CONFUSED - PAINED - MUCH THOUGHTS

"Mr Tony Abraham, please sign here." Said the judge.

Tony moved to the podium and signs the documents grudgingly then stepped aside.

"Thank you Mr Abraham Tony. Now that you have signed this court order, will you for the very last time have a proper look of your daughter before she is taken to be under her mother's custody, complying to the rule that you would here after, abide, do and only act as to this which you have signed." The judge instructed and Tony left for her daughter.

"Joy, I am here with you okay, I promise to take good care of you, but I and mommy can't stay together because we are not married."

"But daddy, I want you and mommy to be married like daddy and mommy Vicky are." Young Joy spoke heartbroken.

"I do love it too, but you see, I am going to work on my self.

Daughter, I am not yet good enough to be with mommy and take good care of you. I promise that I will go and work on myself and maybe, I would come back." Tony said painfully and Joy fell into his arms.

"I love you my child." Tony said letting go the hug.

"You really do, dad?

Only mommy and my teacher, Mrs Rebecca tells me that. But mommy tells me more."

"You see, deep down me, I love you so so much, but as I said, I promise to be a good dad from now hence forth. It's that okay?" Tony told her and released her to her mom.

His words were so seasoned that even Tabitha couldn't believe he was the one speaking, but she knew who Tony was. He was a cunning man, who could be a devil now and a saint in the next minutes, just to achieve his aim.

Well, it was a fulfilling day.

Not denying the fact, Tabitha was doing the right thing, yet with a distressed mind of the uncertainties of what her tomorrow held.

She worried about how her life was going to be henceforth, with the legal barrier placed between her and Tony, except for whatsoever that concerns their daughter.

Never the less, it was needful for her to have a clear restart of her life despite wasted years.

With her found faith, Tony wasn't the man she would continue with; he was not saved, was a seasonal drunkard, had no financial management, a womanizer and a man of no purpose despite being a graduate.

When she returned that day and was congratulated by Mr and Mrs Peter, she had a quiet time in her room. thinking about what was going to become of her life.

With no substantial job, except for the teaching job in one local school she was managing, how was she going to be able to fully owe up to responsibilities such as payment of rent, ensuring there was food on her daughter's table, payment of her school fees and her own personal needs most especially.

Although it was the duty of Tony to take responsibility of basic things that concerned Joy, Tabitha was not ignorant of the kind of man such as was Tony and the society she was a part of.

It may only take a while and all that may bounce back to her.

If it had been because of such, she would've no need to have the court order signed.

She did that sorely for her to have her peace and serenity.

As all these crowded her heart, she fell into a trance and saw herself preparing Joy for a long journey.

She gathered everything in her room and stuck them in huge bags.

When she was done, she came out with Joy, locked the door firmly and gave Victoria the key to take to her mom.

As Victoria ran in to give her mom the key, she and Joy disappeared and found themselves traveling in a night bus.

Few minutes later, her phone rang and when she picked, it was mommy Vic.

"Ah, ah, Victoria brought key to me. I came out in a hurry but you were no where to be found. Please where are you?" She asked in the dream

"I am on my way to Abuja. I will be coming to visit you if the Lord permits." She told her and the car drove on, on the highway until she opened her eyes and realised it was a dream.

"Ei, this is a dream." she said clearing her eyes and yawning to release herself of the stress she had undergone as a result of much thinking and worries.

"Wait," she continued

"Abuja?" She asked blindly.

"I and Joy relocating to Abuja?" She asked sorting for answers.

She had never been to the capital city of Nigeria so it was strange and it sounded too big for her.

Questions that crowded her heart was who and what condition was going to be, that would warrant her relocating to Abuja.

Well, it was just a dream, but the dream seemed too real to be taken likely.

That evening was Bible study in the church so she was going to speak with her pastor about it.

When she later did, her pastor told her that the dream was pointing her towards a direction but she must pray seriously for the will of God to be done;

"Sister Tabitha, there is nothing to be worried okay. If it I God's will for you to relocate to Abuja, it will happen effortlessly. You don't have to force it. The Lord will have a way for you and you will be there. What we must do is to seek God's face more concerning this and wait for him to speak to our perfect understanding." Her pastor counseled her.

[Months Later]

Few months later, her Land Lord was in the compound for the third time in that week to demand for his rent from a particular neighbor of Tabitha whom they both rented apartment in the same month, with just different days.

Tabitha was inside panting of what she was going to tell the landlord.

The other time he was around, Tabitha pleaded for three days to be given her to sort out the remaining balance of fifty thousand naira, to which the landlord agreed.

What was she going to tell him now. She had barely raised twenty thousand naira and it was remaining thirty to complete the amount.

Well, she would wait back and trust on God's miracle so that she could be pardoned until she was able to raise the amount.

Minutes later, the battle Lord who had just finished a fight with the other tenants rang her door.

"Good morning landlord." Tabitha greeted first opening the door.

"Good morning mommy Joy. I find it difficult to remember your new name."

"It's Tabitha sir." Tabitha reminded him.

"Oh, that's kind of you. Please can I come in for us to talk?" He asked.

Tabitha was thrown aback by his gesture. Why was he requesting they talk indoor? Tabitha would question.

"Okay sir," She agreed thinking it was favour coming her way.

The landlord was invited in.

He glared around in admiration of Tabitha's beautiful house with nice interior decorations.

"Tabitha, I am thinking if this is my house actually, because I can't find it whether I'm in Nigeria or London."

"It's well sir," She answered simply.

She quickly went for the fridge and got him a bottle of water and a glass.

He rushed it with three gulps and returned to what he was trying to say to Tabitha;

"Nk, nk, nk!" He cleared his throat.

"Tabitha!" He called out like an occult grandmaster.

"I no you have been troubled about your rent. Well, I have been too. You see, many people consider me a hard to crack man, meanwhile I am not. I am only doing my best to put food on my family's table just like anyone of you.

But you know, your case is special. I have thought about it considering you are single mother."

"Thank you sir!" Tabitha answered with her knees bent.

"I want to let the remaining balance go and give you a comfortable stay." He broke the news.

"Ah, thank you sir. I am so grateful sir. The Lord will indeed reward your kindness sir." Tabitha appreciated falling on her knees.

"It's okay, it's actually nothing if only you will do me a little favour." He said with eyes rolling in their sockets.

Tabitha was a woman of much experience, so she knew that there is something fishy with man's eyes rolling in such a manner.

"Sir?" She asked for clarity.

"I want you to be my wife. I want us to do things together. I want you to accept to be my woman." He spoke irritatively.

"I don't understand sir, you want us to do things together because of thirty thousand naira?" Tabitha asked.

"Don't misunderstand me Tabitha. I have been trying to communicate this to you each time I come visiting. Take a look at yourself. You are strong and industrious woman.

All my three wives can't be compared with your kind. I want you to think about this. It's not something we should rush. Please think carefully before giving me your reply.

I want to take care of you and Joy.

Well, i will be taking my leave. I believe my daughter Joy must have gone to school." He said rising to his feet.

Tabitha stood speechless and dump. She couldn't imagine what she was hearing was coming out of a man she called her landlord, who is advanced in age with three wives and grown up children to his credit.

Probably he was now hunting after Tabitha, the young mother of Joy to keep him warm.

Disgusting!

Well, the ball was thrown into the court of Tabitha.

playing it or not was left to her choice.