I MET HIM ONLINE

Chapter Four

I wake up on a Saturday morning. Over the last few months I have been having tight work schedules but it's been moving smoothly. Nesh my girlfriend has been very supportive and Felix my online boyfriend, yes you heard me right. My online boyfriend keeps checking on me. He's been a great companion. My mom is doing better. She's not completely well but at least she's better. We took her to a hospital in India and she was diagnosed with some strange disease. She is under medication and am pleased. I feel so lazy today; I could not skip going to church though. I will be present. I will take my burden to him. To Jesus. I take my phone, switch it on and send Nelly a message. "Happy Sabbath galfie" "Happy Sabbath too darling and good news." She replies immediately and I smile. She is my favourite. That sister I never had. “What would have happened to me if I never met this gorgeous girl?” I ask myself but I don't get an answer because my phone rings and I pick it. Hit the answer button and I know why mum is calling, she want to say she woke up well. “Hello Emma!” That's how she calls me. She's the best mother in the world. She raised me up to love church and to respect everyone. "Hi mum," I call back. “I am fine. Don't forget to pray for me.” Thank you mum and I hang up. Nelly must be sleeping and will probably wake up a bit later because it's Saturday. It's been six months since I got to know about Felix and I have grown to trust him. A few fears here and there but I will outgrow them. Nelly thinks I should give him the benefit of doubt so I want to try this. “He's coming home soon. “My subconscious reminds me and I feel something missing in me. I ask myself and I know instantly what that is. It's almost two in the country where Felix is. I haven't seen any good morning texts from him. I decide to text him. Hey, did you forget about me today? I wink with an emoji.

“Morning my love, how's my sleeping beauty?” he replies almost immediately.

“I’m good darling. I hope you are too. Have a beautiful day and see you after church”

“Alright, have a blessed Sabbath.”

“Thank you," I text back.

“Welcome baby"

I couldn't help but smile despite myself. I love this guy. I feel the urge to shout the song….10000 reasons to bless the lord oh my soul. I toss the phone to the bed. And think again how strangers sometimes can come into your life and bless it, make it different and change it completely.

Four years ago.

Alex made it his business to pass by my small office every morning or at least every time he was going to court. We had become very close, Alex, Betty and I were really good friends. I had learned that Alex was a court clerk from the company he had taken my CV to. Sometimes he would request for blank receipts, which I later learned he was using to get money from his employer. He was a loyal client so that was none of my business. One morning I woke up, very tired and not willing to leave the house. My subconscious who gets very bitchy with me sometimes but is very helpful reminded me in a funny way that that's not my mother's company. “Thank you” I murmured inwardly. I got up. Went to the bathroom, took a quick shower after brushing my teeth and headed to the office. After the reminder by my subconscious, I decided to approach the day as is. I wore to kill and I knew acceptance was the way to go. So long as I did my work to perfection the ranting of my boss would not stop me. That's what I had at that moment so I had to accept it because my life depended fully on it. When I got to my small but neatly arranged office Betty was already in and doing some cleaning. The office was very quiet, clean and smelt good. I got many clients that day. I was really excited. My day was moving very fast. It was around eleven thirty in the morning I was a bit exhausted from serving so many clients. The number had dropped and I was seated on my usual space when I heard my phone ring, I dashed and picked it and the number wasn't saved but it was a nice number. You know those numbers that have several zeros? This was one of them.

“Hello” I heard a sweet vivid voice from the other end.

“Hello “I called back

“Am I speaking to Emali?”

Yes speaking…

The lady who was speaking so sweetly from the other end introduced herself as Beldine. Do you know why she was calling? Your guess is right. I Emali had been invited for an interview. The CV Alex had taken to the company he worked for. I was being invited to go in four days and I can't explain my excitement. I was so happy. I called Alex my friend to give him the good news. I informed Betty too. I went to the interview after lying to my stingy boss that I was unwell and was going to see a doctor. I heard a soft knock on my door, bringing me back from the thoughts.

“Emali” Nelly called softly. I stood up and dashed towards the door to open up for her.

“Aren’t we going to church today?” she asked.

“Good morning too darling, I will not miss church for anything in this world.”

She looked at me and smiled. Nelly and I knew how to do things. We were this perfect for our own company. But we were straight as poles. After the Sabbath we headed back home. I lazied around as Nelly decided to go out with her boyfriend Linus. They loved each other. My online boyfriend hadn't come home yet. I didn't want to go out so I stayed back to take care of our house. That particular day Felix kept me company. Too far and yet very close. We decided to do a video call . I sure really loved him. I decided it's high time he got to know my feelings for him. He was so happy and he promised he would do anything to bring joy into our lives. “I’m coming home love. “Welcome home Hun."

We spoke about so many sweet nothings and I was so happy and so much in love that time flew away fast. I saw Felix in our video call and I was bubbly. Girl! Are you not so lucky? My b***h sub conscious I had forgotten about her was at it again. But since she was never cautioning me against Felix I took it that I was safe.

I trust it so much. Many a time the stubborn questions it has raised have made me make the decisions I pride in how good they turned out to be.