...But God said So

Chapter 12: Please Watch Over Her

Sleep refused to come.

Joshua turned over again and groaned.

The bedside clock read 1:03 a.m.

Wonderful.

In less than twelve hours, he would be leaving the family house.

Instead of sleeping, he was staring at the ceiling, replaying a conversation from a hospital chapel.

A woman.

A stranger.

A woman whose name he still didn't know.

Joshua sighed and reached for his phone.

There was only one person awake enough—and patient enough—to listen.

He dialed.

The call rang twice.

Then connected.

"Hello?"

Joshua smiled.

"You're awake."

A loud hiss came from the other end.

"Joshua, your mates are sleeping."

"You are awake."

"That's because I'm on call."

Joshua laughed.

"Fair."

IK yawned.

"Is somebody dying?"

"No."

"Are you dying?"

"No."

"Then why are you calling me by one in the morning?"

Joshua hesitated.

The silence lasted barely two seconds.

Then IK groaned.

"Ah."

Joshua rolled his eyes.

"What?"

"That voice."

"What voice?"

"The mysterious woman voice."

Joshua laughed.

"You're not serious."

"You found her, abi?"

Joshua sat up slowly.

"How did you know?"

"My brother, you've called me at one in the morning. Either you've found her or Arsenal has won the Champions League."

Joshua chuckled.

"Fair enough."

IK was quiet for a moment.

Then,

"You found her?"

"I saw her."

"Where?"

"Hospital."

A pause.

"Was she sick?"

"No."

"Family member?"

"Friend."

"Hmm."

Joshua leaned back against the headboard.

"I went to visit a church member."

"And?"

"I stopped by the chapel before leaving."

The teasing left IK's voice.

"What happened?"

Joshua took a deep breath.

Then he told him everything.

The chapel.

The tears.

The anger.

The prayer.

The way she spoke about God.

The way she looked completely exhausted.

When he finished, silence followed.

A long silence.

Finally, IK spoke.

"That's heavy."

Joshua nodded even though he couldn't see him.

"Yeah."

"Very heavy."

Joshua stared into the darkness.

"What struck me was the anger."

IK hummed thoughtfully.

"Honestly?"

"What?"

"It wasn't the anger that struck me."

Joshua frowned.

"What then?"

"The pain."

The answer surprised him.

IK continued.

"People don't carry that kind of pain overnight."

Joshua listened.

"I'm a doctor, remember?"

"I know."

"Whatever happened to her didn't happen yesterday."

Joshua lowered his eyes.

Deep down, he already knew that.

The tears.

The bitterness.

The hopelessness.

Those things had roots.

Years of roots.

IK sighed.

"You know what's interesting though?"

"What?"

"She still went to the chapel."

Joshua frowned.

"To complain."

"Exactly."

The answer confused him.

IK continued.

"Joshua, people who have completely given up on God don't usually go looking for Him."

The words settled somewhere deep.

"She sounded angry."

"She did."

"Very angry."

"I know."

IK's voice softened.

"But she was still talking to Him."

Joshua fell silent.

He hadn't thought of it that way.

"Think about it."

IK continued.

"If she truly believed God didn't exist, she wouldn't have been in that chapel."

Joshua rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.

"Maybe."

"No. Not maybe."

IK paused.

"She sounded like someone who feels abandoned."

The words landed heavily.

Because that was exactly what Joshua had heard.

Not unbelief.

Abandonment.

Not rebellion.

Hurt.

Deep hurt.

The kind that changes people.

For several moments neither man spoke.

Then IK broke the silence.

"So."

Joshua already knew where this was going.

"So?"

"What's her name?"

Joshua sighed.

"I don't know."

Silence.

Then—

"Sorry?"

Joshua laughed.

"I don't know."

"Joshua."

"What?"

"You saw her in church."

"Yes."

"You dreamt about her."

"Yes."

"You had an encounter."

"Yes."

"You met her in a hospital."

"Yes."

"And you still don't know her name?"

Joshua dropped his head back against the wall.

"When you say it like that..."

"Because that's exactly what happened."

Joshua laughed despite himself.

IK hissed dramatically.

"For somebody that preaches wisdom every Sunday, you've handled this matter remarkably poorly."

Joshua burst out laughing.

"Thank you."

"No, I'm serious."

"I'm sure you are."

"You gathered zero useful information."

"IK."

"Not even a name."

"IK."

"Not even half a name."

Joshua shook his head.

The laughter faded.

Then his voice grew quieter.

"I thought meeting her would answer my questions."

IK immediately heard the change.

"And?"

Joshua stared at the ceiling.

"Now I have more."

"What kind of questions?"

Joshua swallowed.

"What happened to her?"

The words came out softer than he intended.

The line went quiet.

Finally, IK spoke.

"You care."

Joshua rolled his eyes.

"Please."

"I'm serious."

"It's not like that."

"Hmm."

"It's not."

"Joshua."

"What?"

"You called me at one in the morning."

Joshua laughed.

"Because I couldn't sleep."

"Exactly."

He hated that the man had a point.

IK chuckled.

Then his tone became serious again.

"Can I tell you what I think?"

Joshua nodded.

"Go ahead."

"I don't think God showed her to you so you could figure her out."

Joshua frowned.

"Then why?"

The answer came immediately.

"So you'd pray for her."

The room became still.

Joshua lowered his eyes.

For some reason, the words felt right.

Very right.

IK yawned loudly.

"Anyway."

Joshua smiled.

"Anyway."

"Get some sleep."

"I'm trying."

"You need it."

Joshua glanced at the packed suitcases sitting by the wall.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

"I know."

"And Joshua?"

"Hmm?"

"Trust God."

Joshua smiled.

Simple.

Direct.

Exactly what he needed to hear.

"I will."

"Good."

The call ended.

Joshua placed the phone on the bedside table and lay back down.

The room was silent.

For a long time, he stared into the darkness.

Then he whispered a prayer.

Not for answers.

Not for signs.

Not even for clarity.

Just for her.

"Wherever she is tonight, Lord..."

He paused.

Then smiled softly.

"Please watch over her."

And for the first time that night, sleep came.