Craig William, the only child of his parents clocks 25 and begins to have nightmares. He soon realize that everyone he ever loves is doomed to death, including all the women he loves.
Craig William, the only child of his parents clocks 25 and begins to have nightmares. He soon realize that everyone he ever loves is doomed to death, including all the women he loves.
Patience is most needed
In this world oft hurrying near.
PATIENCE
Albrin Junior
Patience is most needed
Oft in this world hurrying near, The ruins of wear and tear
Washes away heeded calls.
Man's misery is become great;
O! Ye men of little faith, Forgoes God of mighty deeds, Bolts past time always there, In reality, runs from fear unknown.
PART ONE
"Every drop of tears has its meaning. There can be no fire without smoke"
PROLOGUE
Lagos state 2013
William Craig strode into the living room with heavy footsteps, and unwilling to shake away the remaining fragments of sleep lurking behind his azure eye. In between his dim lit eyes, he could see his parents watching a worship show on TV, he winced. He didn't believe in the spiritual neither in the traditional, rather, he was of logic and nothing more. He wasn't an atheist as he was often mistaken for, he knew and believed there was a God somewhere, he just didn't care who and where this God dwelt.
'Good morning mum, dad, ' he said laggy, almost drooling. He lets out an unmannered yawn, with all his strength he could muster. He sat down and both his parent gestured at him, they were engrossed in the worship. William sat and leaned his head back on the couch, more concerned about continuing his sleep. The program came to an end and his parent waved their hands to the heaven whispering something. He looked up and saw nothing but their asbestos ceiling glistering in its white petals. 'Morning son, ' his mum now answered him. His dad flashed a gaze of wonder, and William guessed he was wondering why his son was a sleepy head. He grinned at the thought of it. Joseph cleared his throat, followed by an abstruse silence. William knew his father was calculating his words and searching for the perfect opening line. 'Sit up son.'
William smiled, he knew his father. 'My son, what we have to say is important.'
'I've been thinking... I mean we've been thinking about us, ' his mother swiveled at her husband, swiftly correcting her words. 'As our son, you give us cause to be grateful to God, but, our minds are not at rest.'
William's dimmed eye widened. 'What about me give you no rest?'
'You are our only child, and we fear our joy be cut short if care is not taken. This world has grown evil, where a person's joy brings tears.' Joseph Craig, his father said nothing, but kept a fixed gaze at his son. He was studying every emotion in him. William's mind drifted to the rising sun. Its ray piercing through the sliding window into the room and from where he sat could see the sun lit but not with a good view as he always had most days. He remember been told that the early sun rays were vitamins and strengthens the bone's. William faced the sun. This was another of those natural vitamins he didn't want to miss, until his mum stood to stretch the Cotton's frill to the other end disrupting the rays. He shifted his attention back to his parent. 'Oh that!' exclaimed William with less enthusiasm, enveloping himself in the brown velvet upholstery. 'I thought we were done discussing this. For the thousand times I'm fine, nothing wrong will happen to me and your only joy won't be cut short, ' he grinned. 'By the way I go to church, and that is every protection I need. He hoped his unplanned speech had convinced his mum, but she didn't look it. 'That's the thing, Will, ' his mother called the shortened version of his name. 'We want to provide you with more powerful spiritual protection.'
William was addled. 'Does that mean God isn't strong enough to protect me?'
'It means two heads are better than one, ' his father blurted.
William frowned at the thought of it. They wouldn't agree to it but the meaning of their suggestion was obvious. Wasn't God's protection enough for men anymore? Why do people seek extra protection which appeared to be more burdensome? This thoughts have roamed longed in his head before now, he only just realized he never found an answer. He imagined what the proposed traditional protection would look like; bangles and chains cast at his feet and necklace to circle his neck. The irony of it all would be that he would have to protect the charms supposedly protecting him away from rain or water. It'd be hypocritical of him to wear church charms around his waist and still go to church on a Sunday, lifting his hands to praise God. He wondered how many people did such. 'There's nothing to be worried about, ' he reassured them both.
'This boy will not kill me, ' shouted his mother, throwing both hands into the air. 'I expected by now you'd have grown wise, ' his father scolded. 'You need to become a real man. Do you think the world is your friend? Nonsense, ' his father frowned and raked his fingers through his beard. 'Children of this generation never listen?'
'I don't even know why o! They act like they know but they don't.' Mrs. Bolu Craig exclaimed. 'Like it or not William, you will do it, you will do it, you won't kill me.' she reiterated angrily.
William wanted to tell his parents about Uz'-zah and the punishment that befell him for having helped God, but he couldn't. it was a biblical story well known to them and they both had a gaze that suggested their minds were made up. 'He doesn't know what the real world is, he's still a kid, ' Joseph said, hoping his words would bring calm to his wife. He then gestured William to leave. He was tired of repeating the same thing over and over again. Joseph Craig was a conservative man who believed that if people refused to learn from advice or otherwise, they'd be forced to learn from a bitter experience. What he failed to realize was that there were some experiences that one could not recover from. William left. 'Don't you think it's high time we tell him the truth, Bolu questioned. 'He's becoming of age, ' there was a noble plea in her voice. 'There are tides in the affairs of men, if taken at the flood leads to fortune. The time to tell him has not come, ' Joseph replied succinctly. 'This is no time for your nonsense proverbs or marbles or whatever you like to say. You better start talking sense before I lose my only son.' She retorted. 'He's my son too.'
'O! Now you know! Wait there.' she gestured then hissed her way out, calling her son's name.
***
The setting sun cast its shadow over the horizon of the three witches and its beauty reflected upon the plain white clouds, but none of these caught their eyes. They were more interested in the revelation they had just watched unfold through the calabash. Of the three sisters, Lightening was the most furious and shrewd, causing a tremor in the sky, a sudden growing violence in her eyes, but for the serene touch of her sisters, the sky would have exploded into a rage of misshapen tremors. 'They're trying to be smart. We should act now, ' Lightening rowed with calmness in her eyes but not her voice. 'Patience is a virtue, sister, ' said Rain lightly. 'Destiny can be delayed but never changed, or can it?' she asked intone. There was a revolving silence, Wind and Lightening in a mileage of thought. They agreed with her.
Naked Coin follows the travails of an Igbo family in the era of the Biafra War who lived in the then Midwestern Nigeria, Benin kingdom, and were nonetheless affected by the tribal strife and patriotic overzealousness surrounding the pre-war years and its antebellum. Ikenna’s family found wealth; they lost it all and would be driven to search for it again by all means. Ikenna found love before the war, he did foolish things for it and counts on love to see him through the horrid times as they ran from jungles to villages and back to jungles running away from war zones and deaths. In the end, deaths caught up with them, penury did too, love failed them, and an assumed brotherhood betrayed them. Ikenna and his family, or what is left of it must relearn to forge new survival paths around the same things that punished them; family, money and love
My world revolved around Jax Harding, my older brother's captivating rockstar friend. From sixteen, I adored him; at eighteen, I clung to his casual promise: "When you're 22, maybe I'll settle down." That offhand comment became my life's beacon, guiding every choice, meticulously planning my twenty-second birthday as our destiny. But on that pivotal day in a Lower East Side bar, clutching my gift, my dream exploded. I overheard Jax' s cold voice: "Can't believe Savvy's showing up. She' s still hung up on that stupid thing I said." Then the crushing plot: "We' re gonna tell Savvy I' m engaged to Chloe, maybe even hint she' s pregnant. That should scare her off." My gift, my future, slipped from my numb fingers. I fled into the cold New York rain, devastated by betrayal. Later, Jax introduced Chloe as his "fiancée" while his bandmates mocked my "adorable crush"-he did nothing. As an art installation fell, he saved Chloe, abandoning me to severe injury. In the hospital, he came for "damage control," then shockingly shoved me into a fountain, leaving me to bleed, calling me a "jealous psycho." How could the man I loved, who once saved me, become this cruel and publicly humiliate me? Why was my devotion seen as an annoyance to be brutally extinguished with lies and assault? Was I just a problem, my loyalty met with hatred? I would not be his victim. Injured and betrayed, I made an unshakeable vow: I was done. I blocked his number and everyone connected to him, severing ties. This was not an escape; this was my rebirth. Florence awaited, a new life on my terms, unburdened by broken promises.
A twist of fate bound Allison to Derek in marriage-she, a powerful heiress with countless hidden identities; he, the city's most admired man, now lying silent in a coma. For three years, Allison used her unmatched medical skills to heal him, all while quietly falling in love. But when Derek's long-lost love returned from abroad, he handed Allison divorce papers without a second thought. Resolved to stop chasing shadows, Allison signed the papers and turned her back on love-rising to fame as a dazzling force in business, medicine, and more. Only when she stood high above the world did Derek finally see her worth. He knelt before her, eyes brimming with regret. "Will you take me back?" he whispered.
At their wedding night, Kayla caught her brand-new husband cheating. Reeling and half-drunk, she staggered into the wrong suite and collapsed into a stranger's arms. Sunrise brought a pounding head-and the discovery she was pregnant. The father? A supremely powerful tycoon who happened to be her husband's ruthless uncle. Panicked, she tried to run, but he barred the door with a faint, dangerous smile. When the cheating ex begged, Kayla lifted her chin and declared, "Want a second chance at us? Ask your uncle." The tycoon pulled her close. "She's my wife now." The ex gasped, "What!?"
Maia grew up a pampered heiress-until the real daughter returned and framed her, sending Maia to prison with help from her fiancé and family. Four years later, free and married to Chris, a notorious outcast, everyone assumed Maia was finished. They soon discovered she was secretly a famed jeweler, elite hacker, celebrity chef, and top game designer. As her former family begged for help, Chris smiled calmly. "Honey, let's go home." Only then did Maia realize her "useless" husband was a legendary tycoon who'd adored her from the start.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
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