Thursday Prayers - Episode 2

 

For the rest of the Mass I just followed through with a lot of effort to focus my attention on what was going on at the altar. Much of it appeared as basic as the priest moving around the altar from one end to another. His lips were motioning words that I could hardly hear. His sharp voice almost whispers from beyond the walls of the church. And they repeatedly pierced through mind, interrupting the Mass going on in mind – him.

‘Peace…, peace…wonderful peace…wonderful peace of God…’ the choir went on and on.

I reluctantly shook the hands of my neighbor on the left . My right side was vacant. My front neighbor turned to extend peace to me. Coincidentally, he also turned to his behind neighbor. While my hands were extended towards my immediate front neighbor, the eyes were geared towards the furthest along with my entire mind. He didn’t meet my gaze.  Then he made a hasty turn back to his position.

My eyes blinked uncontrollably in a bid to recover from the sight. I tried stopping them before I released that even my jaw was dropping. The lips were parted. I reached for my mouth not to close them but rather in awe.

‘Wake up…wake up…’I murmured while gently slapping my cheeks.  ‘No. It is not a dream’

If I had been asked to describe the features of his face even after the stare, it couldn’t have been more than one word – handsome

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/thursday-prayers-1

. That is what my mind saved him as. And what I felt is a story for another day.

Then it was the time for communion. Of course I could not receive communion not just because of the embarrassment from the fall or because I hadn’t paid attention during the Mass. But rather this was my only chance of viewing him clearly. I couldn’t miss it. And I could not risk another moment of embarrassment – tripping on him if by any chance we have to cross ways in the aisle. Enough of the humiliation at least not in church again. I shook off the thought.

‘…please God…please let him go for communion…’was my pre-communion prayer.

When he eventually stood up, he glanced straight out of the door then he swiftly turned and made his way towards the priest. They were quick but gentle steps. He moved very effortlessly, as if he had just walked out of a movie script. Confidently! He had mastered the art of walking. Rehearsed and re-rehearsed it. He walked with his hands swinging gently at the sides that I couldn’t miss noticing the fit of the shirt on his long arms. I smiled while I watched his narrow hips sway as he walked.  He was unmistakably tall.

It wasn’t so long before he returned. I was not even the slightest bit wrong, he was a movie star.

His face looked tranquil and bold. The skin was fine in a chocolate tone. I could feel it under my palms; warm and smooth. He had marked shaven jaws. The barber had left a thin hair band on the cheeks continuous with the hair. It stopped midway the cheeks. There was another band on the chin and then a little mustache. His eyes were glass. I thought I could see through them. His lips a long slit. Thin. They were soft and sweet. I didn’t need to taste them. I pondered on them so long that I found myself petting my lips, with eyes closed wishing I could. As soon as I dismissed the thought I heard the familiar words; …let us pray…

We stood up.

I had been so carried away that I didn’t remember when the priest cleared the communion line or when my movie star took up his seat.

It was really fascinating. Guys of his kind do not be at church at 5pm on a working day! If they are not working they bet, watch soccer, hung out, do whatever but not church! And to be sincere no man in the congregation was anywhere close to his character. They were mostly old men.

‘…go forth, the Mass is ended.’ It was the priest again. The Mass had finally ended.

The choir led us through the exist song.

‘I can finally get to say hello outside church or better still get his name.’ the thought was appealing.

I knelt down while the priest walked back to the sacristy and I said my last prayers. I closed my eyes to shut off the overriding thoughts in order to concentrate for at least a second given that I hadn’t actually attended the Mass.

When I opened my eyes he was gone. His seat was empty.

I leapt out of the seat and hurried out of church as fast as I had hurried through the prayer.

‘He can’t be gone. Not that fast. ’I consoled myself as I practically run out of church.

I paced around as my eyes searched for him from the scattering crowd. And there he was. I could not catch up with his fast pace at least not without causing a scene. He was gone.

My lips opened to call him but the voice was chocked. I stretched my hand out to him. I couldn’t reach him and he could see me. He just continued walking. I simply drew the hand back to my chest to keep my heart from shattering. It was broken.

I reached for the pavement and curled up while I watched in pain as his figure faded away from my sight.  The struggle to hold back the tears made the pain even more unbearable.

He was walking out of my life as easily as he had come.

‘Next Thursday!’ I said aloud as I came to the realization of the darkening sky. I struggled up released a sign of relief. ‘Yeah… next Thursday’ the idea startled me out of the tardy melancholy.

I suddenly felt so relaxed. The church compound was cleared. Everyone had left but it didn’t matter. The hope of seeing him again soothed me more quickly than I could imagine.

It is believed that people come to church to pray. True, some genuinely come to pray. They come to praise and thank the Lord for his favor and to seek for more. However some come to steal, while others come to give. Some come to meet their colleagues and church is their planned meeting point. Some come to track the Lord’s sheep – and this is where I shall forever until I see him again. There are so many other reasons.  Many come for more reasons than just one.

With half closed eyes I strolled out of the compound while whispering my prayer request. I hope my friend was right about weekly prayers. I am waiting for my miracle – him.