Chapter 5: The wolf in sheep's clothing

Can you make me feel all right

For a little while

No no

This can't be happening

All of my dreams

All of my hopes and aspirations

Just went down the drain...

like that.

The weather was cool. Rain poured in torrents from the sky.Lightning struck! Thunder crashed!!

I had just left the hospital and was walking home completely drenched from head to toe, I was even shivering but I didn't mind. It'll be okay if I died in the rain. I had no one now anyway. I wished I could turn back the hands of time, I wished... sincerely wished I had done everything to stop my mum from going to work that day.

My mum was gone!

"God, why?" I sunk to the slippery floor and placed my head in my hands and sobbed.

Life isn't fair.

It isn't.

Lights flashed in my eyes and I looked up.

It was a shiny black Lexus Jeep coming my way.

I remained on the floor, I didn't have the strength to stand up nor the will to live. I was tired of life.

Tired!!

The car screeched to a halt when it got close to me.

A man who looked like he was in his mid-thirties alighted from the driver's seat. He walked up to me and I saw through my teary eyes the concerned look on his face.

"Hey, my dear. What are you doing here, alone, all by yourself?" He asked in a sweet calm voice.

Was he an angel?

"I'm... My mother just died." I revealed and burst into tears again.

"Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, dear. I'm Reverend Lawrence of the St Louis' Cathedral. You don't have to be afraid. I could help you out." He said, his voice, soothing my nerves.

I knew immediately that he was a good man. He was a Reverend after all and although I hardly attended church, I knew Reverends were good people.

"I haven't been to a church in two years." I told him in a gruffy voice.

"Why?"

"God hates me."

"How could you think that way? Come into the car. I'm sure you have your reasons."

After about 2 minutes, I agreed to enter his car, majorly because the rain had doubled and my teeth were already chattering.

He offered to take me to his house for the night since the road to my house was still far ahead and it was already too late and I agreed.

I didn't even have the strength to argue, he was right in all ramifications.

It was about 11:30pm and it would be disastrous if I went home at the time, especially since my house was in a ghetto area, it wasn't advisable for a young girl like me to go to that area at that time of the night.

I told him my story as he drove to his home. He felt saddened and sympathized with me over my plight. He assured me that everything will be right in God's own time.

But when will God's time ever come?

We later got to his home. His house was simple but beautiful with godly images and quotes all over. He gave me a spare pyjamas and showed me to the bathroom where I freshened up.

I later came out and he offered me a cup of hot tea. "Thanks." I said and accepted it, sat on the couch and started drinking it.

I had felt better after confiding with him about my problems and I was hopeful for a better turn of events soon. I couldn't continue grieving, I needed to make things better for myself and find out if I had other relatives. I felt things won't be the same after my mum's death but I was positive everything will be just fine. I just had to be strong and have faith.

Fatigue suddenly enveloped me and I started to feel dizzy. I wondered why. I rubbed my forefinger over my eyes but there was no improvement. I yawned loudly and I saw Reverend Lawrence encroaching into my view and looking at me with a wicked smile planted on his face.

My vision became blurry and he placed his palm on my cheek.

It made sense now as to why I was feeling dizzy.

He had drugged me!

The so-called Reverend who I had wondered if he was an angel had drugged me!! I was hurt, I was disappointed, I was baffled! He was nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The cup slipped from my fingers and clattered to the floor spilling the remaining contents and the next thing was..... blackout!