> * If you can feel it, it's real. * **** * Happy 40 chapters, guys! * ------- Joseph. ------ I met Nanny dozing off on the love seat in the sitting room. “ Nanny, Nanny. ” though I felt guilty for trying to wake her up, I was helpless. What would I do without her? Her eyes opened as a frown marred on her face. “ What's the matter, Joseph? ” “ Mira is having a fever. ” “ Oh no, what. ” Her palms were on her mouth in shock. It took her approximately two minutes to finally recover. “ Go and stay with her. I'll be there soon. ” I nodded at her words, finally heading back upstairs to my room. I got some thin fabrics, soaked them in water and squeezed them a little before placing them carefully on Mira's burning forehead. I repeated the process several times, holding her hand gently. The door opened to reveal Nanny holding a cup. She walked towards me and handed me the cup. “ What's this? ” The contents of the cup were whitish in color. “ It's a fever-reducing table
> * Don't take for granted this magical thing called life. * **** ------- Mira. ------- It felt like I'd been on an endless journey, which left me feeling so tired and exhausted. My eyes fluttered open and the first thing I noticed was the familiar, yet so unfamiliar ceilings. Right before I could start thinking too much, I felt hunger surge through me, making me pause. Only then, did I recall that I didn't have dinner before heading to bed yesterday. “ What time is it? ” I wondered, feeling like I've asleep since forever. I managed to get up from the bed, but my leg turned jelly on taking a step and I fell backwards. And just when I thought I was going to land on the ground. I was engulfed in a familiar warm embrace. It was so familiar that I didn't need a priest or prophet to tell me who it was. I was able to steady myself and soon came face to face with Jose. Who looked like he'd just gotten out of the shower. “ Thank you. ” Nodding, he tucked a loose tendril of m
> * Live each day as if it may be your last on earth, cos it may be. * **** ------ Mira. ------ I was seated on my bed in deep thoughts, but was interrupted when a knock rang at the door. “ Come in. '' I said, obviously knowing who was at the door. The door opened to reveal Jose, holding a tray of food in his hands. He placed the tray on the bedside table in front of me. “ Thank you. ” “ You are welcome. ” He brushed his hair away from his face. “ Here, Evie just called asking after you. ” He said, handing me my cell phone. “ Oh, Thanks. ” “ My pleasure. Enjoy your meal. I'm off. ” I watched him walk out of the room. I dialed Evie's number just minutes after he left. The call was picked up at the second ring, it almost felt like she'd been waiting for my call. “ Hey baby girl! How are you feeling now? ” Her concerned voice rang through the phone. “ Hi. I am feeling a lot better. What about you? ” “ That's great to hear. I'm okay. So what are you up to right
> * Even if it's difficult, you must try to normalize your life as best as you can. * ****------- Joseph. ------ I was surprised and ecstatic at the same time, when Miranda said she'd forgiven me. Really? I'd actually thought it'll take a while before I would actually be able to earn her forgiveness, but who knew. Knowing she never blamed me for what happened, was too good to be true. Nevertheless, I knew I had to do better and atone for my multiple mistakes, even though she'd said almost nothing about them. At that point, I realized how much of a priceless gem Miranda was and how stupid I'd been to let go of her. It made me wonder how much I actually trusted her. I detached myself from her after a while and then noticed just how rough her hair was. I wasn't surprised by that, as knowing Miranda, she's always lazy when it comes to her hair. I pulled her up and sat down in front of the vanity. All this while, she was staring confusedly at me. “ Let me help you brai
> * I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. * **** ------ Mira. ------ I was surprised when Jose offered to braid my hair, though that had been a norm in our friendship. But after the breakup, it's been different. That simple action of his, made hope to spring up from within me. Does this really mean we can still recover our friendship and everything we've lost? Like everything? The simple thought made joy spring up within me. Must I say, I've missed this and all of this. His phone rang and as expected, it was Vera calling. I didn't miss the change in his expression on receiving her call which was a complete contrast to what it actually was. I formulated a plan in my mind, while he made that call and at the end of it, I'd come up with the perfect plan. “ Do you have a plan? ” Joseph inquired after ending the call. “ I do. I will tell you after breakfast. ” I replied. “ Okay. Let's head down for breakfast, already. I'm starving. ” I Chuckled
> * Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ( Psalms 2vs8 ) * **** ------- Mira. ------- On getting to my room, I crashed into the bed and laid there for about ten minutes before doing some practice questions on my laptop. Now, I knew how important it was to have textbooks and past questions on one's laptop. Thankfully, I downloaded the app which turned out to be very helpful. Time passed, I was about to start a new section of questions when I received a call from Evie. Picking up my cellphone which was on the bedside table, I swiped the answer button. “ Hey, Babe. Wassup? ”“ I'm okay, Miranda. What about you? ” “ I'm alright. You sound utterly dull today. Is anything the matter? ” “ Can we chat instead? ” “ Sure. ” I connected to my social media almost immediately and received a message from her. : Mira, Are you there? : I am. So tell me, what's the matter? : I honestly d
> * Self love is self discipline. If you want to be happy you have to love yourself enough to practice self discipline. * **** ------- Joseph. ------- I found myself pondering on Nanny's words as I rode my power bike around the estate. Though her words came out blunt. I still couldn't deny the fact that they were all true. Nanny was right, completely right. I fucked up greatly! Geez! I hadn't been thinking straight all this while, and Nanny's words were just what I needed. It was now I realized the extent of my stupidity to have disregarded everything for Vera. Vera, the girl who had never truly cared about my well being, yet I was willing to give up everything for her. How could I have fallen so hard for her sweet words and fake innocence. I'd believed everything she said as truth, how could I have done that? Was she so good at lying, or was I simply too blind to see the truth? Nevertheless, it's completely human to make mistakes, isn't it? And realizing it, mean
> * Hang in there. God's gonna make you feel better. * **** ------- Mira. ------- † I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know. † I decided to take a short noon break, before moving on with my daily activities. I'd just turned on my music app when my favorite christian song, “ You say ” by Lauren Daigle started playing. The song meant a lot to me, as it had gotten me through some of my weakest and toughest times. Mixed with meditation, it worked like magic in renewing my self confidence. “ Ooh oh. You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak And You say I am held when I am falling short And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours And I believe, (I) oh I believe (I) What You say of me (I) I believe. ” I sang the lyrics along with the
* 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