said he’s been sending you messages but no
response.

The words hit Elizabeth like a punch to the gut. Her heart clenched,
memories of the last few days flooding back—how she thought she
might be pregnant, the panic, the confusion, and then the relief when it
turned out to be typhoid. The thought of her brother-in-law, the man
who she had permi ed to turn her life upside down, made her chest
ghten with unease.

I’ve been busy.

I told him that much, but I’m glad you are ignoring him. Wasn’t
comfortable with the closeness between the two of you.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Elizabeth stared at the message, not responding. Even though Rebecca

had married David’s older brother, for some reason, she didn’t like
David, and had told her she thought he was trouble. At the me, she
hadn’t listened, but she was right.

What happened between you two anyway? I’m sure he must have done
something. What did he do?

Elizabeth closed her eyes, willing the conversa on to end. She wasn’t
ready to tell Rebecca what happened, and she wasn’t sure she ever
would.

Sis, please let’s talk later.

Elizabeth dropped her phone, unable to con nue the conversa on. Her
thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion. She wondered why she was
entertaining the idea of another guy coming to see her, the guilt
intensifying.

God, please forgive me. Help me get over this, I s ll feel dirty.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, shame overwhelming her like a heavy
shadow. She had promised herself never to have sex again un l she was
married, so sleeping with David was bad enough, but almost ge ng
pregnant for him was a line she never imagined crossing.

What if she had really go en pregnant?

The thought made her sick to her stomach and gripped her with fear.
Rebecca, who was s ll struggling to have a baby, would never forgive
her. She doubted she would forgive herself either. She was s ll
struggling with the shame of what happened between her and David,
but what was really crushing her was the betrayal that came a er. David
had filmed everything without her knowledge and posted it online on a
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popular porn site.

When he’d casually men oned it two weeks later as if it were nothing,
her blood had run cold.

“We're going to make a lot of money from this,” he'd said as though that
made it be er. "Don't worry, your face didn't show.”

She’d pleaded with him to delete the video, but it had fallen on deaf
ears. He’s told her that he’d signed a contract with the site, binding her
to this twisted mess.

"There's nothing you can do," he had said, dismissing her pleas.

She had thought about suing him, exposing him for what he had done,
but how could she without dragging herself into the spotlight? The
shame… The scandal… It would ruin her, and her father would never
forgive her for what it would do to his reputa on. She felt trapped,
suffocated by her own guilt, and David knew this. She had lost control,
and now, she couldn't find a way out.

True to his word, he sent her the money, and it felt like blood money.
She didn't need it - money had never been a problem for her. Yet,
because of it, David had stained her. Her reputa on and dignity felt
tarnished, and she kept chiding herself for le ng it happen. She tried to
distance herself from him, avoiding his calls and messages, but the
damage was already done.

She buried her face in her hands, feeling the weight of her emo ons
pressing down on her. What was she doing, she asked herself, her mind
a jumble of regret mixed with the nagging fear that her sister would find
out about her and David. She took a deep breath and tried to shove
David into a compartment in her head she could open later. Right now,
Bode was on his way, and she wanted to focus on that.
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Even with the chao c emo ons she was currently feeling, she couldn’t
deny the ny spark of excitement that flickered in her chest at the
thought of seeing Bode again. This good man, whose words and
a en on made her feel special, might just be what she needed to feel
clean and worthy again, she thought, trying to convince herself. Deep
down however, she knew it wasn’t that simple.

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Chapter Six

Bode stood outside Elizabeth’s hotel room, his hand ghtening around
the handle of the bag containing the food he had prepared. The hallway
was eerily silent, his footsteps echoing back at him like a ques on he
couldn’t answer.

What am I doing here?

The thought hit him like a wave, crashing over his earlier confidence.
Rushing out of the house, packing the food was all an adrenaline rush.
He was her doctor, not her boyfriend. What was he even thinking? He
hesitated, feeling the urge to turn around, go back home, and pretend
none of this ever happened, but then his phone buzzed. He pulled it out
of his pocket and saw a message from Elizabeth:

The recep onist said you are here. See you soon.

For a moment, Bode just stared at the screen, a mixture of relief and
something warm se ling in his chest. She was expec ng him. Maybe
this wasn’t such a bad idea a er all, he surmised as he made his way to
her door, his mind a jumble of doubts and reassurances. When he
finally reached it, the door opened before he could knock, and there
she was. Elizabeth stood there, looking far more fragile than he had
imagined. Instantly, his earlier reserva ons dissolved into the
background. All he could see was someone who needed him.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“Doctor, come in,” she said, her voice so , but he caught a hint of
shyness, maybe even awkwardness.

He stepped into the room, trying to keep his thoughts in check and not
overthink things since he was there already. The suite was spacious,
with a small living room area leading into the bedroom. As Elizabeth
excused herself to freshen up, Bode sat down on the couch, placing the
food on the table in front of him. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a
deep breath.

Just focus on why you’re here. You’re a doctor, and she’s not well. That’s
it. Nothing more.

But as he waited, his eyes wandered around the room, and his thoughts
refused to listen to his advice. It was on a roll. He couldn’t stop thinking
about Elizabeth, even now that he was around her. He couldn’t help
thinking about how he felt when he saw her standing there, giving him
a giddy rush. With sudden clarity, he realised he always felt something
around her. That must have been why he rushed out of his house
without a second thought the moment she needed him.

What is it about her? Why can’t I just think straight?

His inner turmoil was interrupted when Elizabeth reappeared, now

dressed in a so sweater, comfortable socks, and a headband holding
her hair back. She looked more put together, but s ll, there was a
weariness about her that tugged at Bode’s heart.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice nged with concern. “S ll
dizzy? Any headaches?”

“The dizziness is s ll there… And the headache... It’s pounding,”

Elizabeth admi ed with a sigh, sinking into the couch beside him. “I
haven’t been able to sleep much.”
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“You need rest,” he said, his doctor’s ins nct kicking in. “I have
something that might help with the headache. And you should eat
something, it’ll help.”

Elizabeth glanced at the food he brought, and Bode no ced the way her
eyes so ened. “You brought me food?” she asked, clearly touched.
“You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to,” Bode replied, opening the flask and inser ng a fork into
the meal, his heart thudding in his chest. “It would break my heart if you
don’t eat it, so don’t think of saying that you don’t have an appe te.”

A small smile curved her lips, and she picked up the fork, taking one
tenta ve bite a er another. As she ate, Bode watched her closely,
trying to keep his thoughts professional, but failing miserably. Every
now and then, his eyes would dri to her face, no ng the way her
expression shi ed from fa gue to something lighter, something he
hoped was comfort. What am I doing? he wondered again, but this me
the ques on wasn’t filled with doubt. Instead, it was more of an
acknowledgment. He couldn’t deny that he cared about her more than
he should. He watched as she ate a few bites then took the medica on
he offered. A erwards, they sat in companionable silence for a
moment before she spoke again.

“I’ve decided to teach Info Tech at the government school,” she said,
her voice though ul. “It’s a bit of a challenge, but I’m trying to embrace
it.”

Bode looked at her, surprised. “Tech? That’s impressive. Do you have a

background in it?”

“Not really,” she admi ed, shrugging slightly. “But I enrolled in a course
on machine learning and ar ficial intelligence. It’s something I felt I
needed to explore—something God put on my heart. So a er my NYSC,
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

I am going all in”

Bode raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “AI and machine

learning? That’s... incredible. Where are you taking the course?”

“I’ve applied to a school in the US,” she said, her eyes growing distant as
if imagining it. “If things work out, I’ll be heading back there to con nue
my studies. I feel like God is giving me a second chance to do things
differently, and I want to embrace it fully. This AI course will help me
scratch an itch. I can’t seem to stop thinking about connec vity and
how to advance it using AI. I probably should have studied Robo cs or
something related, but business knowledge is never a waste. I will
definitely need it too ”

As she spoke, rambling on half to herself and half to him, Bode felt a
strange mix of emo ons. He was proud of her drive and ambi on, but
at the same me, he couldn’t shake the growing a achment he was
developing, and to be le behind by a girl he liked because her country
didn’t want him would be a double blow. Yet, every word she said made
him more aware of how much he admired her; not just for her beauty,
but for her intellect, her determina on, and the vulnerability she rarely
showed. He heaved an inward sigh, admi ng to himself that being
there was more than just professional concern, but he had no clue what
this meant and what to do about it. As the conversa on deepened, he
found himself torn between the man who wanted to protect her as a
doctor, and the man who was beginning to feel something more.
Elizabeth had no idea of the storm brewing inside him, and for now, he
wasn’t sure he wanted her to know.

When she finally finished her meal, she set down her fork and looked at
him, her expression a mixture of gra tude and curiosity. Bode could
feel the weight of her gaze, and he met it with one of his own.

“You know you have just been staring at me right? Am I safe, Doctor?”
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Bode looked away, a bit embarrassed that she’d caught him staring.
“My work here is done, I will leave you to rest,” he said and rose up
swi ly. Time to go home before he got even more obvious about
something he hadn’t even really prayed about yet. Although, he had no
doubt that he liked her. “My name is not Doctor, call me Bode,” he said
and she blushed, making him wonder if she liked him too.

He however knew they wouldn't do anything about it, at least not

today. It was s ll too early.

65
Chapter Seven

One Month Later

Bolu sat comfortably on a sofa in her living room, her hair sec oned off
as Nkechi, skillfully twisted braids into her hair. Bolu’s husband had just
taken the children to bible study, and the ladies were determined to
finish the hair before they came back. With kids around, things were
usually slower.

The ladies had met during Bolu’s honeymoon in Dubai at a nail salon,
and had become really close. The friendship was largely virtual because
Nkechi lived in America, where she owned a salon. She was therefore in
her element as she made Bolu’s hair, her fingers moving de ly as she
braided it. Though she had built a successful life abroad, she never
missed an opportunity to reconnect with her roots whenever she
visited Nigeria, and so she would rather stay with a friend or family
member than in a hotel. This me, she was staying with Bolu.

“Nkechi," Bolu said, her voice teasing, "You’ve barely been here a day
and you’re already working your magic on my hair, Ain’t I lucky? How
much do you charge for this in America?”

Nkechi grinned, her eyes twinkling with pride. "I charge $200 for this
style. Can you imagine?”

Bolu laughed, shaking her head. "America really is another world.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

$200? I won’t even bother conver ng that to naira.”

Nkechi chuckled, gently pulling at a sec on of Bolu's hair. "Don’t be

fooled, my dear. Even though it seems like I’m earning so much from
making people’s hair, by the me I am done with my monthly expenses,
the money has finished. I’ve realised that there is no perfect place. The
best place is where God wants you to be.”

Bolu smiled in agreement, glancing at her friend through the mirror in

front of them. "Being in Lagos will be good for you. The city breathes
life”

“Exactly!" Nkechi said, laughing. "Lagos never changes, does it? To be

honest, I do miss the hustle and bustle some mes. America is great, but
there's nothing like home. I can let my hair down for a while,” she said,
smiling. As they cha ed, Nkechi’s tone grew curious, and she glanced at
Bolu with a mischievous smile. "By the way, how’s your brother, Bode?
You know I had an instant crush on him the first me I saw you post his
picture on Instagram.”

Bolu raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Crush ke?
Are we teenagers?”

Nkechi leaned in, a playful glint in her eyes. "Don’t pretend you don’t
know what I’m talking about. I was hoping he’d be around. I wouldn’t
mind a proper introduc on, you know.”

Bolu laughed, shaking her head. "Nkechi, you’re living the good life in
America. What do you need Bode for?”

Nkechi’s grin widened. "Who says I can’t have both? America is great,
but Bode... Well, he’s something special. What is he up to these days?”

Bolu’s smile faded slightly as she sighed. "He’s been working hard, but
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things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.”

Nkechi frowned in concern at her friend’s comment, curious. “What’s

up?”

“He’s had his fair share of challenges with immigra on visas, especially
with the U.S. Just last month, he got another rejec on. In fact, I think
this is why he has s ll not se led down in marriage.”

Nkechi’s eyes widened in surprise. "But why nau?! With the way
Nigerians are pouring into Canada and the UK, even if America did not
work out, couldn’t he try those?”

“He did, but no luck with those either.”

“Wow! That’s serious.”

“Huh-uh!”

The ladies grew silent for a moment, Nkechi, wearing a though ul

expression that soon turned into a mischievous grin, "But if he’s s ll
single, that means there’s hope for me!”

"Nkechi! You and your plans,” Bolu stated with slight amusement.

“But he is single, is he not?” Nkechi prodded, refusing to relent.

“He’s single, yes, but he’s focused on his work, and we are trus ng God
for the visa.

"The more reason you need to introduce us,” Nkechi said, unrelen ng,
and Bolu laughed. “I’m serious Bolu, I’m not joking about having a crush
on him since forever!”

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

"Nkechi, don’t tell me you’re trying to catch a husband on this

vaca on?" Bolu teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Why not?" Nkechi said with a grin. "A girl has to maximise every
opportunity. Just introduce us. We’re both adults. What’s the harm in
seeing if there’s something there?”

Bolu chuckled, apprecia ng Nkechi’s persistence. "You’re something

else, Nkechi. But trust me, my brother is not the type to jump into
things. I have go en my fingers burnt trying to matchmake him in the
past.”

Nkechi leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I like a challenge. When can I
see him? I’m not here for long, so we need to make this happen soon.”

Bolu shook her head, s ll laughing. "Okay, okay, I’ll talk to him. But don’t
get your hopes up. My brother can be very... par cular.”

Nkechi winked. "Par cular? We’ll see about that. So when do we go?”

Bolu sighed, pulling out her phone to send Bode a message. As she
typed, she glanced at Nkechi, who was watching her with eager
an cipa on.

Hey, Bode. I want to come and see you this evening with a friend. Is that
okay?

Bode’s reply was almost immediate.

Please, don’t come, Bolu. I’m busy. We can meet some other me.
Without your friend, please.

Bolu bit her lip, trying to think of a way to so en the news for Nkechi.
"He says he’s busy today. Maybe some other me?”
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

Nkechi didn’t seem fazed. "No problem. You guys s ll a end the same
church, right? Just tell him we’ll see him in church tomorrow. It’s me to
make things happen!”

Bolu laughed again, shaking her head in disbelief. "You’re something

else, Nkechi. But fine, we’ll see what happens. Just don’t say I didn’t
warn you.”

Nkechi flashed a confident smile as she con nued braiding Bolu’s hair,
already planning her next move. "Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.
Your brother won’t know what hit him.”

Bode sighed as he pulled on his workout shirt and grabbed his gym bag
from the corner of his room. He knew his sister too well. Bolu coming
over with a ‘friend’ was never casual. He could make an accurate guess
of what that meant - another matchmaking a empt. Usually, he would
indulge her, meet the friend, and shut it down nicely, but it never ended
well. His sister’s well-meaning efforts always seemed to miss the mark.
And truth be told, he wasn’t in the mood today. His thoughts kept
dri ing back to Elizabeth, the woman who had unexpectedly captured
his heart. These past few weeks, their friendship was what kept him
sane. Even though they were s ll very platonic, mee ng another one of
Bolu’s friends would just complicate things, and the last thing he
needed was more complica ons.

As he headed out of his apartment, Bode tried to shake off the

frustra on that had been building up from the uncertain es in his
situa onship with Elizabeth. The late a ernoon sun was beginning to
dip, cas ng long shadows on the ground as he made his way to the gym.
The complex was quiet, and he welcomed the solitude as he walked,
each step measured and deliberate. This rou ne had become his
escape, his way of clearing his mind and working towards a version of
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

himself he could be proud of. He had come a long way from the
overweight, self-conscious man he once was. The gym had become his
sanctuary, a place where he could focus on his goals and push himself
to be be er. It wasn’t just about the physical transforma on, it was
about the discipline, the consistency, and the mental clarity that came
with it. As he walked, he could feel the tension easing from his
shoulders, the steady rhythm of his steps grounding him.

Bode had his earbuds in, and the familiar strains of Dunsin Oyekan’s
"Channels of My Spirit (Open Up)" filled his ears. The powerful worship
song resonated deep within him, each lyric s rring his soul as he so ly
sang along, his voice merging with the music in a private moment of
worship. When he reached the gym, he swiped his key card, and
stepped inside. The cool air hit his face, a welcome contrast to the heat
outside. Bode nodded at a few familiar faces but didn’t stop to chat. He
was here for one reason: to work out the stress and the confusion that
had been swirling in his mind all day.

As he set his bag down and headed towards the treadmill, he couldn’t
help but smile wryly at the thought of his sister’s persistence. Bolu
meant well, but she didn’t understand. His heart was already spoken
for, even if Elizabeth didn’t know it yet. Bode wasn’t sure where things
with her were headed, a erall, a steady friendship didn’t mean things
could escalate, but he knew one thing, mee ng another friend of Bolu’s
right now would only add to the confusion in his mind. He stepped onto
the treadmill, adjusted the se ngs, and started his run. The steady
rhythm of his feet pounding against the belt matched the beat of the
music in his ears. He con nued singing along with Dunsin, le ng the
words sink deep into his spirit.

As the miles cked by on the screen, his thoughts began to clear. He had
been wrestling with the idea of reaching out to Elizabeth all day, unsure
if it was the right move. He didn’t want to be distracted, especially not
by someone who seemed to have taken up so much space in his heart
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 Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

already. But as the song played, he felt a sense of peace wash over him,
as if God was reminding him to trust in His plan.

Lord, I need You to direct my steps. I don’t know what to do next. If

Elizabeth is meant to be in my life, reveal that to me. I don’t want to
waste me on something that’s not Your will.

He finished his run and slowed to a walk, his breathing heavy but his
mind clear. The answer didn’t come in words but a gentle nudge in his
spirit:

Chat Elizabeth.

Bode stepped off the treadmill, his heart s ll racing, but now for a
different reason. He knew he couldn’t ignore the promp ng. Whatever
the reason, he felt compelled to reach out to her. And the truth was,
deep down, he wanted to. With a deep breath, he picked up his phone
and opened their chat. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a
moment before he started typing.

Hey Elizabeth, how are you doing? What’s up?

He hit send and waited for her response, his heart bea ng faster than
he liked to admit.

Elizabeth sat on her bed, her laptop perched on her lap as the faint glow
of the screen illuminated her face. Her fingers hovered over the
keyboard, a so smile playing on her lips as she read through the latest
messages from Bode. They had been cha ng every day since she
stumbled on him at the hospital. It felt like they had become best
friends almost overnight. There wasn’t much he didn’t know about her.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

She typed a quick reply, her heart flu ering slightly as she hit the ’send’
bu on.

I’m doing fine, thanks! What about you?

I am at the gym

Gym, huh? It’s really working out for you. I can see the results.

Bode’s reply came almost instantly.

Oh, so you're admiring me now?

Elizabeth blushed, feeling the warmth spread across her cheeks. She
quickly typed back.

Well, I have eyes, don’t I?

Okay, okay. I see you.

Elizabeth giggled, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.

Please, change the topic!

Alright, alright. How about that lesson plan you were working on? Are
you done with it?

Not even close. There’s s ll so much to do. But you know, teaching Info
Tech has actually made me more interested in the subject myself. I
didn’t realise how much I’d enjoy it. The more I dig into the material, the
more I realise how outdated the curriculum is. I’ve been thinking about
how we’re s ll teaching stuff that’s decades old, it’s crazy!

That’s impressive, Elizabeth. Not everyone would take that extra step
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to make sure the students are ge ng the best. They are lucky to have
you.

Elizabeth chuckled so ly, shaking her head. The more they talked, the
more she found herself drawn to him. It was easy to forget how quickly
their connec on had developed. She had started looking forward to
their chats, which o en dri ed from the prac cal to the personal, and
some mes even flirta ous. She typed another message.

You’re giving me too much credit. But yeah, I’ve been researching a
lot—AI, modern tech, coding. It’s exci ng actually. I want these kids to
know there’s more out there.

She paused, wai ng for his reply.

That’s amazing, really. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. By the way, where are
you worshipping tomorrow? Have you found a church close to your
hotel?

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before replying. She always gave him
the same answer.

You already know. I’ve been a ending Abuja Church online since I got
here. It’s just easier that way.
A few seconds passed before his next message appeared.

I get that. But it would be nice to a end a physical church too, you know.
Why don’t you come to mine this Sunday? It’s a bit far from you since it's
on the mainland, but there won't be traffic, and I’ll be there; a familiar
face, wai ng for you.

Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat. The thought of seeing him again in
person made her pulse quicken, but at the same me, it made her
nervous. Their connec on was growing deeper, and she wasn’t sure
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

where it would lead. She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keys
as she debated what to say. Finally, she typed her reply.

Okay, sure, Why not? I’ll come.

Bode replied instantly.

Awesome.

As soon as she sent the message, a wave of uncertainty washed over

her. What had she just agreed to? The idea of being around Bode in
person, in a more in mate se ng like a church, si ng side by side,
made her heart race. She had been enjoying the safety of their virtual
friendship, but this would be different. She was lost in her thoughts
when her phone buzzed with another message. This me, it was from
Rebecca.

Lizzy, please call me when you can. David says he wants to come and see
you in Lagos. Are you two close again? He’s not the kind of guy to be
close to. He has issues.”

Elizabeth’s heart sank, and panic gripped her.

David.

The name alone sent a shiver down her spine. She wanted to move on
from him completely and even forget that their paths ever crossed, but
the disgraceful evidence online made that impossible. His incessant
need to contact her was an irrita on she could ignore, but the decision
to come to Lagos to see her was another thing en rely. The thought
made her stomach churn with anxiety.

She quickly closed the chat window with Bode, her mind racing as she
tried to process the sudden turn of events. What did David want? He
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had refused to take down the video despite all her pleas and threats ll
she le Abuja. Why was he reaching out now? The ques ons swirled in
her mind, each one more unse ling than the last. She set her laptop
aside and took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She needed
to figure out what to do next, but one thing was clear—her life was
about to get a lot more complicated.

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77
Chapter Eight

The first light of dawn peeked through the heavy curtains of Elizabeth’s
hotel room, cas ng a pale glow across the space. The room was eerily
quiet save for the faint hum of the air condi oning. Elizabeth sat on the
edge of the bed, her hands clasped ghtly in her lap, her mind swirling
with a storm of thoughts that refused to se le. She had been looking
forward to this Sunday service because Bode had invited her. It was her
chance to physically be in church and also see Bode again, but the
an cipa on she had felt last night was now overshadowed by a
gnawing worry that had crept in with the message from Rebecca. Her
sister’s words echoed in her mind.

"He wants to see you, Elizabeth. He’s coming to Lagos. What’s up with
you two? I have never seen him so determined, but he desperately
wants your address. I am not comfortable with this.”

Elizabeth’s heart pounded just thinking about it. He’d been sending her
messages too o en to be casual, all of which she had ignored especially
a er the pregnancy scare. She just wanted him off her back. Even
though she wasn’t pregnant, the fear of what could have been, of what
might s ll be, clung to her like a dark cloud. She toyed with the idea of
calling him and telling him to back off and leave her alone, but the very
thought of having a conversa on with him made her stomach churn.
How had she let it get to this point? Even now, Rebecca was already
wondering what’s up. How awkward would it be to find out your sister
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was in a pornography video with your husband’s brother.

“God, why did I even allow myself to go there?”

The ques on hung in the air, heavy with regret. She buried her face in
her hands, the tears coming without warning, hot and fast. She wept,
her body shaking with the force of her emo ons as she cried out to God
in despera on.

“God, I’m so sorry. I know You’ve forgiven me, but I feel so dirty... So
unworthy. How did I let myself go there? Please, make this go away. I
don’t want to see him. I don’t want my sister to know. I don’t want to be
reminded of what I did.”

Her words came out in a rush, a torrent of guilt and shame that she had
been carrying for months now. The weight of it was unbearable, and all
she wanted was to be free from it; to feel clean again, and to have a
fresh start.

“Lord, redeem me. Give me a fresh start. I kept myself for two years.
Two years, God! I le my former boyfriend because I wanted to be sold
out to You, to be a living sacrifice. And now... I messed it all up in my first
week of coming to Nigeria. Lord, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She knelt
beside her bed, her head bowed low as she con nued to pray, her voice
barely a whisper now. “Please, God, help me come out of this mess. I
need You to sort this out, I don’t know what to do.”

In the quiet of the room, with her heart laid bare before God, Elizabeth
felt a flicker of hope, a ny glimmer of the peace she so desperately
needed. It wasn’t much, but it was something—enough to keep her
praying. As she lingered in that place of prayer, her phone, which had
been lying forgo en on the nightstand, suddenly beeped, breaking the
s llness. She reached for it, wiping her tears away with the back of her
hand before unlocking the screen. It was a message from Bode:
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Should I pick you up from the hotel? The road is free.

Elizabeth stared at the screen, her heart sinking. The last thing she
wanted was to see anyone right now, especially Bode. She had been so
eager to go to church and fellowship with him, but now, she wasn’t sure
if she could handle it. The turmoil in her heart made her ques on
everything—even the nature of her budding friendship with him.

“God, what is this friendship with Bode? I don’t want to do anything

that will lead me astray again. I don’t want to get close to him if it’s going
to mess up my walk with You. Please, give me clarity.”

As soon as she prayed those words, she felt a gentle sense of calm se le
over her, a peace that quietened the chaos in her mind. It wasn’t an
answer, not in the way she had hoped, but it was enough to ease her
doubts, enough to make her want to go to church a er all. With a deep
breath, she swi ly replied to the message:

No, don’t worry, I’ll meet you at church.

She set the phone down and stood up, feeling lighter than she had in
days. The tears had dried, and though her heart was s ll heavy, she
knew she needed to go to church. She needed to be in God’s presence,
to find comfort in the worship, and maybe, just maybe, to find some
clarity about Bode and everything else.

With that thought, she headed to the bathroom to wash her face and
get ready for church, praying silently as she went, holding on to the
small sense of peace that had found her in the midst of her turmoil.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Bode sat in the pew, his hands clasped together as the final notes of the
worship session faded. The powerful praise had li ed his spirit, and he
had lost himself in the music, the voices of the congrega on blending
into a harmonious chorus that filled the sanctuary with an almost
tangible sense of the divine. He had saved a seat beside him for
Elizabeth, but as the minutes cked by, he couldn’t ignore her absence.
Was she going to take a rain check? The thought made him feel bere ,
but he quickly shook it off. Seeing Elizabeth was the bonus, not the
reason for being in church.

As the worship leader transi oned into a me of prayer, urging the

congrega on to ask God for something and seek a gi from the service,
Bode tried to focus. He bowed his head, ready to pray, but the words
wouldn’t come. It wasn’t that he didn’t have requests, far from it, it was
just that over the past five years, he had prayed about his reloca on,
about finding a wife, and about star ng a family, but none of those
prayers had been answered in the way he had hoped. A deep sense of
weariness se led over him, and he wondered what the point was.

Why keep asking when it seemed like God wasn’t listening?

"Ask God to give you a gi today. Tell Him the desires of your heart," the
worship leader urged.

Bode’s heart was heavy, weighed down by years of unmet

expecta ons. He tried to pray, but the words felt hollow, and he found
himself slipping into worship instead, li ing his hands as if trying to
reach for something out of his grasp. Then a thought entered his mind,
quiet but persistent:

Pray for her. Pray for Elizabeth.

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It was as though a light had broken through the fog in his mind. He
couldn’t pray for himself but he could pray for her. And so, with an
urgency that surprised even him, he began to pray, pouring out his
heart for Elizabeth. He prayed for her peace, for her comfort, and for
God’s guidance in her life. He prayed for her to find clarity and strength
and to overcome whatever burdens she was carrying. The more he
prayed, the more fervent his prayers became un l he was so lost in
intercession, he didn’t no ce the gentle tap on his shoulder. Startled,
he turned quickly to see Elizabeth standing behind him, a so smile on
her face.

“I’ve been looking for you. I was almost going to sit somewhere else.”

Bode smiled, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. “Oh, I kept a
seat for you. You’re si ng here,” he said, poin ng to the empty seat
beside him.

She returned his smile and nodded, quickly sliding into the while the
worship leader con nued to lead the congrega on in prayer. Bode and
Elizabeth joined in the prayers, and as it drew to a close, the service
leader stepped forward, his voice warm and invi ng.

“Turn to the person next to you and tell them they’re looking nice. Give
them a hug or a handshake and welcome them to the house of the
Lord.”

Bode turned to face Elizabeth, and it was like he was seeing her for the
first me. Her beauty took his breath away, and the words came easily
and sincerely.

“You look so beau ful today.”

“Just today?” Elizabeth teased then blushed, her cheeks nged with
pink.
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Bode couldn’t help but smile. He reached out and shook her hand,
“You’re welcome to church,” he said, but the moment their hands
touched, something shi ed. A calmness washed over him, unlike
anything he had felt in a long me. It was a simple touch, yet it carried a
depth that neither of them had expected. He could feel her warmth and
presence, and it steadied him, grounding him in a way that was both
comfor ng and unnerving. He didn’t want to let go, but he knew he had
to. With a reluctant sigh, he released her hand and forced himself to
focus on the message that was about to begin.

The guest minister took the pulpit, and his words seemed to speak
directly to the turmoil in Bode’s heart.

“Today, we’re talking about trust—trus ng God even when it doesn’t

make sense. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to
Him, and He will make your paths straight.’

My brothers and sisters, there are mes in our lives when trus ng God
seems to make no sense at all. When the road ahead is dark, and every
step feels uncertain. It’s easy to ask, ‘God, where are You in this?’ You
may be facing a situa on right now that leaves you ques oning,
doub ng, or even fearing what lies ahead. Maybe you’ve prayed, and it
feels like God is silent. Maybe you’ve cried out, and it seems like heaven
isn’t listening. But let me remind you of something important: God
doesn’t abandon His children.

The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9, ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.’

You see, we o en try to fit God’s plans into our own understanding, but
God’s ways are beyond our comprehension. He sees the end from the
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beginning. He knows what we need even before we ask, and

some mes, His silence is the greatest act of love. It’s in those moments
of uncertainty that He is working behind the scenes, preparing us for
something greater.

Think of Abraham, our father of faith. God called him to leave his
homeland, to leave everything he knew, and go to a place that God
would show him—a place he had never seen, a journey with no clear
des na on. Yet, Abraham obeyed, trus ng in God’s promise even
when it didn’t make sense. And when God asked him to sacrifice his
son, Isaac, the son of promise, Abraham’s faith did not waver. He
believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead if necessary. And
because of that trust, God provided a ram in place of Isaac and
reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham, making him the father of many
na ons.

Then think of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers,
thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and forgo en by those
he helped. But even in those dark mes, Joseph trusted God. And in the
end, God used every hardship to bring about a greater purpose—to
save an en re na on from famine.

God is asking us to trust Him, not because the path is easy, but because
He is faithful. Faith isn’t about seeing; it’s about believing even when
we don’t understand. It’s about walking forward when every fibre of
our being wants to turn back.

So today, I encourage you to surrender your doubts, your fears, and

your need to control every outcome. Trust in the One who holds the
universe in His hands. Trust that His plan for you is good even when it
doesn’t make sense, because my dear friends, God is not just with us in
the light; He is with us in the darkest valleys, guiding us, loving us, and
leading us to the other side.

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May we learn to say, ‘Lord, I trust You,’ even when the road is unclear.
For it is in that trust that we find peace, hope, and the strength to keep
moving forward. Amen.”

The minister’s voice was steady, and his message clear. Bode listened
intently, the words resona ng deep within him.—trust God even when
it doesn’t make sense. It was exactly what he needed to hear, and as the
sermon con nued, he found himself absorbing every word, le ng the
truth of the scripture se le into his soul. By the end of the service, he
felt lighter, as though the weight he had been carrying had been li ed, if
only slightly. He turned to Elizabeth who met his gaze with a so ,
knowing smile. Neither of them said a word, but in that moment, there
was an unspoken understanding between them—a shared experience
that connected them in a way that went beyond words.

As the service drew to a close, the congrega on rose, and the service
was officially brought to an end. Bode and Elizabeth remained seated
for a moment longer under the guise of wai ng for the crowd to reduce,
but what they were doing was stealing glances at each other, both of
them feeling a connec on that they were not brave enough to put into
words yet.

Bode stood outside the church entrance, nervously rehearsing what he

was about to say. They had finally le the building and were now
standing outside the church where people were mingling, cha ng, and
making plans. He glanced at Elizabeth. She was taking in the
environment, but it would soon become awkward to just stand there.
He had to ask her out, even if it was just for a casual lunch. This wasn’t
rushing things, he told himself. It was just lunch. He took a deep breath
and stepped forward. Elizabeth turned to face him, and Bode opened
his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, a familiar voice
called out to him.
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“There you are!”

Bode turned to see Bolu hurrying towards him, her baby daughter in
her arms and a lady walking close behind. Bolu’s face lit up as she
spo ed him, while Nkechi’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“We’ve been looking for you everywhere! I thought you had

disappeared.”

Bode quickly forced a smile, wondering who the “we” was as he

glanced back at Elizabeth. “I was just about to—”

“Look who is in town,” Bolu cut him off quickly, sensing her brother was
about to take off. “My friend, Nkechi, from the U.S. I men oned her to
you. We met in Dubai!” Bolu gestured towards Nkechi, quickly dropping
the toddler in his arms. The li le girl was already reaching out to her
uncle anyway as soon as she saw him.

“Hi Nkechi, how are you? Hope you are enjoying Lagos?” Bode greeted
politely but secretly wished he had spirited Elizabeth away before they
found him.

Nkechi, a bold grin on her face, stepped closer, her voice carrying a
playful tone. “Yes, I am enjoying my me here. It’s so good to finally see
you in person. You’re looking as amazing as all your pictures that I have
seen on Bolu’s phone.” She shot him a flirta ous look, ignoring
Elizabeth completely.

Bode’s discomfort grew, but he tried to stay polite, murmuring a quiet

‘thanks’ at the compliment. He looked at Elizabeth, who was now
standing quietly beside him, her expression neutral.

“Uh, Elizabeth, this is my sister Bolu, and her friend Nkechi.” he said,
“Bolu, do you remember Elizabeth? She used to a end our church in
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Abuja with her sister, Rebecca.”

Bolu’s eyes widened in recogni on.“Oh, yes! Lizzy and Becky! This is
Elizabeth? Wow! It’s so nice to see you again. How have you been?”

Before Elizabeth could respond, Nkechi interjected with a laugh. “It

seems like a good day to have a reunion lunch. We should definitely
grab lunch… All of us.”

Bode’s smile faltered. Nkechi’s boldness made the situa on

increasingly awkward, and he glanced at Elizabeth, hoping to gauge her
reac on. She started to respond but hesitated, distracted by her
phone. Bode watched her as she read the message that had just come
in, and he no ced her expression becoming tense, blood draining from
her face.

“Is everything okay?” he asked with a concerned frown as she quickly

slipped her phone back into her bag.

Elizabeth forced a smile as she looked at him and the others, her gaze
se ling on him. “I—I’m sorry, but I need to go. Something’s come up.”

Even though he was s ll holding his niece, he reached out ins nc vely
towards Elizabeth. “Wait—are you okay? Can I—?”

But Elizabeth stepped away, her movements quick and determined. “I’ll
be fine, Bode. I just need to take care of something. Thanks for
everything.”

Before he could say anything more, she turned and hurried off, leaving
him standing there with his niece in his arms, helpless and confused.
Nkechi, no cing the abruptness of Elizabeth’s departure but not
understanding the full context, stepped closer to Bode, her voice s ll
light and flirta ous.
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“So, Bode, how about that lunch? ”

Bolu, sensing the tension and recognising that this was clearly not the
right me, gently interrupted. “Nkechi, I think maybe we should do this
another me. Bode looks like he has a lot on his mind.”

Nkechi’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. “Of course.
But Bode, before we go, can I get your number? I know you are a doctor,
and I am overdue for my rou ne check up. Maybe I can consult you?”
she winked.

Bode nodded absently, giving her the number, his thoughts far from the
conversa on with Nkechi. His mind was on Elizabeth and the sudden
change in her demeanour. Something was wrong; he could feel it. Done
with the exchange of contact, Nkechi and Bolu walked away while Bode
stood rooted to the spot, his eyes s ll fixed in the direc on where
Elizabeth had disappeared. A deep sense of regret and worry se led
over him. He had missed his chance to ask her out, and now, he couldn’t
shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.

Elizabeth read the message she had go en outside the church again. It
was from David.

We need to see since you refused to pick my call. You can’t avoid me
forever. We had a connec on and I’m not going to pretend that we
didn’t. I know you are worried about the video, but it could have been
anyone in that video. No one will ever know it's you, so get over yourself.
People love our video. You have an amazing body, and we have good
chemistry, so the site wants more.

He’d sent another shortly a er.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Babe, we need to talk. If you don’t want anything personal, that’s fine,
let’s talk business. I have a deal for you. I know money is not a problem
for you, but I need the money and you can help me make it.”

Elizabeth’s mind raced as she processed the messages. David had

decided to be a thorn in her flesh, and she couldn’t imagine this ending
well. Today wasn’t going as planned at all. She leaned back in the taxi,
the hum of the city barely penetra ng her thoughts. Lagos was alive
outside her window, the chaos of the streets mirroring the turmoil
inside her. As she absentmindedly traced a pa ern on her thigh, her
phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw the name David flashing on the
screen. Her heart sank. She considered ignoring the call, but she knew
he would just keep trying. With a resigned sigh, she swiped to answer.

"Hello David," she greeted, her voice flat and devoid of emo on.

“Elizabeth," he started, his tone immediately accusatory, "you just

ghosted me for four months. Four whole months! And even now,
knowing I want you, you are s ll keeping your distance. What’s going
on? We have chemistry, and you know it.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself before responding.

"David, what happened between us was a mistake—something that
should never have happened. And what you did with that recording is
illegal. You don’t have my consent. It’s pure evil. And please stop saying
we have chemistry, you’re my sister’s brother-in-law. Beyond that, I’m a
Chris an, and I don’t believe in living that way.”

"Oh please," he scoffed, dismissing her words, and she could imagine
him waving his hands as he spoke. "What’s all this about? Were you not
a Chris an when you opened your legs for me? Did I rape you? Look
babe, we’re two adults who like each other. Why can’t you admit that?
We have something special that can make us both richer. We need to
explore that."
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“Are you insane? You want me to become a porn actor!”

“Come on Elizabeth, get off your high horse. The people doing it are
human beings too, and they make a shitload of money.”

“I am not interested,” Elizabeth snapped, offended at his high-

handedness. “You may need the money, but I don’t.”

“Babe, relax,” he cooed, trying to pacify her. “I just want this to work out
for both of us, okay?”

“There is no way this is working out for both of us. I am not interested.
You did it once and you got away with that, but that’s it. There will be no
second me.”

“Even if I propose marriage?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened, shock rippling through her. “Marriage?" Her

voice rose, incredulous. "You think I will ever think of marrying you,
knowing what you are capable of. You’re my sister’s brother-in-law
and…”

"I don’t care about the labels," David cut her off, undeterred by her
resistance. “And I am proposing marriage since you won’t agree to a
business partnership.”

“I am not agreeing to both,” Elizabeth snapped, indignant. “Now, get off

my phone.”

She was about to end the call when David spoke again, his voice chilling.
"I won’t let you stop me from cashing out. Lizzy, I am not the guy to
mess with. Get on board with this or I will release that video to your
family. I really want us to remain friends because being enemies will be
bad for you. Now, send me your address, I am coming to Lagos to see
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

you so we can discuss this face to face”

Elizabeth’s first reac on was fear. The last thing she wanted was for her
family to know about this shameful act she so badly wanted to forget.
For a split second, she thought of giving in to David’s demands when an
unholy anger rose in her. How dare he threaten her? He was the one
who violated her privacy. He was the one who did something wrong.
And if there was anything she learnt from her sister growing up, it was
to never give in to a bully, otherwise, you would forever be at their
mercy.

“Go ahead,” she said, suddenly feeling a surge of boldness.

“What did you say?” he asked, shocked at her response.

The guy was a terrorist, and she was not going to nego ate with him. “I
said go ahead,” she repeated, ge ng bolder and more confident with
each second. “Release the video, David. Tell the en re family.
Embarrass your brother in the process. He would really like that, but
you know, now that I think about it, I doubt you have the balls to do it.
Do you know why? You could have recorded our faces, but you didn’t,
and my guess is that you don’t want to be known as a porn star. So
please, go ahead and embarrass both our families. When you are done,
I will sue your sorry self for everything you have, so if you know what is
good for you, take that video down or I will make sure it takes you
down.”

Without wai ng for his response, she ended the call. Her hand
trembled slightly as she placed the phone on her lap, the tension in her
body slowly ebbing away. This was the first me she was threatening
him, and she wished she had done it earlier. Hopefully this will do the
trick and get him to come to his senses. She leaned her head back
against the seat, exhaling a breath she didn’t realise she had been
holding. As she tried to clear her mind, her phone buzzed again. This
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me, it was a message from Bode. She hesitated, then opened it.

You le so abruptly earlier. Is everything okay?

Elizabeth sighed, her fingers hovering over the phone. She thought
about how to respond, then started typing.

Yes, I could see you were about to be busy. I didn’t want to intrude.

She hit send and stared at the screen, wai ng. Her thoughts dri ed to
the woman she had seen with Bode earlier. She could tell that the lady
liked him.

Her phone pinged with a new message. I was really hoping we could
have lunch together today.

Elizabeth bit her lip, her mind a swirl of conflic ng emo ons. She liked
Bode, she really did, but the ming couldn’t be worse. She typed out a
reply, her fingers moving slowly across the screen.

No, I’m not really in the mood, I’m dealing with a lot right now, I don’t
think a date is a good idea.

You don’t want to eat? It’s just food.

You know it's not just food.

There was a brief pause before his response came through.

Look, Elizabeth, I think there’s something here—something worth

exploring. I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but I want to pray about it
and see where this could go. Can’t we just try?

Elizabeth felt a pang of guilt. Bode was being honest, vulnerable even,
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but she wasn’t in the right place for this. She started typing again, her
heart heavy with the weight of her words.

Bode, trust me, I’m the wrong girl for you right now. I’m dealing with too
much. My brother-in-law… that drama is s ll a mess, you know only half
of it. He’s on my neck and I’m trying to shake him off. I just can’t deal
with anything more at the moment.

She hit send and waited, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t
know what she expected, but Bode’s reply was simple and suppor ve.

I understand. But if you ever feel like you want to talk or just need
someone, I’m here.

Thank you, Bode. I really appreciate that, she replied, her heart aching a
li le.

She put her phone down and closed her eyes as the taxi con nued its
journey to her hotel. All she wanted now was some peace and space to
breathe and figure out what to do next. Deep down however, she knew
that finding that peace won’t be so easy.

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Chapter Nine

Bode drove through the quiet streets later that a ernoon, the low hum
of gospel music playing so ly in the background as he tried to push
aside the disappointment gnawing at him. He had been looking
forward to lunch with Elizabeth. It was a chance to connect and explore
whatever there was between them, but her abrupt refusal had le him
deflated and ques oning why the first woman he truly liked in a long
me had to come with so much baggage. He drummed his fingers on
the steering wheel, his mind racing.

Why Elizabeth?

Of all the women he could have fallen for, why did it have to be
someone entangled in such a messy situa on? Why was she s ll
weighed down by what happened with her brother-in-law? Does she
have feelings for him? His thoughts spiralled and he tried to calm
himself, taking deep breaths and focusing on the road ahead. He didn’t
want to think about it anymore, but the thoughts wouldn’t leave him
alone. By the me he pulled up in front of his sister’s house, the sun was
dipping below the horizon, cas ng a warm golden glow over the
neighbourhood. He turned off the engine and sat there for a moment,
staring at the front door. Normally, he looked forward to their Sunday
evening House Fellowships. It was a me to recharge spiritually and
connect with family and friends, but today, everything felt off. He
sighed, trying to get over his emo ons as he stepped out of the car
when Bolu appeared at the door, waving him over. He frowned,
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wondering why she was coming outside when he was about to go in.
The look on her face as he approached made him stop in his tracks.

“What’s going on?” he asked, already dreading the answer.

“I need to give you a heads up before you come in,” she said, her tone
cau ous.

Bode raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Nkechi is inside,” she said, her voice low, as if she were delivering some
grave news.

Bode’s heart sank. “Damn it, Bolu. What’s up with this Nkechi girl? Why
is she suddenly everywhere?”

Bolu sighed, folding her arms across her chest. “She’s staying with me.
She’s on vaca on from the U.S, and as you must have guessed, she likes
you.”

Bode’s frustra on bubbled over. “What do you mean she likes me? I’m
not some commodity up for grabs! I only gave her my number this
a ernoon to be polite, but if she calls, I’m not picking up.”

“Bode, just be nice,” Bolu pleaded. “Nkechi is a good girl. She’s always
been. We hit it off instantly. She has good vibes. I don’t even know why
she isn’t married yet. Maybe this is God trying to orchestrate something
and you’re just too closed off to see it. This whole reloca on thing gets
easier with a lady who already has her papers”

He shook his head, exasperated. “God orchestra ng what? I’m not

interested. And besides, I’m not desperate. I’m not about to marry
someone just because she has a green card or lives in the U.S. That’s not
how I want to enter America.”
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Bolu rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying that! But what if this is an
opportunity you’re throwing away because you’re too stubborn?”

Bode could feel the heat rising in him, a mixture of anger and
frustra on. “Don’t ever say that to me again. Yes, I want to go to
America, but like I said before. I’m not that desperate.”

Bolu’s expression so ened, and she sighed. “I’m sorry egbon mi. I didn’t
mean it like that. I just don’t want you to miss out on something good.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking
again. “You know what? I can’t do this right now. I can’t be here.”

Bolu’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re going to miss house fellowship

just because Nkechi is here? That’s childish.”

“I’m not being childish,” he snapped, his voice firm. “I just don’t want to
give her the wrong signals. I don’t want her, and I’m not going to lead
her on.”

“Daddy is inside o, and he knows you are coming. Are you going to
disappoint him by leaving?”

“Don’t patronise me, I know the way to my father’s house. I will go and
greet him there later in the week. Tell him something came up.”

“So I should lie to Daddy because you don’t want to face a girl that likes
you.”

“How is this a lie? Please leave me,” Bode said and started to leave
when Bolu placed a hand on his arm, her voice gentle.

“At least pray about it, don’t be too stubborn. This could be God’s way of
introducing you to someone. You never know.”
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

“I already know that I am not interested in your friend, so let’s not flog
this issue. And you need to go back inside before others start looking for
you. It will get awkward because I won’t stay.”

Bolu narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her tone. “Is it because
of Elizabeth?”

Bode looked taken aback by the ques on, his expression unreadable.
“What are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m talking about,” she shot back. “Where did you even
find that girl? And how is she suddenly with you in church? There’s
something going on, isn’t there?”

Bode hesitated, searching for the right words. “I’m not ready to talk
about it, Bolu. I don’t even know what it is yet.”

Bolu scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Ha! You be er not fall into a
trap. All these Abuja big girls are spoiled. And Elizabeth? The girl was
literally raised abroad. She doesn’t have our values. Don’t let her pre y
face fool you into falling for what’s wrong.”

Bode’s expression hardened, his voice firm as he responded. “Why

would you judge a lady you don’t even know? Elizabeth is not what
you’re making her out to be.”

Bolu threw her hands up in exaspera on. “I’m just trying to look out for
you! I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Bode took a deep breath, his tone so ening as he spoke again. “You
don’t know Elizabeth well enough, and honestly, neither do I; at least
not the way I would like to. But I’m not going to judge her just because
she’s different or because of where she comes from. God brought her
into my life for a reason, and I need to trust Him. Besides, our
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conversa ons are the only thing keeping me sane these days. I like her.”

Bolu sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I just… I don’t want you to
get hurt. You’re my brother, and I care about you.”

Bode offered her a small, reassuring smile. “I know, Bolu, and I

appreciate that. But some mes, we have to trust God’s plan even when
we don’t understand it. Whatever happens with Elizabeth, I’m trus ng
God to guide me. I don’t think mee ng her again was random.”

Bolu nodded slowly, her expression so ening. “As long as you know
what you are doing… S ll, you don’t have to leave. It's weird. People
saw you drive in.”

He looked at his sister, a mix of emo ons in his eyes. “Maybe it is, but I
can’t stay. I need to be far away from drama.”

Without another word, Bode turned and walked back to his car, the
evening breeze cool against his skin. He knew Bolu meant well, but this
wasn’t something he could deal with tonight. As he walked away, he felt
a twinge of guilt knowing that he had disappointed his sister and
possibly his Dad. It had become a ritual for their dad to visit Bolu’s
family on Sundays during House Fellowship. It afforded them me to
break the Word together, and also bond as a family. He rarely saw his
dad because of his schedule, but House Fellowships were a way to
rec fy that. Today however, he was not in the mood. He had thought he
could swing it but his conversa on with Bolu had given him the gateway
to escape. Without hesita on, he got into his car and drove away.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

One Hour Later

Bode wasn’t sure how he ended up at the lobby of Elizabeth’s hotel.

One moment, he was driving away from his sister’s house, and the next,
he found himself pulling up to the grand entrance of Eko Hotel. His
mind had been a tangled mess, a storm of thoughts and emo ons he
couldn’t quite sort out, but as he walked through the lobby, he realised
what had drawn him here.

In his airpods, the so , haun ng melody of “Spirit Lead Me” played, the
lyrics sinking deep into his soul: “Spirit lead me where my trust is
without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call
me.” The song seemed to echo the very thing he was doing; stepping
into the unknown, following an impulse he couldn’t fully understand.

As he approached the recep on desk, the friendly smile of the

recep onist barely registered. “Good evening, sir. How can I assist
you?”

Bode blinked, realising he had no concrete plan. What was he doing

here?

“I’m… uh…” he replied, his voice unsure.

“Are you a guest here?” she asked politely.

“No, I’m not,” he admi ed, feeling slightly foolish. “I just… I just want to
have dinner.”

The recep onist’s smile didn’t waver. “The restaurant is just through
those doors, sir. Enjoy your meal.”
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Bode nodded, grateful she didn’t press further. He walked into the
hotel restaurant, his heart pounding with each step. The place was
quiet, with a few diners sca ered at the tables while so ligh ng
bathed the room in a warm glow. He chose a table near the window
where he could see the lights of the city stretching out into the night.
Even though his appe te was nonexistent, he ordered dinner. As he
waited, he pulled out his phone and hesitated for a moment before
sending a message to Elizabeth.

How are you? Do you feel be er? Things were a bit chao c for you this
a ernoon. Are you calm now?

He stared at the screen, watching the three li le dots that indicated she
was typing a reply. His heart thudded in his chest as he waited,
wondering what her response would be.

I’m s ll a mess. I don’t know… I’m trying to figure things out.

Bode took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the keys before he
typed back.

Let’s figure it out together.

The dots appeared again, then disappeared, then appeared once more.
He could almost feel her hesita on.

Figure out what?

The mess.

Her reply was almost immediate this me.

It’s too awkward. Trust me, you don’t want to be in this with me.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Well, I think I want to. Let me.

There was a long pause, long enough for Bode to start second-guessing
himself. What was he doing? Why was he pushing this? S ll, there was
that nudge to not back down or walk away.

Things are just so messed up right now. I don’t even have a place to live.
My dad is coming into town, and I’m s ll in this hotel. Everything is just
wrong for me right now.

Bode’s chest ghtened. He couldn’t imagine what she was going

through, but he knew one thing: he didn’t want her to face it alone.

Let me help you. Let’s sort things out together.

Another pause, shorter this me.

Okay, I… I can’t do this over the phone right now. I can’t…

Bode quickly typed back.

Do you want to see me? Can we meet?

Traffic from your side would be crazy. I can’t even figure out how to get
to your area.

Bode couldn’t help but smile as he typed his next message. I’m here
already.

Her reply came faster this me.

Here? Like… how?

I’m in the restaurant of your hotel.

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There was a brief pause before her next message.

Oh my God, I’m coming.

Bode put his phone away, a small smile playing on his lips as he
wondered if he knew what he was doing. His heart raced, an cipa on
buzzing in his veins. He glanced at the door, half-expec ng her to
appear any second.

He took a deep breath. Whatever was coming, he was ready.

Elizabeth’s heart raced as she walked into the hotel lobby and saw Bode
si ng there. Her day had been overwhelming, filled with loneliness
and frustra on, but seeing him now unexpectedly brought a strange
comfort. As she approached, she felt a pang of hunger she hadn't
realised she was suppressing. Coincidentally, Bode’s food order arrived
at the same me.

“This is the best thing I have seen today,” she said, eyeing the jollof rice.
“Please order another plate, I am ea ng this one.”

Bode, who was already on his feet as soon as he spo ed her, greeted
her with a warm smile. “Wow, you’re here. Did you come all this way
just to eat?”

Elizabeth shook her head, a small smile forming despite her exhaus on.
“No, I came here to see you. But I’m starving.”

Bode gestured to the table where the meal was placed. “I’m actually
not hungry. Please, help yourself.”

Without hesita on, Elizabeth se led down and began ea ng the food.
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

As she ate, she no ced Bode watching her with a smile of admira on.
His gaze was gentle, and it made her feel both self-conscious and
comforted.

“Did you come all this way just to watch me eat and say nothing?” she
asked, borrowing his words, looking up from her plate.

“You’re beau ful,” he simply replied.

Elizabeth laughed, even though it was nged with uncertainty. “This is

the second me you are saying that today. Are you flir ng with me?”

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, his tone teasing.

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “I told you, I’m complicated
right now. Let’s not go there. Just be my brother. Do you want to be my
brother?”

Bode raised an eyebrow. “I already have a sister. I’m not looking for
another one.”

“Then what are you looking for?” she asked, curiosity peeking through,
even though she had her suspicions.

“I’m s ll praying about it,” he admi ed.

Elizabeth smiled. “Okay, pray to God, I’ll do the same. But for now, just
being here with you is special enough.”

Bode nodded, his smile so ening. “That’s what I want to hear. Let’s
both pray to God. For now, I just want to watch you eat.”

And so Elizabeth ate, enjoying the rare moment of normalcy.

Interes ngly, she began to relax, the comfort of Bode’s presence, a
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balm to her frazzled nerves. She glanced at him between bites, feeling a
bit more grounded.

“Elizabeth,” Bode said, breaking the silence, “for now, let me help you
with the burdens on your mind. Let’s go through everything one a er
the other.”

Elizabeth hesitated. “I don’t want to talk about my brother-in-law. I’m

too embarrassed to discuss him with someone who actually likes me.”

“Just tell me,” Bode said gently. “Feel free.”

Elizabeth shook her head again. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Okay,” he conceded. “Tell me about the other things then.”

Elizabeth sighed again. “My dad is arriving in two days and I don’t have a
place to move to. The man can be so cold,” she stated ma er-of-factly
then con nued. “His assistant simply requested my account number to
help with my accommoda on needs and casually men oned that he’s
arriving this week .”

“Do you have any op ons?”

“I’m looking for an airbnb or a serviced apartment.”

Bode looked though ul. “Isn’t that expensive?”

“My dad’s P.A sent money for it,” she replied with a casual shrug of her
shoulders.

“That’s how big girl’s roll,” Bode teased.

“I guess what he lacks in fatherly a en on, he makes up for in funds.”

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Bode didn’t know how to respond to that, so he simply switched gears.

“So,” Bode began, picking up the conversa on, “instead of going for an
airbnb or a service apartment, maybe you should think about ren ng a
place and furnishing it lightly. It might be more cost-effec ve in the long
run even though I know you’re not exactly strapped for cash. I just think
it will be good to have a place that feels like yours.”

Elizabeth considered his sugges on. “That’s actually a good idea,” she
admi ed. “But with everything else going on, I am not sure I have the
energy to set a place up. I am in Lagos temporarily anyway.”

Bode nodded, considering the spare room he had at home. The

thought of offering it crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed the
idea. Invi ng Elizabeth to stay in a room at his place felt inappropriate,
poten ally leading to complica ons he wasn’t ready to handle.

“God help me,” he mumbled, under his breath. If he was considering

having her live with him, he was definitely falling for her more than he
thought. “I will help you with the setup.”

Elizabeth looked up at him, smiling. “You're a lifesaver.”

He shrugged casually, "Well, I guess that's what a brother would do.”

Elizabeth smiled, "Yeah, you're really taking the stress off your sister,"
she said, half-teasing, feeling lighter with Bode’s presence and support.

Bode’s expression shi ed slightly, his gaze locking with hers. "I said
that’s what a brother would do. That doesn’t make me your brother.
I’ve told you before Elizabeth, I don’t want another sister.”

"What do you want, Doctor Bode?" she asked, her voice barely above a
whisper.

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“To you, I stopped being Doctor Bode a while ago,” he said, matching
her whisper.

"Okay, what do you want, Bode?" she asked again, this me, teasing.

He held her gaze, his expression earnest. "I think you already know.”

Elizabeth’s pulse quickened, and she quickly glanced away in a bid to

steady herself. "What are we playing with here?" she asked, and Bode
wasn’t sure whether the ques on was for him or for her. She shook her
head, trying to dispel the tension that had suddenly thickened the air.
"Let’s focus. Why don’t we order some food for you?”

Bode’s gaze so ened, but he didn’t let her off the hook that easily. "I
don’t feel like ea ng. Just watching you makes me feel full.”

Elizabeth felt warmth spread through her. She couldn’t help but smile
even as she playfully scolded him. "Bode, what are you saying?”

He laughed so ly, the sound, rich and warm, and Elizabeth couldn’t
help but laugh with him, the earlier tension easing just a bit. The
moment was interrupted by the sound of Elizabeth’s phone as it
pinged. It was a message from Rebecca.

I am coming to see you next week. I have bought my cket.

Elizabeth was used to her sister’s spontaneity and this shouldn’t

surprise her, but s ll, it did. However, seeing Rebecca was never a bad
idea, as long as she didn’t bring David.

“Are you okay?” Bode asked, bothered about her mood change.

Elizabeth dropped the cutlery in her hand and shi ed uncomfortably in

her seat. She couldn’t deny that she had feelings for Bode, but the
reason she was stalling on making it anything more or even ac vely
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

praying about it was because she hadn’t told him the en re truth about
her experience with David. At the me, they had just reconnected and
it would have been too much informa on. Now, things were different,
and if anything was going to happen between them, the founda on
had to be on truth and trust. She was however scared of how he would
react. Would he s ll like her knowing that a sex video of hers was on the
internet?

She wrung her hands nervously, eyes downcast as she took a deep
breath, gathering her courage. When she finally spoke, her voice was
barely above a whisper, "Bode, there's something I haven't told you.
I’ve men oned before that I made a terrible mistake with my brother-
in-law, but what I didn’t tell you is… He recorded it. And he posted it
online.”

Bode's face froze for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What?"
he whispered, unable to fully comprehend what she had just revealed.
He blinked and shook his head, trying to process the weight of her
words.

Elizabeth’s voice trembled as she con nued, her eyes filling with tears.
"I feel so dirty, Bode. So useless. I’ve prayed to God for forgiveness, and I
know He’s forgiven me, but it doesn’t change the fact that the video is
s ll out there. Somewhere online. And even though he says he didn’t
show our faces, only our bodies, it haunts me. Everyday." She let out a
shaky breath, trying to hold back the sob in her throat. "I’ve seen the
video, and it’s true our faces aren’t shown, but I s ll feel so objec fied,
like I’m just... a thing, a body with no dignity.”

Bode sat s ll, his gaze fixated on her face, absorbing her pain. She
looked away, unable to meet his eyes, her voice now a mere whisper.

"That’s why I’ve been keeping my distance from you. You deserve
friendship with someone be er, someone cleaner. I can’t even stand
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myself most days. You shouldn’t be stuck with someone like me.”

The silence that followed felt heavy, thick with unspoken emo ons.
Elizabeth braced herself for his response, expec ng judgement, or at
the very least, pity. Instead, she felt his hand gently close over hers, a
so warmth that seemed to thaw the ice around her heart.

“Elizabeth..." Bode’s voice was so , filled with a tenderness that caught

her off guard. "God’s grace is bigger than any mistake. If you’ve asked
for His forgiveness, then know you are forgiven. Completely. This... This
doesn’t define who you are.”

His words hit her like a wave of fresh air, but s ll, the doubt lingered in
her heart. How could he even look at her the same way? She was
broken and stained, but his unwavering gaze seemed to see none of
that.

"You are not the sum of your past," he con nued. "And you are not
dirty, Elizabeth. Not to me. If anything, I feel even more protec ve of
you. This doesn’t make me want to walk away. It makes me want to
stay."

She blinked, her lips par ng in shock. “But... how? How can you not see
me differently?”

Bode smiled gently, almost in disbelief himself. "Honestly? I’m amazed

at myself right now. Naturally, something like this would make me feel
different, but it hasn’t. Not at all. If anything, it’s only made me realise
how much I care about you.”

Elizabeth’s tears flowed freely now, but they were tears of relief. For the
first me since she’d realised the gravity of what she had done, the
burden felt lighter. Maybe she wasn’t as broken as she thought. And in
Bode’s eyes, she saw something she hadn’t expected. Acceptance. And
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

grace.

"Rebecca is coming to town to see me. I think I’m going to confess to

her… About what I did.”

Bode’s expression grew serious, his voice so and reassuring. "I think
you’re doing the right thing.”

Elizabeth nodded, "I think when I do that, I’ll finally be free of the guilt.”

Bode picked a servie e from the stand and gave her to dab the tears on
her face . "And ready to start a new journey, I hope.”

"A new journey with you?" she asked, looking at him.

Bode’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of hope and certainty. "Would that
be a bad idea?”

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, a so smile

curving her lips. "I don’t think so."

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Chapter Ten

Rebecca sat on the plush, modern couch in Elizabeth’s apartment, her

eyes scanning the stylish yet understated space. The apartment was
smaller than what Rebecca was used to, but it was clear that Elizabeth
had taken care to make it a comfortable and invi ng home. The walls
were painted a so cream, and the furniture was sleek and
contemporary, with tasteful decor that added warmth to the room.

“You know,” Rebecca began, s ll assessing the place, “I expected

something... different. Why are you living here, Lizzy? This place is nice,
but it’s not you.”

Elizabeth smiled so ly, a hint of contentment in her eyes. It had taken

another one month for Rebecca to finally come to Lagos. She had
missed her flight three weeks ago, and had just gone back home in
irrita on. However, she needed an escape from her rou ne, and had
decided that seeing her sister was the best thing to do, so here she was,
finally.

“I actually like it. It’s comfortable, and perfect for its proximity to the
school where I teach.”

“That’s nice, but is it safe? I have heard all sorts of things about Lagos
Island.”

“It’s been peaceful actually. Bode helped me find it, and he did a
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thorough job in ensuring we got the right fit for me.”

Rebecca raised an eyebrow, instantly picking up on the name she had

been hearing far too o en. “Bode again,” she said, her tone more
curious than accusatory. “You’ve been talking about him a lot. Are
you... da ng him?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away, fiddling with
the hem of her shirt. “No, it’s not like that... Not yet, at least. He’s just an
amazing guy, Rebecca. He’s been there for me in ways I didn’t even
know I needed. And yeah... I might have feelings for him, but there is no
commitment yet.”

Rebecca rolled her eyes with a drama c sigh. “Oh please, Lizzy. The guy
I remember from years ago was so basic. Not your standard at all.”

Elizabeth chuckled, shaking her head. “Trust me, Rebecca. He’s my

standard now. He’s grown, and he’s definitely changed. You need to see
what he looks like these days. But it’s not just about how he looks. It’s
about the way he makes me feel. He’s though ul, kind, and has this...
strength about him. Plus, it’s more than just feelings. I’m trying to listen
to what God is saying about it too.”

Rebecca gave her a playful nudge. “So you’re serious about this, huh?
But why didn’t you tell me sooner? You’ve been avoiding me for
months, Lizzy. I’ve been worried.”

Elizabeth’s smile faltered, and she glanced down at her fingers which
were now gripping the edge of the couch cushion. “I’m sorry, Rebecca. I
didn’t mean to shut you out. I just needed me to figure things out on
my own. You know how it is.

Rebecca leaned back, folding her arms as she observed her sister
closely. “Well, I get it. But don’t think I didn’t no ce something was off.
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I’m your sister, Lizzy. Ever since mom died, we’ve only had each other. It
hurts that you’ve been ignoring me. I started to think that maybe you
had something to hide.”

Elizabeth sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I know. I’m really

sorry about that. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

There was a moment of silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging

in the air. Finally, Rebecca decided to voice what had been bothering
her for a while.

“Part of the reason I came all the way to Lagos wasn’t just because I
missed you,” she confessed. “It’s also because I needed to escape from
my marriage.”

Elizabeth frowned, a trace of confusion in her eyes. “What is going on?”

Rebecca sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. But it’s
driving me crazy. My marriage is falling apart. My husband doesn’t even
try to hide his affairs anymore. I’ve caught him several mes, and he
doesn’t even bother to apologise. He just doesn’t care. I don’t know
what to do, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock. “Rebecca, I had no idea things were

so bad. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rebecca’s voice trembled as she replied, “Because I didn’t want to

burden you with my problems. You’ve got enough on your plate,” she
stated then shook her head as if ridding it of unwanted thoughts. Her
voice caught slightly, trembling with unshed tears. “But I can’t do this
anymore, Lizzy. My marriage is falling apart, and the only person I can
talk to in that house is David, who is obsessed with you by the way,” she
said, sniffing slightly. She was really trying hard not to cry, but a tear
escaped. “So I came to see you,” she finished, wiping at the recalcitrant
tear.
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Elizabeth reached out, taking her sister’s hand in hers. “Rebecca, I’m so
sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own issues, I didn’t see what you
were going through. But we’ll figure this out together, okay?”

Rebecca nodded, tears welling up in her eyes anew. “I just... I don’t

know what to do anymore.”

Elizabeth pulled her into a ght embrace, her voice so but firm. “You
don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll figure it out. You’re not losing
me, Rebecca. I’m here for you, just like you’ve always been there for
me.”

“Thanks, Lizzy,” she said, her voice a li le steadier. “I really needed

that.”

Elizabeth smiled, even though her eyes were nged with sadness. She
hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking. She
looked at Rebecca, her heart pounding in her chest, and the room
suddenly felt smaller, the air heavy with unspoken words.

“Rebecca,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s
something I need to tell you; something I’ve been too ashamed to
admit... But I can’t let it hang over us any longer.”

Rebecca’s brows furrowed into a concerned frown. “What is it, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth swallowed hard, her eyes locking with her sister’s. “When I
came back from America... I slept with David.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Rebecca’s eyes widened in

shock, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find words.
“What? You slept with David? But... you don’t even... You’ve always
been so judgy about things like this, talking about not wan ng sex
before marriage and how wrong it is. And now you’re telling me you
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slept with my brother-in-law?”

“Yes.”

Rebecca sighed, shaking her head slowly. The confession sinking in.
"This is beyond reckless. Do you even know what kind of man David is?
Do you know what he does with the women he sleeps with?”

Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat, her stomach churning with dread. She
already knew where this was going. "What do you mean?" she asked,
her voice tense.

Rebecca's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. "He records them,

Elizabeth. All the women. It's his sick way of keeping control. I hope to
God he didn't do that with you.”

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of it pressing down on
Elizabeth like a suffoca ng blanket. She could feel Rebecca's gaze
burning into her, wai ng for her response. But when she opened her
mouth to speak, the words came out in a strained whisper. "He did."

Rebecca's eyes widened in horror, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my
God." She stared at her sister, shocked at the revela on.

"What have you done?”

Elizabeth’s face was pale and drawn. "I didn't know, Rebecca, I swear, I
didn't know he was like that." Her voice cracked with despera on. "I
know you commented about us being close and I should be careful
but…”

Rebecca stood, anger flaring in her eyes. “You are damn right I warned
you to be careful. I told you he was no good.”

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Elizabeth stood also, her tone defensive. “I didn’t think it was this
serious. You always had such a good rela onship with him. I never
thought he could... I didn't know he was that messed up."

"A good rela onship?” Rebecca scoffed, s ll fuming. “He’s kind of

family, I can't just toss him aside despite his perversion, but I didn't
think I needed to worry about you being sensible enough not to sleep
with him, Elizabeth! You told me you were not going to have sex again
a er Roland un l you get married!”

Elizabeth kept quiet, knowing she deserved her sister’s anger. In

fairness to Rebecca, there was no way she would have guessed that
what happened between her and David would occur. Even she had a
hard me processing it.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” - 1
Corinthians 10:12

The scripture jumped to mind and she realised she had been confident
in her own ability to keep herself sexually pure, she had failed to rely on
the help of the Holy Spirit. David had slowly go en under her skin, and
it was too late before she realised it. She snapped out of her musings at
Rebecca’s comment.

"This is serious. Do you understand what you've go en yourself into? If

that video gets out... You're in deep trouble. I hope he did not record
your face.”

Elizabeth felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat, her hands trembling as
she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hold herself together.
"No," she whispered. "I know how bad this is, but what can I do now?
I've tried everything to get him to delete the video, but he won’t listen.”

Rebecca sighed, shaking her head slowly, at her sister’s words as she
resumed her seat. “You’ve always been the one who held such high
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standards, Lizzy. I just... I never thought you’d do something like this.”

Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t want to. I don’t even know
why it happened. I guess I was just lost, and David was being so fatherly.
He was there for me in ways daddy never tried, and I got carried away
and...and...” she stu ered, unable to finish the sentence. “I’m sorry.

Rebecca’s expression so ened slightly, but the shock s ll lingered.

“Well, there’s nothing to be sorry for. It’s not me you betrayed; it’s not
my husband you slept with. You betrayed your own values. No wonder
you've been hiding. It’s truly worth being ashamed over.”

Elizabeth recoiled slightly, hurt by her sister’s words. “Why would you
even say something like that, Rebecca? I have been so broken.”

Rebecca sighed, shaking her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. “You
will be fine. Move on from it. I think I need to leave though,” she said,
fiddling with her phone.

Elizabeth’s heart sank. “Are you upset with me?”

Rebecca got up from the couch, grabbing her purse. “I’m not upset with
you, Lizzy. I’m just... overwhelmed. I came to Lagos to clear my head
and figure things out. Now, I’m even more confused than before. I will
see you before I leave this weekend though.”

Elizabeth reached out, her voice nged with despera on. “Stay with
me, Rebecca. I have room for you. We can figure this out together.”

Rebecca shook her head, her expression firm. “I can’t stay in this area,
Lizzy. I was never going to stay over. This place scares me. I’m going back
to Ikoyi. One of my friends lives there, and she’s wai ng for me. We’re
just going to have a good girls’ night hangout. Hopefully, I’ll figure out
whether to con nue with my marriage or move on.”
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Elizabeth watched as Rebecca walked towards the door, her heart

heavy with guilt and sorrow. “Rebecca...”

Rebecca paused, her hand on the doorknob. “Don’t worry about it,
Lizzy. We’ll talk later, okay?”

Just then, a car horn blared outside, and Rebecca glanced at her phone.
“That’s my taxi. I need to go.”

Elizabeth frowned, confused. “You ordered a taxi while we were

talking?”

Rebecca nodded, avoiding Elizabeth’s gaze. “Yeah”

With that, Rebecca opened the door and stepped outside. “Take care of
yourself, Lizzy,” she said so ly before walking away.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway, watching her sister leave. The door
closed with a so thud, and the silence that followed felt suffoca ng.
She collapsed onto the couch, her emo ons swirling inside her like a
storm.

Bode stood in his bedroom, zipping his suitcase. He had just finished
packing his bags for a three-day medical conference in Abuja.
Tomorrow was going to be a full day for him—a 24-hour shi at the
hospital that would leave him with no me to prepare. The conference
was important, and he wanted to be ready, which was why he had
decided to pack everything he needed today, ensuring that he wouldn’t
have to worry about it later.

With a sa sfied nod, he pushed the suitcase aside and sat down at his
desk. The day had been long, and he was exhausted, but there was one
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more thing he wanted to take care of before he called it a night.

Opening his laptop, he navigated to the American visa applica on
website, ignoring his racing heart as he prepared to begin the journey
he had long believed was his des ny. Each me he prayed, the message
had been clear—God was sending him to America. This had been his
convic on; the answer he’d received me and me again. He was
about to start filling out the form when, suddenly, he heard a voice in
his spirit:

Stop.

Bode froze, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Stop?" he

murmured, puzzled. The command was clear, yet it made no sense.
Why would God tell him to stop now a er all these years of feeling
guided in this direc on? Confusion clouded his thoughts as he leaned
back in his chair, closing his eyes to pray.

"What is this, Lord? What’s going on?" he asked out loud, searching for
clarity in the midst of his bewilderment. As he prayed, another
instruc on came.

Call Elizabeth.

Bode’s eyes snapped open, his heart sinking. "Call Elizabeth?" he

echoed incredulously. This wasn’t what he had expected. "God, this girl
isn’t ready. She’s not ready for a rela onship.”

For the past four weeks, Bode had been trying—really trying—to move
things forward with her. He had helped her find a comfortable
apartment and even assisted her with the move. Yet, every me he
hinted at something more between them, she would promptly
‘brother-zone’ him, making it clear that she wasn’t looking for anything
beyond friendship.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Frustra on welled up inside him. "I’ve tried, God. I’ve been pa ent and
suppor ve, but every me I try to bring up the idea of us, she shuts it
down. I’m ready to move on from this. I can’t keep being stuck in the
same place.”

Bode glanced back at the visa form on his screen, feeling a deep sense
of uncertainty. If he wasn’t supposed to fill it out, then what was the
point of all this? The voice of doubt crept in.

"Is this really God speaking to me? Or is this the devil’s way of
sabotaging my plans again?" he wondered out loud. "What if this is just
another trick? The visa has always eluded me before, but if I don’t even
apply now, how will I ever get it?" Anxiety began to build in his chest as
he ques oned the very voice he had always trusted. "Lord, is this really
You? Or am I being deceived?" he whispered, a mix of fear and
frustra on swirling in his mind.

As he sat there, his phone buzzed with a message. It was from his
friend, Deji, who had been trying to get him to move to Ibadan to work
at University College Hospital (UCH).

Bro, what’s up? This opportunity won’t be on the table forever. Have
you made up your mind yet? Will you come work with us?

Bode stared at the screen, his thoughts spinning. He hovered over the
keys, unsure of how to respond. "God, I’ve been praying about this
too," he whispered. Then, as if in response to his unspoken ques on, he
heard it again.

No.

The word hit him like a brick. America was on hold, and now even the
prospect of working at a be er hospital was being denied. "God, what
do you want me to do?" he asked, despera on etched in his voice. It
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felt as though every door he tried to open was being firmly shut, leaving
him with no clear direc on. And then, the instruc on came again,
simple and unwavering.

Call Elizabeth.

Bode sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. He had hoped for clarity
and for a new path to emerge, but instead, he was being directed back
to the very place he was trying to move on from. Reluctantly, he picked
up his phone and scrolled to Elizabeth’s contact.

"Alright, God," he mu ered, his thumb hovering over the call bu on.
But before he pressed it, he hesitated. Instead, he found himself
opening Instagram and searching for her profile. As her photos filled
the screen, his heart gave a small, involuntary lurch. There she
was—smiling, radiant, and completely unaware of the turmoil she was
causing in his life. "Why do I have feelings for this girl?" he asked
himself, a knot forming in his stomach. "Why would You tell me to call
her when You know how I feel?”

The ques on hung in the air, unanswered. But as he stared at her

picture, the instruc on came again, quiet yet insistent.

Call Elizabeth.

Bode let out a deep breath, resigning himself to the path laid out before
him. "Okay, God," he whispered. "I’ll call her."

With a final glance at her photo, he closed Instagram and dialled her
number.

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Elizabeth was in her room, kneeling on the floor with hands li ed, eyes
closed, and tears streaming down her face. Rebecca’s visit had le a
burden, and so she sang in pain, the lyrics flowing from a heart filled
with both despera on and hope:

"I’m no longer a slave to sin, I am a child of God. I’m no longer a slave to

fear, I am a child of God.”

She sang the words over and over, le ng them sink deep into her soul,
trying to drown out the noise of guilt and fear that had plagued her for
weeks. Her voice trembled as she prayed aloud:

"Lord, please help me. The consequences of the sin I commi ed—let it
not haunt me forever. Rewrite my story, Lord, don’t let me miss it
completely. I know that the plans You have for me are plans of good and
not of evil. Don’t let the mistakes I’ve made ruin the journey You have
set for me. Please, God, let Your plan for me come to pass. Whatever
the enemy is trying to do to derail me, let it not succeed. You told me to
leave America and come to Nigeria for a reason. Lord, I pray I won’t miss
it. I won’t miss it, Lord.”

Her voice wavered as she poured her heart out, laying all her fears and
regrets before God. She was red of feeling dirty.

"Lord, I don’t want to be lost. I don’t want to miss what You have for me.
Please, help me in Jesus name," she whispered, her voice hoarse with
emo on.

As she said "Amen," her phone buzzed, breaking the silence that had
se led a er her prayer. She opened her eyes and saw Bode’s name
flashing on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat.
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"God, this guy is amazing," she murmured, staring at the phone as it

con nued to ring. "I don’t want to lead him on even though I already
have feelings for him. I think… I think I’m half in love with him. But, is he
the right one for me?”

The phone stopped ringing, but almost immediately, it buzzed again

with the same name. This me, a s ll, small voice inside her whispered.

Pick the call.

Elizabeth hesitated, but the voice persisted, gentle yet firm:

Pick the call.

She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and answered. "Hello, Bode,"
she said so ly.

"Elizabeth, good evening," Bode’s voice came through, warm and

familiar. "How are you?”

"I’m fine," she replied, trying to steady her voice. "How are you too?”

"I’m okay. It’s just… We haven’t spoken in a few days, and I thought I
should call to greet you," he said, his tone gentle but with an underlying
tension.

"Thank you," she replied, her heart pounding in her chest.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretched between

them, heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Elizabeth could hear
her own breathing and the so sound of Bode’s in the background,
both of them grappling with what to say next. Finally, Elizabeth broke
the silence.

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"Goodbye, Bode," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just as she was about to hang up, Bode spoke again, "Wait, Elizabeth."
She paused, her hand trembling as she held the phone. "There’s
something on your heart," he murmured. "Tell me.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard, the words she had been holding back for so
long finally spilling out. "I like you too, Bode," she confessed, her voice
thick with emo on. "I know you’ve been trying to get my a en on,
but… Are you sure about me?”

Bode was silent for a moment, processing her words. Then, with quiet
determina on, he said, "Let me come and see you tomorrow.”

Elizabeth blinked, surprised. "But I thought tomorrow was the day you
had the long shi ," she said, remembering their previous
conversa ons. "And you’re going to Abuja the next day. Are you going
to see me when you get back?”

“No," he replied firmly. "I’ll have a two-hour break some me in the

a ernoon. I’m going to come and see you during that break.”

Elizabeth felt a surge of emo ons—relief, fear, hope. "Okay," she said
so ly, her heart aching with the weight of the conversa on.

As she ended the call, she sat back on her heels, staring at the phone in
her hand. "God, what is happening?" she whispered, feeling a mixture
of apprehension and an cipa on. But deep down, amidst all the
confusion, she sensed that something was beginning to shi . A new
chapter was opening before her.

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The Next Day

Elizabeth stood at the front of the classroom, watching her students’

eyes light up as they explored Canva. The government secondary
school’s computer lab hummed with excitement as the JSS3 students
clicked through the tools and features she had just demonstrated.
Some were experimen ng with different fonts, others with images and
colours, all absorbed in crea ng their first design projects. They were
learning so quickly, and she felt a deep sense of pride.

“Remember,” she said, clapping her hands to get their a en on, “the
key to great design is simplicity. Don’t overdo it—let your message
stand out.”

The students nodded enthusias cally, their focus unbroken. Elizabeth

smiled, knowing that this energy wouldn’t last long. As much as they
were interested in the lesson, she expected them to bolt for the door as
soon as the bell rang.

She glanced at the clock. “Alright, everyone, that’s it for today. You’re all
doing a fantas c job. Keep prac sing, and I promise you’ll be masters of
this in no me.”

A chorus of cheers erupted from the class. Elizabeth chuckled, feeling

the warmth of their enthusiasm. She began packing up her materials,
but something caught her a en on. Every student remained glued to
their seats, eyes s ll fixed on their screens. None of them moved
despite the class being officially over.

Elizabeth paused, puzzled. “What’s going on? You all usually race out
the door before I even finish talking.”
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

One of the boys in the back grinned sheepishly. “We’re studying, Miss
Elizabeth. We have to get ready for our WAEC exams.”

“Yeah, because of the laptop you promised!” another student chimed

in.

Elizabeth’s heart swelled. She had made that promise weeks ago,
offering her old laptop as a reward for the best-performing student in
their final exams. She hadn’t expected it to be such a strong mo vator,
but here they were, diligently studying even a er class.

“Wow,” she said, genuinely touched. “I thought you all preferred

football and dancing.”

The students laughed, and one of the girls in the front row spoke up,
“We do, but the laptop is a great mo va on.”

Elizabeth laughed so ly, shaking her head in disbelief. “You guys are
amazing. Truly.”

“We love Miss Elizabeth!” they shouted in unison, making her cheeks
flush with warmth. She was about to say something else, but the sight
of Bode standing by the window, watching their interac on, made her
words catch in her throat.

He was leaning casually against the frame of the window, his eyes
sparkling with amusement. He winked at her, a playful grin spreading
across his face. Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt the blush
deepening on her cheeks.

“Alright, alright, enough with the fla ery,” she said, waving a hand as
she tried to regain her composure. “Keep up the hard work, and I’ll see
you all next week.”

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The students con nued studying, cha ng amongst themselves about

their projects and the upcoming exams. Elizabeth took a deep breath,
trying to steady her nerves as she finished gathering her things. She
gave the classroom one last look then turned and walked out to meet
Bode, who was wai ng just outside the door. As she stepped into the
hallway, the noise from the classroom faded, leaving just the two of
them in the quiet corridor. Bode pushed off from the wall, his grin s ll
firmly in place.

“Impressive,” he said, his voice laced with admira on. “You’ve really
got them wrapped around your finger.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, even though a smile graced her lips. “Oh,
please. They’re just excited about the laptop.”

“Maybe,” Bode said, stepping closer. “Or maybe they just really like
their teacher. I don’t blame them, I like her too.”

Elizabeth blushed, looking away. “Let’s not do this here.”

"There's a coffee shop just down the road," he said casually. "We could
talk there.”

Elizabeth’s face lit up. "Oh, great!" she exclaimed, already stepping
forward, eager to con nue their conversa on.

Bode however did not follow. He paused, a so smile playing on his lips
as he watched her walking away. There was something mesmerising
about the way she moved, her presence commanding his full a en on.
Elizabeth had taken a few steps before realising he wasn’t beside her.
She stopped and turned back, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Let’s
go. Why are you just standing there?”

Bode’s smile widened. "Come," he said.

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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Curiosity piqued, Elizabeth retraced her steps un l she stood in front of

him. Bode reached out, offering his hand. She hesitated for just a
moment, then took it, feeling a warm rush of familiarity as her fingers
intertwined with his.

"Be er," he murmured, his voice filled with affec on.

Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile, a blush creeping into her cheeks.
Bode gave her hand a gentle squeeze, holding her close as they began
to walk together down the road. The world around them seemed to
fade away, leaving only the warmth of his touch and the quiet
an cipa on of what might come next.

As they entered the cosy coffee shop, the warm aroma of freshly
brewed coffee enveloped them. The barista behind the counter, a
young man with a friendly demeanour, looked up and immediately
recognised Elizabeth.

"Nice to see you again today," he said with a smile that suggested
familiarity.

Bode raised an eyebrow, glancing at Elizabeth. "Oh, so you're a regular

here?”

Elizabeth shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I love my

coffee," she replied, stepping up to place her order. "I'll have a caramel
macchiato, please.”

Bode, s ll smiling, looked at the menu briefly before deciding. "Just

black coffee for me. No sugar.”

The contrast in their choices wasn’t lost on Elizabeth. Opposite truly

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a racts. She shot him a curious glance as they waited for their coffee,
but Bode simply grinned, enjoying the playful tension between them.
Once their orders were ready, they took their cups and found a quiet
corner to sit. Elizabeth se led into her seat, the warmth of the cup
comfor ng in her hands. She looked across the table at Bode, who was
already watching her intently.

“So," she began, her voice so but serious, "where do we go from

here?”

Bode leaned in slightly. "I think you already know, Elizabeth. I like you.
No, I think... I’m in love with you.”

Elizabeth blinked, caught off guard by his directness. "Oh, you’re s ll

thinking?”

He chuckled so ly, shaking his head. "No, I’m not thinking. I’m sure. But
what about you? What do you feel for me?”

She sighed, glancing down at the steam rising from her macchiato. "I
already told you yesterday, Bode.”

A silence se led between them, thick with an cipa on. Slowly, Bode
reached across the table, his hand covering hers. Elizabeth looked up,
mee ng his eyes. There was something deep and genuine in his gaze,
something that made her heart skip a beat.

"You’re a very beau ful woman," he said quietly, his voice filled with
admira on. "My gi from God.”

Elizabeth felt a blush rise to her cheeks, but the warmth of his words
was quickly tempered by the reality of her situa on. "Bode, I don’t
know... Are we going to be in a long-distance rela onship? How would
that even work?”
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 But Yahweh, I Prayed

Bode looked puzzled. "What do you mean?”

"I’m going back to America," she explained, her voice nged with
uncertainty. "Remember I told you about that course? Ever since I
started teaching these children Informa on Technology, I can't stop
thinking about it. I want to go back to learn more about robo cs,
technology, AI... There's so much I want to explore. I’m not really clear
on what I want to do, but—”

Before she could finish, Bode’s eyes widened in sudden realisa on. "Oh
my God, it’s you," he whispered more to himself than to her.

Elizabeth frowned, confused. "It’s me? What are you talking about?”

"You’re the lady from my dream," Bode said, his voice trembling with
emo on. "You’re my wife.”

Elizabeth stared at him, taken aback, smiling at his boldness. "I haven’t
even said yes to da ng you, and you’re already talking about
marriage?”

Bode reached out and held both her hands ghtly, his expression
earnest and almost pleading. "Elizabeth, you don’t understand. You’re
my wife. God showed me in my dream. Oh my God, it’s really you." He
calmed down when he saw her scep cal look then spoke slowly. "I've
been praying for a very long me about reloca ng to America. I was so
certain that was what God wanted for me. But for the longest me, it
felt like it was never going to happen. I can't tell you how many nights I
spent feeling like maybe God didn’t like me, like I was a stepchild to Him
because He wasn’t answering my prayers. It was frustra ng.”

Elizabeth listened intently, her thumb gently brushing over his knuckles
in a gesture of comfort. Bode con nued, his voice thick with the weight
of past disappointments. "All around me, my friends were making
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progress, moving on with their lives, but I wasn’t. Recently, I even

decided to try for Canada instead. I thought, if America isn’t for me,
maybe Canada is. But even that didn’t work out. Canada rejected me,
and I couldn’t believe it because I’m prac cally an expert at processing
Canadian visas. It didn’t make sense.”

He paused, his gaze so ening as he looked at her, a gentle smile tugging

at the corners of his mouth. "But now, si ng here with you, it’s clear to
me. The reason my prayers weren’t answered back then was because it
wasn’t me. If I had gone to America when I wanted, I wouldn’t have
met you. I probably would have ended up in a different state, living a
different life. But God had other plans. He assured me that my wife
would be a robo cs engineer, and I kept seeing her in my dreams, but I
could never see her face. Now I know why.”

Elizabeth blinked, the import of his words sinking in. "Are you for real?"
she asked, her voice laced with disbelief but also something
else—hope. "When my dad told me to come to Nigeria for my NYSC, I
didn’t want to," she confessed. "I knew I wasn’t going to live in Nigeria,
so it just felt like a waste of me. But then I kept thinking, what if one
day I’m nominated for a poli cal posi on or something and not having
done my Na onal Youth Service stands in my way? So I came. But even
coming to Lagos wasn’t part of the plan.”

Bode nodded as if the pieces of a puzzle were finally coming together.

"Yes, actually. You coming to Lagos wasn’t the plan. You know I’m going
to Abuja tomorrow, right? I probably would have met you there, at
church—the same church we grew up in. I would have met you there.
That must have been God’s original plan for you coming to Nigeria and
for me going to Abuja. But even when you made a mistake and came to
Lagos... Even with everything that happened with your brother-in-law
and deciding to run away to Lagos, God s ll made sure our paths
crossed.”

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He squeezed her hand, his voice filled with awe. "You were ba ling
sickness, wondering what was wrong with you, but that was God
orchestra ng a mee ng for our des ny. God is wonderful, Elizabeth. So
wonderful." He li ed his gaze up slightly as he mu ered, “But Yahweh I
prayed, and you heard.”

Tears welled up in Elizabeth's eyes, but they were tears of joy, of relief,
of finding something she hadn’t even realised she’d been searching for.
"Oh my God, Bode, I feel so safe right now," she whispered, her voice
trembling with emo on. "I feel so safe.”

Bode smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest as he saw the

happiness in her eyes. “Elizabeth," he murmured, "it’s you. It’s always
been you.”

In that moment, everything else faded away—the uncertainty, the fear,

the doubt. All that remained was the overwhelming sense that they
were exactly where they were meant to be - together.

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Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

I am so grateful that you have taken the me to read this book. This
story is more than just a novel—it’s a journey of faith, redemp on, and
divine orchestra on. Elizabeth and Bode's story is a reflec on of how
God works in our lives, even when we feel lost or when prayers seem
unanswered. As you have experienced in this book, life is full of
unexpected twists, but God is always at work behind the scenes,
shaping our lives for His glory and our good.

There are three central lessons I hope you take away from this story:

1. Forgiveness and Redemp on:

No ma er how deeply we have sinned or how far we have fallen, God's
grace is available to redeem us. Elizabeth's mistake weighed heavily on
her heart, but God provided her with a path to restora on. Some mes,
the enemy will make us feel unworthy, dirty, and beyond repair. But
God's love is greater than our worst mistakes. The key is not to con nue
in the sin but to turn away and allow His grace to restore us. “Shall we
con nue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!"(Romans 6:1-2).

2. Pa ence in Prayer and Trus ng God’s Plan:

Bode’s journey was a reminder that even when it seems like God isn’t
answering, He is working on something greater. We o en get anxious
and try to create a ‘plan B’ when God’s ‘plan A’ seems delayed. But, as
we see in Bode’s situa on, God’s ming is perfect, and se ling for less
will only rob us of the fullness of His blessings. When you pray, don’t
rush into solving things on your own—wait on the Lord, and trust in His
perfect ming.

3. God’s Ability to Rewrite Our Stories:

Just as God orchestrated the mee ng of Elizabeth and Bode, He is
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always weaving together the details of our lives. What may seem like a
coincidence is o en part of a divine plan that we cannot see. God can
take the most broken parts of our lives and turn them into something
beau ful. He did it for Elizabeth and Bode, and He can do it for you too.

Prayer Guide

As you reflect on the lessons from this book, I invite you to join in prayer.
This story is not just meant for entertainment, but to provide healing,
growth, and spiritual clarity for some of the burdens you may be
facing—especially those areas where you feel like your prayers have
gone unanswered.

God placed the ‘Yahweh's Triage’ series on my heart to serve as an

‘emergency room' for the soul, addressing the struggles that many of us
face, par cularly in the area of unanswered prayers. If you find yourself
in this place of wai ng or wrestling with doubt, I encourage you to li up
these prayer points.

1. Prayer for Forgiveness and Restora on

“Lord, I thank You for Your unending grace and mercy. Just as Elizabeth
found her way back to You a er her mistake, I ask for Your cleansing and
healing in my life. Forgive me for my sins, and help me to let go of any
guilt or shame that may be holding me back. Help me to walk in Your
redemp on and not return to old ways. Restore my heart, renew my
mind, and strengthen my spirit in You."
Scripture: 1 John 1:9— "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

2. Prayer for Pa ence and Trust in God's Timing.

“Heavenly Father, some mes I grow impa ent when it feels like my
prayers are not being answered. Just as Bode learnt to trust in Your
perfect plan, help me to wait pa ently for Your ming. Keep me from
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se ling for anything less than Your best, and teach me to trust in the
process You are unfolding. Grant me faith to trust You even when things
seem unclear."
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31— “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run
and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

3. Prayer for Breaking Free from Guilt and Shame

“Father, I surrender any feelings of guilt or shame that the enemy may
be using against me. Just as Elizabeth struggled with her past, I know
that You are a God who restores and heals. Help me to embrace Your
forgiveness and walk confidently in the new life You offer. Free me from
condemna on, and allow me to live fully in the light of Your grace."
Scripture: Romans 8:1— “There is therefore now no condemna on for
those who are in Christ Jesus.”

4. Prayer for Divine Direc on and Trust in God's Plan

“Lord, I believe that You are working behind the scenes, orchestra ng
my life just as You did for Elizabeth and Bode. I ask for clarity and
guidance in the areas where I am seeking Your direc on. Help me not to
rely on my own understanding, but to trust in Your plan for me. Lead me
according to Your will, and give me the strength to follow wherever You
lead."
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.”

5. Prayer for Faith in the Midst of Unanswered Prayers

“Lord, I bring before You every prayer that feels unanswered. I know
that Your silence does not mean You are absent, and that You are
working in ways that I cannot see. Strengthen my faith to trust in Your
promises and Your ming. I believe that You have a perfect plan for me,
and I choose to wait on You, knowing that You will answer in Your
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perfect way."
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.”

As you pray, remember that God is always listening, always working,

and always with you. There is no story too broken for Him to redeem, no
prayer too delayed for Him to answer, and no life too far gone for Him to
restore.
Keep trus ng, keep believing, and keep surrendering your heart to His
will.

To know more about us, please find out about us on Instagram

@novelsandsermons.
You can also follow me on my personal page @bolanlethestoryteller or
send us a mail at hello@plantedoaksofrighteousness.com or a
WhatsApp message on 07052419520.

As a ministry, we have also taken a leap of faith by venturing into film

produc on.

If you would like to support us with your dona ons, kindly make them
to:

1305932519
Oaks of Righteousness
Providus Bank

Every contribu on, no ma er how small, helps us move closer to our

goal of crea ng powerful stories that give glory to Yahweh.

God bless you.

Amen.
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With Love,
Bolanle Olosunde-Jenrola

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