A particular boy of about 10 years, rushed towards me and hugged me so tightly, I didn’t recognize him, but I saw love in his eyes for me, the police left him for a while, he said to me while crying and hugging me tightly…
“You have been my mother since I lost my mother, your music has been your way of teaching me… now, you are also leaving me…”
Those words broke my heart, I wanted to tell him I was sorry for disappointing him, but the officers pulled him back from me … I was crying, but yet I tried to give a smile to my fans to let them know that I had received mercy…I was receiving the punishment of my wrong deeds here on earth, even with a great show of Mercy.
I was happy somewhere in my heart…but suddenly I saw him again…Among the Large crowd, I saw the man who looked like Daniel.
There was no expression on his face, the moment our eyes met, he was looking at me intently, like he was searching for something, but suddenly, he shook his head in the negative and turned back. I wanted to call his name, but the officers told me to enter into the van… I looked through the hole in the van trying to follow him, I saw him faintly hitting the tire of the vehicle angrily, just then I saw Doctor Jack patting him by the shoulder…
I knew it… that was Daniel, so Doctor Jack did not kill him? So what was the story about Daniel having a wife and two kids…? The van moved away from them…
As I walked into the prison gate, I received different looks, some were welcoming, and others were criticizing. Some were singing some of my songs and I waved at them. I was taken to a VIP prison room, where I had two other roommates. One of them was the wife of a former governor and the other a wealthy businesswoman who poured acid on one of her staff, who was sleeping with her husband. The wife of the former governor was welcoming, but the businesswoman was not. As I got in, I fell on my knees and I thanked God for what he had done for me, the Mercy he had shown me and the new phase of my life.
I thanked God for not letting Daniel die, and I prayed hopefully that Pastor James was not dead too.
I was happy. I got a special gift from the Judge’s daughter…it was a parcel. On opening it, I saw a Bible, and a jotter with a pack of high quality pens. There was an attached note…
“Aunty Grace,
Your ministry changed my life, from SS to AA. I am a testimony of your ministry. So, I need you ma to keep writing your songs, I will be sending you this jotters every month. The world is yet to hear all you have within you… love you ma. You are a champion.´
Joyce George.
For me it was a special gift, I sat down to write my first song, the one I received when I was given the Judgement of Mercy I received…
I had spent three months in prison, and I was having the best time of my life, fellowship time was always great. I was the praise team leader. I had written over 200 songs in just 3 months. The oil of inspiration was overflowing in my life. I was going to the studio the next day to record 3 songs. I was so full of joy in anticipation of going to the studio.
We were having our fellowship, when I heard my name over the public address system. Who was here to see me? Was my thought. Ever since I got into prison, I have only had three visitors, only three people were on my visiting list…my sister, Morountodun, Baba Prayer and Joyce George.
One of the warders came to pick me to the waiting room, where the inmates met with their visitors. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Doctor Jack and Daniel’s Mum, I looked around if Daniel was around, but he wasn’t.
“Doctor Jack, thank you for keeping Daniel alive!, Mama I am sorry for what I asked Doctor Jack to do”
“I am sorry for lying to you… I just couldn’t kill him, but I was scared you could kill him instead…”
“It’s ok, you were more righteous than me… please tell Daniel to please forgive me, because he doesn’t want to speak to me…
“That’s because he doesn’t recognize you” Mama said, talking for the first time
“What do you mean by that?” I asked
“After coming out of his coma, he lost his memory…
To be continued…
© Opeyemi Akintunde