(Continued from last Saturday)

SHE was deeply in love with Tony. She remembered all the good things Tony used to do. She knew deep down in her heart that no one in this world would take the place of her wonderful and caring husband. Love is such a tricky and funny thing. When it enters into your soul it arrests it and takes control of your mental faculty. But this love between Pauline and Tony had gone beyond worldly or material love. It was a love made in heaven, pure and real. She could recall memories of their wedding day when the officiating pastor said Tony should say ‘I do’. He had looked into her eyes with such a penetrating, soft and touching stare, then he said adoringly: “I do, my love.” Since they began their mutual relationship which later transformed into marriage Pauline had never got any reason to quarrel with him. He couldn’t even hurt a fly. He was the perfect reincarnation of Eros, the Greek god of love. He always made her happy every day and put smiles on her face every moment.

Just as Pauline wiped the painful tears off her face she made up her mind to kill herself and end this agonizing experience that was tearing her heart apart. She was the only person in the emergency ward with her husband. She looked around the ward if she could get something that could put an end to her life. Then she saw a plastic container with the inscription, ‘Hydrogen Peroxide, Poisonous Liquid’ beside the door of the emergency ward. “Yes,” she sighed, “this is just what I need to end my life…” she moved closer to the plastic jar, took it from the ground and moved towards her dear husband who had been lying on the hospital bed for the past one week.“I’ll soon join you in heaven Tony,” she whispered, “it’s better to die beside you ‘cos you love me so much and I love you too, with every ounce of my soul…” she raised the plastic jar up close to her mouth and for a moment she prayed to God to forgive her sins. She knew she was doing all this for the sake of a man she truly loved. She concentrated her eyes on her husband begging God to accept her soul and give her a place among the saints in heaven. She was weeping, really shedding tears of sorrow. Amazingly, when she was about gulping the poisonous liquid in her hand the eyelid of her supposedly lifeless husband twitched and he hiccupped softly. It was an awesome miracle! Tony opened his eyes the next couple of seconds and it was tears of joy from the couple! The plastic jar containing the poisonous liquid dropped from Pauline’s hand. And in a fit of uncontrolled joy she hugged her loving husband. “Hallelujah!!!” she screamed, “May God be praised!”

Tony was lost for words. His heart was beating heavily against his chest. “Where am I Pauline?” he asked, “What’s happening? Tell me dear, where am I? Oh, darling…what happened to me? Oh dear, I love you, never leave me again…”

“It’s okay dear…dear…darling I love you so much Tony…” Pauline repeated, “I love you…I just don’t know what to say…God did it for us!” the couple were still smooching, cooing sweet words into each other’s ears not knowing when the doctors and nurses at the Salvation Hospital entered and filled the emergency ward. It was a miracle beyond medical science. It was a situation whereby experienced doctors at the reputable hospital had given up all hope of survival. No one knew that Tony could still bounce back to life. The doctors, nurses and other well-wishers were very happy to see the couple in a happy mood. The medical director at Salvation Hospital strolled in and exclaimed instantly, “This calls for celebration! Let’s toast to the good health and long life of this blessed couple!”

Tony and Pauline went back home in joy and ecstasy. The following Sunday they had reasons to thank Almighty God and gave testimony at their place of worship. This very experience in their lives proved a point that truly: “The doctor cares and treats but God heals.”

CONCLUDED.