….phone rings!! Six times in a row!! Princess stares at the screen silently battling with picking up or not!! It’s been a long day and although picking that call was a logical thing to do her heart kept holding her back!! What difference could King make in her life at that moment?
Shutting it all out she decided to take herself out and it was to have a walk!! A lone long walk in the park. That park called “life” next door.
Getting herself out of bed was a task. But staying in there, in the dark with the slow tune of John Legend’s “All of Me” playing soothingly was doing more harm than good.
All dressed up and purse heavily stacked with cash to give herself an anticipated treat, Princess set off by herself; all alone!! For her walk in the park.
Deep in thoughts, feeling sorry for herself and wondering how she got here, she didn’t realise how deep into the park she was going or how dark it was getting!!
Losing her job, losing her shares in the company, losing all her savings in a bad investment decision and finally the love of her life were bad enough but losing that academic scholarship because she couldn’t come through with a convincing application although her grades were good, all in a space of 3 weeks was enough to make her feel it was all over; the camel’s back was broken and just at age 25. The strength to fight was gone. Her friends and adorable mother had been there for her but it couldn’t fill the void within. The ice cream and pizza treats from Black were helpful, but in the dead of the night when she was all alone, that sweet taste from the foods were not enough.
School wasn’t over but now the fear of dropping out was surreal because focusing was hard. Rhoda, Doug and Black had been loyal friends not taking their eyes off her, yet, their surveillance couldn’t last all day.
…..caught so deep in thought, feeling her phone vibrate in her back pocket was a rude awakening!! Seeing Rhoda’s number was not so much of a welcome surprise but it was Rhoda!! How could she not pick her call?
“Princess, where are you? Are you ok?” King is worried, He’s been trying to reach you all day and you haven’t replied my texts or anyone’s either”. “We’re all worried, where are you?” Rhoda nagged away with concern.
Without a word but with a sigh Princess dropped the call and texted to inform Rhoda she was ok but just wanted sometime alone. Trust Rhoda to be an informant to King. Princess didn’t need to look at her phone screen to know that next call to come through was King’s and yet again, she refused to pick, but that caring gentleman; amazing as He was, just wouldn’t give up.
King definitely wasn’t a stranger; having known Princess all her life after being introduced to Him and what He stood for right from infancy. Princess knew He was a good guy with a great Father and in love with His comforter but never had Princess bothered much about trying to get to know Him any further or have a personal relationship with him. Especially when she kept seeing and hearing that He wanted to set her up in His line of business. She absolutely had no interest in being a key partner in His vast enterprise or kingdom with all the rules and responsibilities they came with.
Making weekly trips to see Him wasn’t so much of a big deal. These trips she actually had come to enjoy and it made her parents proud to hear how other adults who came into contact with her on such trips thought she was well brought up.
King however wanted something more; something deeper; more commitment; constant attention; the power to tell her what to do, when and even who to do it with. He didn’t think it was much of a big deal because to Him, He knew Princess and all that she had within. To Princess however, it meant losing control of the power she wielded over her own life and decisions and totally trusting someone based on what people thought of Him. Her high IQ at that time told her it was a bad move and although life had been tough on some levels, she wasn’t doing too badly; well at least she was miles away from suicide or the thought of it. Her head was definitely in a good place as it were and she knew for a fact this too shall pass. After all she was still young, she could always start a new business, get a job and definitely fulfil her dream of becoming a diplomat and well vexed in promoting women empowerment and capacity building. About finding true love again, that didn’t seem so sure but at least till she figured that out, she would be on a self-actualization and self-love trip that would see her rising up the corporate ladder. For the first time in days she truly smiled and looked up into the sky to see it beautifully lined up with bright stars; stars that gave her hope but also reminded her it was getting late and she needed to be headed back to her hostel room.
Filled with some new found energy, Princess playfully hopped off in the path of her hostel humming tunes only she knew. She knew that energy wasn’t sure to last the weekend but she was poised to enjoy it while it lasted. Walking down the path, she was too engrossed in her new found strength to notice the two people propped on a nearby rock in wait. She couldn’t be bothered about them as she wasn’t expecting to see anyone she knew anyways and whoever they were, why they chose to sit on a rock and not on the lover’s bench just a few steps away wasn’t something to change her line of thought at that particular moment. Cursorily murmuring a greeting she passed them by without as much as giving them a look and took the turn that led out of the park. The place was well lit and security had never been much of an issue. Still hopping away like a little girl with a candy bar, she didn’t find it funny when she felt a hand pull her from behind in an attempt to catch her attention and bring her to a halt. Trust Princess to wonder who could have such impudence and immediately turned around to find out.
Right there were the two people she had been avoiding all day; Rhoda in the company of King holding paper bags which she knew would contain food and fruits. Her defiance and long speech she was about to administer on ethics and how uncouth touching people without their permission was just vanished when she realised the joke was on her. How could she have missed those two, and how could they stand there so calm before her wearing such big smiles? How did they even know where to find her?
Rhoda just hugged her while King gave His “we-are-in-this-together” look. Before she could ask, Rhoda said; “Don’t bother, we’ve been friends for too long not to be able to predict your moves or whereabouts”. Rhoda held her hand and dragged her off like she owned her and wasn’t letting her out of her grips this time while King tagged behind smiling knowingly the whole time. Princess was still trying to figure out how to feel about their presence. She knew they meant well but they had just interrupted her little personal parade and were going to talk about the very thing she had just gotten a momentary escape from; the food they brought along was however thoughtful though because the pity-party she had thrown herself earlier didn’t have any food on the menu and now she was starved.
Coming back to reality, Princess managed to loosen herself from Rhoda’s grip and bring the march to a halt. She gave both of them a stubborn glare and insisted they stay in the park and have whatever talk needed to be had. No way was she allowing any negative energy into her room. They were going to have the talk right there, after which she would share her new strength booster and hop her way to the hostel, get a warm bath, bask herself in talcum powder looking like a “white slay-ghost” and fall asleep in her most adored oversized t-shirt she stole from her man!! Or rather her former man and nobody was going to change her plans!!!
Knowing she meant every word she had just said, Rhoda sank into the nearest bench a few meters away and looked at her with so much concern. Princess looked at both people with so much intolerance waiting for them to start their “you’ll be fine and God loves you so much” lecture already. It never came but rather, Rhoda gleamed suddenly and made an appeal: “I’ve known King for a while and gotten even closer to Him than you have within that period; what He offers is a good deal Princess and I doubt you have much to lose giving His proposal a chance. You’ve tried it your way all your life and failed; try it His way, if it doesn’t work, you can walk away knowing you tried.”
Not waiting to hear what Princess thought, she picked an apple from the paper bag and instantly bit into it; why that sound irritated Princess so much in that very moment was unexplainable. Who was Rhoda to tell her what to do just when she had found her own strength? Why couldn’t people just leave her alone? And how dare her pick her apple without asking? Not that Rhoda was going answer any of those questions even if she bothered asking because they all knew it was her hormones acting up and on any other day, these same questions would be meaningless.
Now speaking up for the first time, King cleared His throat clearly calling for attention and when He had it, placed His hands on her shoulders looking her dead in the eyes. Something about that touch and stare said so much in the silence of the night!! It felt as if He was going to help her through the storm; carry her load and heal her pain if only she would let Him. Letting Him, she knew meant submitting totally to His will because it was all or nothing when it came to King.
Instantly, the last words from Rhoda rang through her mind and she knew her friend turned sister was right, King had been consistent in His pursuit over the years, what could she loose giving Him a try. More so even when He had a reputation to protect and a proven track record. Returning the gaze, Princess let out a whisper only King could hear; one that was deep and sincere; one that conveyed her fears and her words were “King, I’m scared”.
“I know”, He responded, “I know, and that’s perfectly okay. We’ll take this a day at a time but you need to trust me”. Something in His eyes gave her the assurance she needed but His final promise made her more convinced.
“I can’t promise you a rosy ride Princess; I can’t tell you your haters won’t try. But what I can assure you of is, no matter how bad it gets, how hard they try, how low you fall, I love you too much to let you go. I died on the cross for you Princess, chased and waited all these years for this chance and that’s how deep it gets. I won’t trade you for anything; you’re pretty stubborn but you’re as loyal as it gets and all that you’ve gone through, trust me, will turn out for your good. You were created for a purpose and together, we are going to achieve it.”
That was all she needed to hear, the assurance of someone who was going to be there for her forever. One who knew everything and had all the answers. What she didn’t expect was how His sudden wrap of arms around her would open the floodgates of her tears. But rather than feeling sad, that sudden outburst came with it so much relief.
She couldn’t explain it, but she just knew it!! She understood it for herself!! This love she wasn’t trading for any other. King was hers and hers forever. Truly, she was the apple of His own eye and He had consistently proven it, except when she hadn’t been paying attention. After all, before she was formed in her mother’s womb, He knew her by name.
If this isn’t love……..
