>* If you give your heart to doing God's will, you'll find your true self. *****Saturday evening,The Edison's mansion was hustling and bustling with guests from different parts of the country. The large mansion was beautifully and tastefully decorated for the occasion – The 18th year birthday of Elina Edison. Mira's younger cousin. All her friends were gathered at her birthday to celebrate with her, they were all showering her with praises and adoration. That kept complimenting her look and dress.Today, she was wearing a v-necked body hugging vintage red dress which highlighted all her curves.She looked so tempting and inviting that the males present couldn't help but be attracted to her.Some even sent her flirtatious stares which only made her happy.She felt proud of herself and “ her achievements. ”“ Mom, Dad, isn't Miranda coming to my party today? ” She said to her parents who were also dressed elegantly for the occasion.“ Oh. She will, I informed her about i
>* Everyone has a perspective, you can't go around trying to change them. *****“ Hello, Uncle, Aunt. ” Mira greeted with a smile when she got to where they were.“ Happy birthday, Cousin Elina! '' She said in spite of their silence.The people in question were all tongue tied as they stared at Mira who stood confidently in front of them.They couldn't help but wonder where she got her confidence from.Wasn't she the same miserable girl that they had dumped at the substandard orphanage years ago?So how did she become so beautiful and elegant? They wondered.Seeing them all being so tongue tied, Mira was happy.Indeed, Joseph was right. All she needed to do was show how confident she was.She couldn't appear weak in front of them or they'll think she's still the same helpless girl from years ago.Joseph squeezed her waist a little as if to remind her of his presence. “ Oh my! Aren't you, Miranda Edison? The daughter of George Edison? ” The voice of one of the onlookers snappe
>* God knew all of our faults when he accepted us, and he'll never reject us because of them. *.....By the time they were to leave, The party. Joseph was obviously intoxicated. Seeing him this way, Mira felt very guilty as she knew that he was this way because of her. Mira took the driver's seat and began driving towards Joseph's home. Thankfully she had taken driving lessons during the summer for the past two years and had managed to secure a valid driver's license. So she had no problem driving. At first, the alcohol in his system didn't react much so he was able to get into the car himself.But as the car continued moving, the alcohol in his system began reacting.That was his first tasting alcohol and he would have avoided taking it if he knew that the drink contained more alcohol than it was meant to. And now? He was drunk beyond remedy. When they got to the house, Mira packed the car before calling up on the gardener to help her carry Joseph into the house. Som
>* God of the lightened part, lead me, guide me, show me the way. And thank you for your patience. ***** Mira went back to her room where she freshened up before going to bed.At first, she wasn't able to sleep as her mind kept bringing back the memories of earlier, how she shared her first kiss with her best friend.She remembered how Joseph stared lovingly at her and told her just how much he loved her.It was now she realized how blind she had been.It was so obvious that Joseph loved her that almost everyone around was aware. Well, Perhaps it's because she didn't feel good enough for him. So that fuelled her belief into thinking he could never fall in love with her. But now she realized just how wrong she was! He actually loved her!So that really explains why he had been overly kind, nice and caring towards her, it's just too beautiful!“ Aw. Jose loves me! ” She exclaimed in her mind. To her, Joseph meant everything. She knew that apart from her creator Joseph was t
>* We are bankrupt in our own ability apart from Christ. Without God, we are helpless; with him nothing is impossible to us. *****Mira came downstairs for breakfast later in a pink top and white pajamas pants. “ Good morning, nanny. ” She said when she got to the breakfast table and saw nanny sipping a glass of juice. “ Oh. You are finally here! How was your night? ” Nanny stared up at her with a smile.“ It was fine, Nanny. ” Mira said, taking a seat and serving herself some rice, veggies and turkey slices.“ That's good. How was your cousin's birthday party yesterday? ”“ Well. It was fine. ” Miranda replied, avoiding her gaze.“ Really? ” Nanny said with a deeper meaning.Mira looked around and when she didn't see Joseph around she was about to ask after him when Nanny Interrupted her. “ He went for his morning run. I can't help but wonder why he isn't back yet. ”“ Oh. Thanks for the information, Nanny. ” Mira said before she commenced eating her food.“ Hm. ” ****Lat
>* Each of us can succeed at being everything God intends for us to be. *****And at last, Mira found Joseph in the garden and got hold of him.He was lying face upwards on the grass as he admired the clouds, before he was disturbed by the angry Mira.“ You. How dare you! ” Mira screamed as pounced on him, hitting him on the chest.“ Hey, what's wrong, Mira? ” Joseph asked softly, but didn't get a reply.“ You jerk! How dare you tell me that! How dare you ignore me after what happened! ”“ What happened? ” Joseph inquired innocently not knowing what she's referring to.“ Don't you dare pretend not to know! You took away my first kiss and now you are pretending to be innocent! If you think I am that cheap, think again! ” She continued hitting him as she cried.Just then, realization dawned on Joseph. He didn't mean to ignore her, he just wanted to give her some space, but he never would have thought things were going to turn out this way.“ Am sorry, Mira, I — ”“ Sorry? After ev
>* Money follows people who follow their dreams. * ****Meanwhile, at Edison's mansion.The atmosphere was a little somber as the whole family sat on the couches in the living room in deep thoughts. “ Mom, Dad, what would happen to me if Mira came back to fight for her rights? ” Elina said with tears in her eyes as she embraced her fiance. “ That can never happen! ” Her father said, banging his hand on the desk.Elina's heart leaped from the sound made from the contact of her Dad's hands with the table. She could already feel his anger and it made her frightened. Being very well aware that her father's anger is usually not a good thing. She kept her mouth shut. “ Please calm down, Honey. ” There's nothing that wretched girl can do now. " Elina's mother consoled him.“ Don't get so worked up, Mr Edison. I assure you that we are safe. As long as we two families continue working together, there's nothing Miranda can do. ” Luke said. “ Hm. Btw, have you told your parents abo
>* One thing I know and I am sure of is that, you've got greatness in you. *****Joseph and Mira walked into the main house hand in hand. There, Nanny and Evie who had arrived earlier sat on the couch chatting.But immediately the duo entered, they turned their face to look at them.Their eyes were brimming with both curiosity and wonder.For some reason, Mira felt a little shy with how the duo were staring at them. She almost felt like they were boring holes into them with their eyes. Joseph who noticed this, squeezed her hands comfortingly. Mira felt a lot better by this and raised up her head proudly.“ So the good news is? ” Evie asked, tone filled with enthusiasm.“ Well. ” Joseph paused as his eyes moved from Nanny's to Evie and it finally settled on Mira whom he gave a dashing smile.“ Mira and I are now dating. ” He finally announced, intentionally emphasizing the word, “ dating ” to make the others aware of their new relationship status since they were always in a
* Love is life. *****" They had always thought you guys were dating. ” Evie's words caught Mira's attention. She retracted her gaze from the ornamental plants ahead of her and stared at Evelyn.They were presently at a chicken restaurant a few blocks from their university. " I mean our schoolmates at high school. "" Oh. " Mira relaxed, taking a long sip of her yogurt." But we weren't. "" It seemed like it as you both were very close, you could be likened to siblings. "" Yeah. " Mira couldn't help smiling as a memory dropped in her mind. *Flashback*" Jose, I always wanted a brother. An elder brother to be precise but I never got one and it sucked. " Fourteen years old Mira complained to her Best friend as they both laid on the grass." But now you've got one. " Unlike what she was expecting, a smile and those simple words was what she got in response." What do you mean? " She stared at him in confusion." I'll be your brother. " He grinned, saying the words. " Baby sis."" Th
>* Love is the most beautiful thing on Earth; It can make or mar a person. *****" Jose? " Mira called out after several minutes of simply resting in his embrace, the latter had thought she'd fallen asleep until she spoke. " Um?" " What do you love most about me? Like what made you fall in love with me? " His hand which was caressing her hair, paused hearing her question. " Mira... " Joseph detached himself from her embrace, held up her chins and stared straight into her eyes." The first day I met you; I fell in love with your innocence and cuteness. Then, I fell in love with how you express yourself and finally how you love. "" How do I love? ” She stared at him inquisitively. " Yeah. The way you love is remarkable. I can never forget the day I got injured on the football field. The care and concern I saw in your eyes that day made me forget about my pain. For a moment, it felt like you were the one injured and not me and it's really noteworthy. ""So you love how I love
* Love covers all. *****Evie quietly left the room to give the duo some private space. Though, Joseph hid himself well, call it a woman's instinct but she sensed his presence.She nodded at Him giving him the signal he needed. Joseph advanced slowly to where Mira had her head bowed, eyes filled to the brim with tears. " Mira... " He called out to her slowly as he waited for her to raise her head, it took longer than he expected and when she finally did. He gasped in shock at how red her eyes were. " Babe... " He felt his heart being pricked by a knife. " Hey... " Seeing her non response, he wrapped her in a bear hug. In turn, Mira hugged him tightly." I love you, Miranda. " Perhaps those words were what she had been waiting for all along as she broke down as soon as she heard them. Love, She heard it covers everything. The thirteenth chapter in the book of the first Corinthians explained it so well, as it said, " If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, bu
>* True friends are those that never leave. *****Grayson Miller did lay low, just as his Grandfather had advised. Though he almost couldn't control himself whenever he saw Joseph and Miranda together. Oftentimes, it hurt so much that he had to push the wall to calm himself down. As much as he wanted to do something, anything to make himself feel better he couldn't.He'd promised his Gramps and definitely wouldn't let him down even if it meant him having to endure the pain of a bruised ego.****On a weekend, The trio were crashing at Joseph's home to escape from the hustle and bustle of their campus. Mira was lying in bed, while Evie browsed through social media on her phone." Evie, I have been bothered lately. " Mira said all of a sudden as she opened her eyes slowly. " Oh? What's up? " Evie dropped her cell phone and sat up straight in front of her. " Actually, I have been thinking. "" About what? "" What if I am actually wasting my youthful years by being so dedi
>“ When God is everything you've got. You've got all you need. ”**** On her way to her apartment, Mira had a foreboding that something wasn't right.So instead of going to her apartment, she headed over to Joseph's office in her car. While in the car, she gave Evie a call and told her about the change of plans. “ Is everything ok, Bestie? ” Hearing the concern in her tone, Mira was touched. She wondered what goodness she had done, for her to be rewarded with a Bestie like Eveyln. “ I am fine. And everything's fine. '' Mira paused. “ I'll tell you all about it later, Kay? '' Evie let out a sigh. “ Okay then. Take care. ”“ Thanks. ” Mira hung up with a smile, placing her phone in the phone stand, she started the car. She arrived at Joseph's office just in time to see the staff leaving. They all gave her car weird stares. Ignoring them, she wore her shades to cover up her exhausted eyes. All she wanted at that moment was to find a place to lay down, but she couldn't
>“ God will never leave you, nor forsake you. ” *****Days passed and the trio had slowly been able to blend in with their life on campus.Though most times, their lectures go on for hours, leaving them tired and exhausted. Despite that, they all made time for one other, making them the envy of them all. On this particular day,Mira had just finished a four hour lecture and was completely exhausted when Serra approached her. “ Hey. ” she smiled at her, strapping her bag carefully on her back. “ Hi. ” Though her greeting was normal, Mira noticed that the latter was checking her out. “ Are you really living off, Joseph? ” Mira paused and then stared at her. “ Who told you that? ” Serra folded her arms around her chest proudly like the peacock she was. “ It's no longer a secret, is it? ” ( A/N : Should I name her Miss Peacock instead, guys? LoL. )Receiving no response from Mira, she continued. “ Joseph is too good for you and you know that. ” her words were meant to hu
>* God knows you better than you know yourself. ****First day on campus.“ Evie. ” Mira called out whilst looking out of the window at the fast moving vehicles which she was fascinated by.The atmosphere was pretty cool and comfortable, the pretty ornamental plants by the roadsides reminded Mira of how promising the day would be. “ Yes, Mira? '' Evie was looking at the other side of the window, unlike Mira she wasn't distracted by the cars but by the billboards on the highways.One of them ‘said’ something which caught her attention. “ Love never dies. ”But if that's really true, why then does it feel like the love between her and her partner is diminishing as the day goes by? He said he loved her right?He promised to keep holding her hands till the end of time, right? So what changed? Was it the passage of time?Or the absence of intimacy? “ Do you believe God speaks to us through the atmosphere? ” Mira's words caught her attention.“ What? ” Evie stared at her in sho
> * Forgiveness sets you free. *****The large courtroom was partly filled that Friday morning. The atmosphere was surprisingly warm, despite the gloominess in the room.A sign hung on the outside wall which said, “ Court in session. ”Mira sat beside Joseph looking super pretty in a yellow sun dress. It was summer anyways and the dress went well with the occasion. She was nervous, despite the fact that she strove hard not to show. “ It's going to be okay, Babe. ” Joseph squeezed her hands as a way to reassure her. Mira smiled softly.She didn't know how she was going to react, seeing the murderers of her parents standing right in front of her, even after playing the scene a dozen times in her mind… She still felt nervous as the moment drew near.And it eventually did, involuntarily she sucked in a deep breath, leaving her throat dry and bare as she watched the duo being brought to the stands.Her eyes met with Henry's then Nicole's, they averted their gaze almost immedi
> * Life is unfair, but God is fair. ***** The duo remained in the same position in silence for the next few minutes until the clock struck 12. “ Mira… ” he called out to her and when she raised up her head, his heart broke, it felt like it was pricked by a thousand knives. Her face was flushed and tear stained, her beautiful emerald eyes were red with unshed tears. “ You okay? ” Though the question sounded stupid, when obviously she wasn't, yet he felt compelled to ask and so he did. “ Mmm. ” came her short answer. “ I think you should take a shower. ” he tried maintaining eye contact with her. “ Mmm. ” she nodded before standing up and walking towards the bathroom and straight into the shower. In the shower…As the droplets of water washed through her hair, then her body.Mira felt all the pain, tears and hurt wash away and it felt weird.She wanted so badly to hold on to them, so she could seek vengeance for her parents…But she couldn't.“ I am the God that heale