“Complicated”
Final Episode
As Rufus stepped out of the room, he felt a strong urging from the Holy Spirit to turn back and pray for the deceased. However, he argued internally, “You want me to go back there and make a fool of myself. What if I pray and he remains dead?”
The Holy Spirit remained silent, prompting Rufus to wrestle with his doubts. Finally, out of frustration and feeling he had nothing left to lose, Rufus decided to return. “Alright, I’m returning since you’re bent on making a fool of me. I’ve already lost my reputation, so what’s left?”
When he re-entered the room, Titilope saw him and asked skeptically, “You again? What do you want?”
“The Holy Spirit asked me to come and pray for him,” Rufus responded.
“Pray for someone already dead? Please leave,” Titilope responded sharply.
“No, please, let him pray,” her mother interjected.
Rufus approached the bed, pulled back the sheet, and saw the young man lying there as if merely sleeping. He began to pray fervently for many hours, but nothing seemed to happen. After feeling nothing was changing, Rufus contemplated how to excuse himself. He mentioned wanting to stretch his legs outside and continue praying in the courtyard. However, once he left the room, he quickly walked toward the hospital gates, praying that the women would not see him leaving. He left the hospital grounds and hurried to the bus stop, relieved to escape unnoticed.
On his way home, relieved yet disappointed, Rufus muttered to himself, “I knew You weren’t going to heal that boy. You just wanted to ridicule me.” The Holy Spirit remained silent. Just then, his phone started buzzing. It was his wife calling, but he decided not to pick up since he was headed home anyway and would find out what was the matter soon enough.
Rufus arrived home about an hour later, and to his shock, his daughter, who had been bedridden for years, was the one who opened the door to welcome him. He was stunned. His wife later recounted how about an hour ago their daughter had started convulsing and then suddenly jumped out of bed, completely restored. Overwhelmed with emotion, Rufus broke down and repented before the Lord. It was clear that the Lord wanted to teach him a lesson; he had become proud because of the healing gift he possessed and had always struggled with anger and impatience. Rufus promised the Holy Spirit to work on his anger and to always remain humble.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Farouk was still declared dead when the hospital staff came to remove his body. His mother wouldn’t let them, insisting that the man who prayed for her son was coming back. But after a while, it became apparent that he wasn’t returning, and she eventually agreed to let them move the body. However, something profound happened as he was being lifted from the bed; he suddenly sneezed. The hospital staff, in panic, dropped him back on the bed and stepped back, then he sneezed a second time and opened his eyes.
The first thing Farouk said shook everyone, “Where is that man who prayed for me? It was beautiful where I was, and I didn’t want to come back.”
His mother and sister rushed to him and hugged him. “I’m your mother and I didn’t permit you to die. I prayed to God; I don’t want to bury my son, and He heard me.”
There was much rejoicing in the hospital that day as the news of Farouk’s resurrection spread. His mother briefly wondered what had happened to the man who came to pray; she didn’t know anything about him except that his name was Rufus. She was immensely grateful to God for having her son back and thanked God profoundly.
It’s been several weeks since the calamities that befell the Akinola and Ayegbajeje families. Ore heard about Farouk’s recovery; Titilope called to tell her. She was overjoyed that Farouk would be alive to play a father’s role for their son, who was due in just a few weeks. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Farouk since he was in the hospital, but his sister had given her a letter during that time. She hadn’t been able to read it then, but when she eventually did, she was deeply moved by its contents.
Adetola and Ore sat down to have a candid discussion about their future.
“I feel with all that has happened, we need to decide how we are going to move forward with our lives. First, let me apologize for how I treated you in the past. I just didn’t know any better. I have always known you are a smart and intelligent woman, but these last couple of weeks, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there to navigate through all that happened. Thank you. And for leading me to Christ—that is a profoundly new experience, and I’m the better for it.”
“I’m glad you are here alive and well. What are your plans? Are you getting back with Tiwa?”
“No, although we’ve been together for a while, she is not the woman for me. I’m glad that now I can have children of my own. I’m moving to the UK with my mum, and we are going to start all over. What about you? Are you getting together with Farouk?”
“I don’t know. When I see and talk to him, I will know what to do. Well, this is it—in a couple of days our marriage will be annulled, and we are free to live our lives.”
“Yes, Oreoluwa and I will never forget you.”
“Make sure you keep in touch. I’d like to know how you and Aunty Abike are doing.”
“Sure, again, thank you, Ore.”
“You are welcome.”
They embraced, and Adetola left.
Adunni descended the stairs and found Ore sitting alone. “Do you have a moment, Ore?” she asked gently.
“Sure, what’s up?” Ore replied.
“I wanted to thank you for not paying me back for the evil I did to you. These past weeks, you could have thrown me out, but instead, you stood by us and protected and supported the entire family. I was wrong when I told you as a child that you were weak and lacking confidence. It was a lie I told to keep you under control, but I guess I failed because you soared and took your rightful place. Please forgive me.”
“You don’t need to beg; I have already forgiven you. I’m giving you the paper to this house; you and Dara can have it. I will be moving out. If you don’t mind, I need to step out. How is Dara doing?”
“She is better. I know that in no time, she will be back to her old self.”
Ore then left for her meeting at Eclexia. Titilope had invited her to the office for a final handover since she had tendered her resignation.
Arriving at the office, she was ushered into Farouk’s office, and there he was, looking handsome and very much alive. The two of them gazed at each other for a few moments before Farouk invited her to take a seat.
“How are you, Ore?”
“I’m good, and I’m glad to see you looking well.”
“I thank the Lord, and thank you for visiting while I was in the hospital.”
“Oh, Titilope told you I was there. I just had to see you.”
“She didn’t tell me; I heard everything you said. Your voice was one of the reasons I came back, and of course, my mother’s prayers.”
“Wow, you heard me? I’ve heard people say that, but I never knew it was true.”
“It is, and it was a tough decision for me. Now I know why sometimes when we pray for our loved ones who have died, they don’t come back because you have no idea how beautiful and peaceful it is on the other side.”
“Well, thank God you came back, at least for your mother’s sake.”
“I’m sorry about your loss. How is your mom and sister?”
“I found out she is actually my stepmom, but she is fine. Dara, my sister, has been going through depression, but she is receiving treatment and getting better by the day.”
There was a moment of awkward silence, then Farouk asked quietly, “And your husband?”
“Our marriage is being annulled, he is moving to the UK with his mom. We said our goodbyes today.”
Farouk smiled broadly at this news.
Three months later, Farouk and Oreoluwa had a beautiful and quiet wedding, with Temidayo as the maid of honour. They had also welcomed their son, Ayomikun. As they held and played with the baby, they reflected on their journey so far and their hearts were filled with wonder at the working power of God.
The end
Thank you all for staying engaged on Ore’s journey. This story is rich with lessons. No matter how clever our plans may be, ultimately, God has the final say. Did you notice how He upturned Akinola and Duro’s plans? Clearly, God has a sense of humour. Farouk’s story reminded us that God still heals, and He has empowered us to pray for the sick and even raise the dead. Here, “the dead” might not necessarily mean a person—it could refer to a relationship, a business, or any aspect of life that has lost its vitality. If you believe, you will definitely see God’s wonders at work.
I love you guys, keep striving for the extraordinary every day, Muah!
Its good to trust in God