Patricia

Short Story by Sally Bonn-Ohiaeriaku

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Patricia lived in a bustling Borokiri town in present-day Rivers State of Nigeria. She stood as a symbol of grace and elegance, her tall, slender frame commanding attention wherever she went. Her dark complexion and beauty seemed to hide the depths of her secrets. Her journey began with a twist of fate – a chance encounter with a charismatic pastor whose words would shape her destiny.

In most West African countries, particularly in Nigeria, seeking the blessing and counsel of a pastor before marriage was traditional. It was a ritual believed to sanctify the union in the eyes of God. So when Patricia sought Pastor Goodwill’s guidance, she never imagined the upset it would bring. The pastor, in clear terms, informed Patricia that her fiancé Peter was not ordained for her by God, a revelation that left her shocked and confused. Despite dating Peter for years, even during his financially difficult times, he had promised to return for her after travelling abroad on a Petroleum Trust Fund scholarship.

The couple kept in touch through phone calls and emails over the years. When Peter became successful and returned home to Nigeria to ask for her hand in marriage, Pastor Goodwill said he was not her chosen husband. His words pierced Patricia's defences like a dagger, casting doubt on her relationship with Peter. He spoke of divine ordination and God's will, and Patricia believed him in her vulnerability. She broke the news to Peter, who became dumbfounded for days. When he found his voice, he called her friends and family, begging them to talk to Patricia. Weeks later, she shocked her family and friends by leaving Peter to marry Pastor Goodwill, convinced that it was a union blessed by God, without the blessings of the majority of her family members and friends. Patricia even disinvited two friends from her wedding who dared to call her to caution. Her dad begrudgingly walked her down the aisle so that it would not look like no family member stood with her.