When The Tide Of The Heart Changes

Episode 6

DARK TUNNEL

Johnny was panting as he ran and panted, his body felt numb and his blood felt like chilled liquid in his veins, his hands felt cold and his legs heavier than a ten ton truck.

The darkness around was too deep, he couldnt even see his own hands even if he brought them close to his face as possible. . his breathe echoes slightly inside the hollow vacuum he found himself in, he could hear his heart thumping as if it was a bass drum beating only one fast rhythm… “How did i get into this DARK TUNNEL” he thought as his panting became more and more desperate. he could hear foot steps gaining fast towards him as he struggled to run faster but his numb body structure and heavy feet betrayed his efforts, their was no visible of light at the end of that tunnel but he kept on running to get away from what ever it is.

“You can run boy, But you will surely fall” …
He was certain that was bimbo’s voice…

Johnny’s conscious self took control as he sprang up from sleep,
“What type of stupid dreams am i having of late?”

“Could it be this woman actually possess some supernatural powers?” he kept asking himself.

“Thats utter rubbish, i know too well that their is nothing supernatural in this planet”
His body was engulfed in a very familiar chilly cold, his head was aching threatening to rip open, he was feeling sour and bitter in his throat and stomach.

Onyinye already left after fixing breakfast for him, rushing off there after for her home to get ready for church cus it was sunday morning…Johnny have slumped back to bed after declining Onyinye’s invitation to follow her to church. he must have fallen asleep again. Johnny grabbed his phone with shivering hands, even the heavy blanket that now cover his body weren’t helping at all… ”How did i get this sick all of a sudden” He lamented. took a long weak glance at his phone, it was 11:53am..

He opened his contact search engine and scrolled down searching for nothing in particular. his eyes flashed past a name and he scrolled up a little more clicked on the contact JESSICA on his phone and with a shivering hands slowly placed the ear piece to his right ear as AYE by DAVIDO blared through the tiny speaker, it was her caller tunez.

“This idiot why you deh disturb me” Jessica’s voice blurted out accompanied with a high cracking sound.

“Yeye girl sheey respect don comot ur village okwaya?” Johnny teased back.

“hiaaaaa na you i go respect gan? comot here joooor!” she said again still maintaining ever amiable tone.

“Jessy abeg come my house come help me” she said this time weakly.

“wetin happen? ….ur wife don leave u? She teased yet again.

“Please am very sick jessy” Johnny said in an even more weaker tone.

“What?..when? ..ok am on my way” jessy blurted out in a startled tone.

Johnny and jessy met at the NYSC orientation camp in Niger state. they have started off in a very bad way, jessy was in Johnny’s platoon and johnny was d platoon leader. Jessy being a very strong willed girl was always a bit too insubordinate.

Johnny nearly punched her in the face on one occasion.

they became friends few days before camp was over and as fate may have it they were posted to the same part. they friendship strived and they became somewhat more than friends, no one understood johnny like jessy did and no one understood her more either.

In a little more than 30minutes time jessy was already in the house moving straight to johnny’s room with brisk and fluid movement of her 5’7 body. she was dark complexioned, average body with a beautiful face and a nice fitting bossom and buttz…

“Johnny whats wrong with you?” she asked on entering johnny’s well funished room.

Johnny looked up, gave up a weak smile and lay back down.

Johnny took time to regale her in details all that have been happeneing, ranging from bimbo to the dreams and alhaji and the contract then sickness.

“Jesus!!!…John you have to seek a pastors help, i suspect this is spiritual” jessy blurted out with sparkling widened eyes.
Johnny looked up at her with that sweet trusted smile, their was no one he trusted more than jessy even tho onyinye hated jessy with passion, she saw her as a competitor for johnny’s heart. he has taken time to explain to her over and over again that jessy was only a best friend to him and nothing more but that will always seem to get her even more threatened and angrier.

If their was something Johnny hated about onyinye it was her quick jealousy and easy anger.

“Johnny did you hear me?… am taking you to see a pastor now” jessy said again stressing the word “now” to make sure it sunk into his thick skull.

she has always wondered why the resented johnny had against the church and even God.

“Haaa jessy biko leme hear word with you and these thieves you call pastors, am seeking medical attention and not any pastor or any God.” johnny said mockingly.

“Johnny whats wrong with u, whats it with you and God, God loves you………” “where was God when my parents were ripped from m..Johnny cut in where was him all this years, where was him when bimbo spoiled my relationship with alhaji and the minister…please jessy dont even tell me any of that again” Johnny said raising his voice a bit.
Jessy gave up the idea cus she noticed the change in his mood.

Jessy spent the day with johnny, made him a delicious meal.

Johnny was feeling much better with her around and he was already on his feet, they played, laughed, even played games and threw pillows at each other.

The fun was just what johnny need, all was beautiful and serene until onyinye walked in and all hell was broke loose.