"Assuming wishes were horses, even beggars will ride." Asa proclaimed and hissed.
"Sis, what is wrong?" Faith wondered why she sounded sad early in the morning. Faith noticed the same during our morning devotion. Her 'Amen!' sounded low but enough pitch for Faith to hear her responses.
"Well, I have a dream last night which was very similar to the dream I had before my dad's death..." She paused, head down.
"Yes? Go on, sis. I'm all ears." _How sad can a dream be_?
"In my dream, I won a huge scholarship to study in Medical Laboratory Science in Canada and I was requested to bring a guardian along. Since all my paternal and maternal relatives have never been supportive, my dad volunteered to join me. Then, at the family meeting, we decided that Dad will secure a Permanent Residence Visa after few months so that Mom would come over too. By that, we can live in Canada 🇨🇦 for the first time, all by ourselves. Thanks to God in me..." She began to sob. "...but now, Dad is..."
"....happy that you still believe that you can promote his family forward." Faith interrupted her sharply because when Asa cries, it is usually hard to pacify her. "My God knows the reason why He took him from this planet, and God knows that it is still you and only you that can make him joyous when you eventually make this dream come to pass." For no reason, Faith became agitated in the spirit.
"Dream? Come to pass? My dad is dead and I am already in my second year in Medical Laboratory Science. Even if I say, 'God I need the promised scholarship', of what use is it? Don't you know that in Canada, it is a different and sole course? If you wanna study that there, you must have finished your tertiary education which is in three years, or I start again with them which means two years wasted. Even if..." Asa was carried away in our unbelief.
"EVEN IF WHAT? Eh? Even if what? Where is your faith? I know that some dreams are not always meant to be, yes, but God, the one that I serve can never promise and fail. What do you take God for? A liar?" Faith became 'holy-angered' and blunt to Asa.
"No...ehm...no oh, that is not what I mean..." All of a sudden, tears gathered in her eyes and she regretted all that she said. Before her crying became serious, Faith came closer and embraced her. It has been ages since Asa received a bear hug. Then, Faith spoke with a calm voice.
"See sis, I understand your pain. I understand why your doubt is this great. Just negatively stopping thinking. What God cannot do does not exist..." Ass looked up and both smiled. "... yeah, that is a song title of Dunsin Oyekan, a Nigerian Gospel artiste. I concur with what he said. If God knew that the death of your father would hinder your academic progress, do you think He would have taken him away from you forever?" Asa shook her to non-verbally say 'no'. "Now, brace up, ask God for forgiveness and tell him your fears while I go use the toilet, okay?" Asa nodded and squeezed Faith one last time for that morning before they parted.
(In the toilet...)
Faith was in overflowing but silent tears. Comforting Asa was the least she ever thought she would do to someone whose problem is far less than hers. When Asa shared her dream, it reminded her of all the nights she dreamt about wining and dining with her pregnant mom and dad in a furnished house. She dreamt of having the love she was denied for thirteen years again. She dreamt of the mornings when her Dad would give her pocket money for school. She dreamt a lot, in the night, in the day. She would only be sarcastic and all to others so that she would not be pitied. Yes, she hated the word 'sorry'.
Asa talked about fears, right? Hers were greater. She does not know if one or both parents are dead already. She does not know if maybe, the reason for the divorce is a terminal disease from her mom, or addiction from her dad, or a generational curse, or anything else. Assuming she was not handed to Asa and her family, she might have been a wretched sinner and prostitute, just like the ones her dad use to kiss outside the house, or even worse.
"All thanks to God. I believe that if you can settle Asa's case, then mine is settled because I'm now part of the family that You have destined to live in Canada 🇨🇦." She washed her face and came out to urge Asa to go to the library before their first lecture.