Flash Fiction: Turning Mary’s World Around

It’s raining outside, Mary is on her laptop, the kettle in the kitchen is whistling –a hot cup of coffee would make the entire night perfect as it always does.

She takes a sip of the hot coffee, smiles and writes in her digital journal… again, and for the 257th Time — “So thankful for Mrs Chike.”

When Mary moved into her apartment, the one thing she had resolved to not do was mix up with the neighbours. A history of boundary encroachment from her previous neighbours remains in her consciousness and she was not, for whatever reason, going down that murky lane with anybody — definitely not Mrs Chike, the landlady.

Mrs Chike was not going to give up being genuinely nice to Mary — No refusal to reply her greetings or the banging of doors in her face or the rude refusal to accept her gifts was enough deterrent. This resolve baffled Mary.

On this fateful Easter Morning, as she always does during festivals, public holidays or whenever she feels like — Mrs Chike had knocked three times on Mary’s door. When no replies came, she dropped a basket of fruits and a handwritten letter in front of the door and turned around…

Two weeks had since passed. Mary had for the first time accepted the landlady’s gift, albeit reluctantly; devoured it all save for the letter. She could not get over it, no matter how much she tried -

“Dear Mary,

Thank you for always shutting the gate behind you and for never letting me remind you to send your monthly security due. God bless your heart so much, Mary. I have watched you these past months and one thing about you remains consistent — the charm and grace with which you speak and the tenderness in your voice. Keep being that charm and never lose it.

Here’s my favourite Bible Verse — I hope you like it too

‘Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim… — Proverbs 15:4

A Happy Easter to you. My doors are open if you need anything…”

This was the start of a rewarding friendship, rewarding in every sense of the word- five years and counting.

It was Mrs Chike that taught Mary how to pray, how to truly be open to new ideas and how to live her true and authentic life. Five years ago, beneath the soft voice was a raging storm — Mary was battling with self-image, she had severe identity issues. To her, she was not good enough and she could never be perfect — a reality she came to accept after she lived in the shadow of her elder sister who became the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria; whom everyone gushed about. She was the most sought after, most popular and of course the most loved.

For Mary, everything took a turn for the best after a chat with Mrs Chike. She had gone on to read a scripture-

“I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvellously made! I worship in adoration — what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something” — Psalm 139: 14–15

As little and seemingly meaningless as these words seemed they turned Mary’s world around, knowing that God really took his time to make her. On her laptop screen, this bible verse had remained bold and beautifully designed — a constant reminder, five years running. So when she sipped her coffee and took a glance at that Bible verse, she was grateful to God for sending Mrs Chike to her and most importantly for the girl she had become — A whole girl, grateful for what she had, comfortable in her skin and enjoying a loving relationship with her heavenly Father.

Written by Makuochi Okafor, a content writer in Lagos, Nigeria.