Our Water Coloured Town

Everyone stood in awe, it was almost dramatic the way they let their unashamed gaze glide allover her, it was as though they had never seen a lady before. Even the women looked terribly in awe, but it was a different awe from the one the men had on their faces, it was an awe mixed with green envy, she could hear their eyes speak loud disapproving words. She smiled in her head while her face remained emotionless- it kept her steady. As she got to the podium, she could hear muffled voices as audible as the drizzling of rain, speaking in whispers and murmurs, they reminded her of the children she used to teach five years ago, before her life changed. She steadied herself again as the memories from then almost threw her off balance, the high heels shoes didn't help either. The Reverend handed her the mic, it's body felt cold in her palm as she collected it from him, she thought of pneumonia. "Go ahead Chinelo, speak to the people of God" "Yes sir" she replied the smiling man. she was beginning to think that this was a bad idea, why did she subject herself to this sort of disgrace, she had damned their judgements earlier, but she was now standing in the midst of it, damning it has now become a chore. The harsh sound that she heard next came from the microphone, a very loud unpleasant screeching sound, everyone grimaced, including her. The Reverend took the microphone from her, he smiled and apologized; "I'm sorry, it's because you were close to the speaker, please come stand by my right hand side", he softly held her arm and guided her gentlemanly to his right hand side. "Thank you Reverend" she said sincerely, she suddenly remembered why she was doing this now, it's because of that unusual brown eyes that she had gotten used to in these past few weeks, that calm tone and voice that sounded like a miraculous melody, that eyes that never judged her, but saw past her current lifestyle and really saw her, the way no other person had in the last few years since she moved to this town. it was as though all the compassion in the world has finished and he had the last one. She could feel the wind play with the helm of her magnificent gown, she thought of baby angels and the story Mama used to tell her about them, it almost seemed like a lifetime ago- her childhood. Then she remembered Mama in this gown, how she would always look radiant in them, it was her favorite Sunday service gown, then she remembered the fire that changed everything. "Good morning everyone, my name is Chinelo, i know that everyone feels i don't deserve to be here because of my ways, i know. But God didn't care that i was a broken prostitute when he sent your Reverend Akachi to save me from the old life i led" Chinelo kept speaking, it was as if a new person had taken over her mouth and started saying everything in her head, in her heart or maybe the old Chinelo was back- the teacher, the one that went away with the fire five years ago.