Morayo's Journey: Finding God, #2

By Abimbola Olowa

Why in the world am I lying? Why couldn't I just tell my Mum I am no longer with Gbenga? She could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she went into her bedroom and flung herself on the bed, sobbing silently into her pillow. She continued sobbing till she fell asleep.

 

Morayo's Journey . . . a story of a young lady's search for love. Will she ever find it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abimbola Olowa
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201757519

Book preview

Morayo’s Journey

Finding God Series Book 2

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Abimbola Olowa

Morayo’s Journey: Finding God Series Book 2

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Copyright © 2021 Abimbola Olowa

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All rights reserved worldwide

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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author. The only exception is brief quotations in a book review. Scripture verses are taken from the Holy Bible: King James Version Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press and New International Version© Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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This book is a work of fiction. Except for the names of the specific businesses and restaurants mentioned in the book which are real and are used with permission of the owners, any references to real people, events, institutions, or locales are intended only to give a sense of reality and authenticity and are used fictitiously.  All other names, characters, and places, and all dialogue and incidents portrayed in this book represent the imagination of the author. 

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Cover Design by Zenovel Consulting, South Africa

Dedication

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This book is dedicated to my Heavenly Father who has been my Anchor and my Shepherd in every aspect of my Christian journey.

Acknowledgements

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Writing Morayo’s Journey has been exciting for me because I had learnt a lot after writing the first book in the Finding God Series – Gbenga’s Journey.

My special thanks go to my husband for his support and the cover design – as always you put your heart into the design and brought Morayo to life! To my daughters, Mofoluwatele, Mofifoluwa, and Mofoluwaniyi – thank you for giving me the space to write and popping your head once so often into the study to ask if I have finished writing.

To three ladies – Olamitokunbo Omoshoro-Jones, Imisioluwa Johnson, and Primrose Igonor who made useful insights and suggestions into the initial draft – thank you.

To my Dad, Maloma Akinnusi (the Prof), Mum, Modupe Akinnusi (Mama Grace), and my brothers and sisters who have supported me on this journey in many ways than I can ever imagine. I love the way we look out for one another! To all my family and friends, your support is not unnoticed.

My absolute greatest appreciation goes to God Almighty! You gave me the grace, the gift and, the story! I LOVE YOU!

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Glossary

Excerpt from Finding God Series Book 3

About the Author

Chapter One

Hmm, I hope I find a good parking spot, said Morayo aloud, as she slowly drove along the road looking for a place to park.

She had come to Mushin Market after work to pick up a few groceries. She usually stocked up on groceries every two months at a particular shop and the last time she had cooked, she saw that most of her supplies had dwindled.

Finally, she saw an empty spot between a white Toyota Corolla and blue Kia Picanto and maneuvered her car into the spot. Thank God. It’s always so difficult to find parking especially at this time of the day when everyone is stopping by on their way home from work. She got down from the car and locked it with the remote. Before she moved away, she checked to make sure the door was locked. You can’t be too careful with people who jam remotes lurking everywhere. As she walked towards the entrance closest to the shop she was going to, one of the touts standing around the area, who had watched as she parked her car, came up to her.

No worry, Madam, I will check your car, he said giving her a cheeky grin. He couldn’t have been more than twenty years old and she wondered how long he had been doing this.

Nothing must happen to my car, she said, walking away.

When Morayo got to the shop, she realised she had left her cellphone in the car and hoped that it was not in full glare on the car seat. I hope I left it in the middle compartment. She quickly made her purchase and got one of the assistants in the shop to help her take the things to the car. The sun was just setting as Morayo weaved her way through the dwindling crowd. She couldn’t wait to get into the car and put on the air conditioner because despite the setting sun, it was still quite hot.

She opened the boot of the car and while the young girl put the bags of groceries in the boot, she rummaged in her bag for some money to give to her. The cheeky grinning tout came up to her and watched as she handed the money to the girl.

Don’t forget me too Madam, he said, with the same cheeky grin.

For what? she retorted, pretending to be annoyed.

Ha! Madam see your car, nothing happened to it, he said, waving at the car to emphasise his point.

Just take and leave me alone, she replied, handing him a note.

He took it and bounced off, looking for another person to accost for money.

Morayo got into her car and quickly checked for her cellphone, heaving a sigh of relief when she saw that it had slipped between the seat and middle compartment. She joined the slowly moving traffic and headed home. She switched on the air conditioner and then turned on the radio to listen to the 7 p.m. news on her favourite radio station. As the voice of the presenter droned through the speaker, her mind went to Gbenga. She had not heard from him since he ended their relationship a few months ago leaving her with a broken heart. It had taken a while and although she was not yet over him, she could now go for a couple of days without thinking of him. She had made up her mind in January to become so busy that she would not have time to even think about him. That was the only new year resolution she had made.

Well so far so good. This week I have only thought of him twice, she said aloud. Who am I fooling? Will I ever get over him?

Her mind drifted to the day they had gone on their first date. She had been so excited that her roommate Solape had to tell her to calm down. She had gotten her nails done, carefully chosen her outfit – a tight-fitting dress that hugged her figure beautifully. She had indulged in a new bottle of expensive perfume and would have added a new pair of shoes if Solape had not stopped her.

You will be hungry for the rest of the month and don’t think I am going to help you out, warned Solape.

But I must look good, Solape. You see how he slays anytime we see him. I can’t afford to be looking like his maid when we go out.

You are fine the way you are. A new bottle of perfume, now new shoes! Please can you just be yourself?

She had reluctantly agreed and dropped the pair of shoes she was holding.

The evening had been wonderful. Gbenga had been the perfect gentleman. He took her out for dinner, and they had talked about all and everything. She had been a little disappointed that he had not made any move to kiss her though. But that had been the start of a relationship she had been hoping would end in marriage. The more she thought about it the more she could not understand how things had ended up the way they had. He had told her he had found God again, but she was quite sure it had more to do with Ayomide, the youth leader. Morayo parked in her allocated parking bay and started taking her groceries out of the boot. It was on days like this she was glad her apartment was on the ground floor.

When she had finished offloading the groceries in front of her door, she went back to lock the car. Making sure her phone was secure in her bag, she went into her apartment. She quickly put away the things she had bought before going into her bedroom. This was her personal space. She spent more time in the bedroom than in the living room. She had once toyed with the idea of getting a bigger place and maybe sharing with someone, but she decided not to. She loved the fact that the place was all hers and she could come and go as she pleased. Sometimes she did feel lonely but not enough to decide to take on a flatmate. Her Mum often worried about the fact that she lived alone. But she assured her that there were plenty of neighbours around and she was also living in a safe part of Lagos.

Kicking off her shoes, she changed into more comfortable clothes and in her well-worn slippers, went into the kitchen to start dinner. She decided to boil some rice to go with the beef stew she made over the weekend which she had brought out to thaw before going to work in the morning. As she cut some plantains, she quietly hummed to herself remembering how much Gbenga loved plantains. She often made dodo as part of the meals she made for him while they were still together. Just then her cellphone rang from the bedroom. She dropped the plantain she was cutting and wiped her hands, hurrying into the bedroom to pick the call. It was her Mum. 

Hello Mummy, she said, slipping the phone between her cheek and shoulder and going back into the kitchen to continue slicing the plantain.

"Morayo mi, how are you?" said her Mum, cheerfully over the phone.

Tired, Mummy. The traffic was so bad today, it took me more than an hour to get home from Mushin Market.

Aww sorry, dear. Have you eaten? asked her Mum with concern in her voice.

Just making dinner – rice and plantain, Morayo replied.

Oh, in that case, let me leave you to it. Please call me back when you are done. There is something I would like to discuss with you.

Sure Mom. Will do.

Morayo ended the call and continued with cutting up the plantain into tiny cubes. Gbenga could never quite understand why she preferred cutting her plantains in cubes instead of just slicing them. She on the other hand was quite particular about this.  There I go again thinking about Gbenga! I really need help – maybe I should see a psychologist or something. It’s been months since we broke up and everything I do or say reminds me of him. She quickly caught herself before she started crying and decided to turn on the television to take her mind off Gbenga.

After dinner, which she had watched in front of re-runs of her favorite reality show, Morayo remembered that she had promised to call her Mum. She took her plate to the sink and quickly washed it. Better call her now before she goes to bed.

Hello Morayo, said her Mum. She sounded like she was already sleeping.

Hello Mummy, are you sleeping? Do you want me to call tomorrow?

No, my dear. I am already awake in any case.

You asked me to call you back, said Morayo, somehow sensing what her Mum wanted to discuss with her.

It’s not anything major. It’s just a sense I get that all is not well with you. When you came down in December, I could sense something was not quite right even though you kept assuring me that you are fine. But for some days now I just keep getting the feeling that all is not well.

Mummy I am okay. Things have been busy at work.

Okay if you say so. How is Gbenga?

Morayo did not immediately respond because the sudden question surprised her. Yes, she had told her Mum about Gbenga even hinting that marriage was on the cards. Gbenga had spoken with her Mum a couple of times although he had not met her parents because they lived in Ibadan.

Clearing her throat, He is fine, Mummy.

Really? But I don’t recall him calling you when you were here in December?

Well he was busy and most times we spoke in the night, said Morayo, feeling bad for lying to her Mum.

So, when are we meeting this your young man, asked her Mum. Or are you two not planning to settle down?

Well, not yet Mummy. We are trying to get established in our careers and then we will see how things go.

"Hmm, okay Morayo mi. We will keep praying that all will go well."

Thanks, Mummy. I love you, said Morayo, now really feeling bad for lying.

I love you too. Have a good night, my dear.

Give my love to Daddy and Bisola, said Morayo.

I will, said her Mum, ending the call.

Why in the world am I lying? Why couldn’t I just tell my Mum that Gbenga and I are no longer together? She could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she went into her bedroom and flung herself on the bed, sobbing silently into her pillow. She continued sobbing till she fell asleep.

The sunlight filtering in through the curtain woke Morayo up the next morning. She had slept fitfully, tossing and turning most of the night. She checked the time and saw that it was already 10 a.m! She groaned and slowly sat up on the bed. She still felt so tired and groggy, but she had promised Nkechi, one of her colleagues at work that she would be at her birthday party. But first, she needed to clean her apartment. She pondered whether to clean first or take a shower first. She decided to clean first. Her Mum would be horrified to think she would shower first before cleaning!

She got up, quickly brushed her teeth, changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and stuck her earphones in her ears to listen to music while cleaning.  Starting with the kitchen she moved on to the living room and completed the cleaning with her room and bathroom. Two hours later she looked around her with satisfaction. She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower allowing the lukewarm water to cascade down her body.  Every muscle and joint in her body welcomed the water and she could feel herself relaxing as the water continued to pour down.

She decided to put on a long dress made from a multi-coloured Ankara with a pair of high heels. She stepped out of the apartment and briskly walked to her car. Nkechi’s place was about thirty minutes from her place and thankfully the traffic was quite light. She was looking forward to the party. About time to get out there and stop moping around. She slipped on her sunglasses to shield her eyes from the bright glare of the sun. I would have been at Gbenga’s place relaxing in front of the television on a Saturday