One Pick Up Too Many (7)

The Lecture had been unusually long but Ama had stayed behind in the Law Library to study for the first Semester exams. It was about 4.00pm when she found herself dozing and hitting her head on the volume of the Supreme court cases she was studying.

“That’s it”, she announced to herself! She had read till 4.00am in the morning and now she couldn’t possibly assimilate anything more.

By the time she got back to her hall of residence, she was dog tired. Waving casually at her next door neighbor, she struggled to fit the key in the lock. She could barely keep her eyes open! She felt she needed to take a shower and catch a bite but all those would have to wait.

Opening the door sluggishly, she dumped her books on the table and collapsed on the bed. There were only two beds in her room at Amina hall but there was enough stuff for six ladies, littering the floor! Grateful that there wasn’t anyone else in the room, she snuggled close to her pillow, slipped her red high heeled shoes off, murmured “thank you Holy Spirit” and was asleep within minutes.

Normally a deep sleeper, Ama however found herself tossing and turning, in and out of sleep. There was something wrong, but she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. From experience, she knew it was time to get up and pray.

Dragging herself off the bed, she grabbed the edges of a chair nearby and stood up. Still wondering how in the world she would manage to say any meaningful prayer , she murmured, “I need you help, Holy Spirit. I don’t know what this is but you know. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit”

Well, her prayer must have been answered. In a minute, she could feel fresh energy running through her, almost as if she had downed a can of Red Bull, only better!

Walking round the room, she prayed in the Holy Ghost until she began to hear deep groans coming from deep within her! Then it was as if a huge load had been placed on her. There was such a heavy burden in her heart that she began to sob and groan uncontrollably! Unable to bear the pain, she collapsed on her bed, still sobbing and groaning.  Then, she fell into what appeared to be a deep sleep!

She was sited in a Cinema hall watching a movie which appeared too real to be imaginary! There were three individuals, two ladies and a man who were on trial. There was something vaguely familiar about the man but she couldn’t quite recognize him. In any case she couldn’t bear to keep her eyes on them long enough! They were a sight you wouldn’t want to gaze at twice!

Stark naked and in chains of fire, their skins were simmering hot but this was not from any fire known to man! The fire was a combination of shame, condemnation, guilt and regret! You could sense that they were sorry for having done whatever they were being accused of but their greatest torture was the realization that it was too late to make amends, too late to right the wrongs!

This was no ordinary court room! The Judge was not human and neither was the prosecutor nor the court clerk or Bailiffs. They were like Elves of various forms and shapes but not the kind in comic books! These were hideous creatures with a smell so repugnant that one could barely breathe!

The accused persons were not being given any opportunity to defend themselves. All Ama could see and hear were tons of evidence and loads of accusations against them! Unable to respond, because their fate was already sealed as far as they could tell, they wallowed in pain and subjection, reserved to the unimaginable hell that was sure to be their lot!

Ama became greatly concerned. Surely this was a travesty of Justice! Wasn’t an accused person assumed innocent until proven guilty? She rose up to protest but no one paid any attention! Then it dawned on her that she was observing the proceedings on a giant screen!

But the accused persons seemed aware of her presence and without uttering words, one by one, they began to appeal to her for help. Confused, feeling concerned but utterly helpless, Ama turned and started to walk away. Didn’t they know that she wasn’t in the movie? Besides, didn’t they know it was all make believe?

As she walked towards the door of the cinema hall however, she could hear the pleas of the accused persons growing louder and louder. She couldn’t explain why but it was as if their fate rested squarely on her shoulders!

Then she started to experience the emotions that they were going through! Fear, shame, guilt, condemnation and regret! Fear and regret were however the most prominent and the emotions were so strong that Ama didn’t know when she collapsed like a heap on the floor of the Cinema hall weeping like a baby!