Epic Testament

“Happy Anniversary,” I told her before she could open her eyes up all the way.

  I presented her with breakfast on a tray so she could enjoy it in bed. I woke up early to cook a Belgian waffle, scrambled eggs, and pan-fried ham, her favorite. I even added a bowl of fruit on the side. I arranged it all perfectly on the tray with a single rose.

  “Thanks Honey. Happy Anniversary. Oh my, you really went all out.” She said as she admired the tray.

  I don’t normally cook mainly because I don’t have the time. I also prefer her cooking to mine because I don’t think I am as good a cook.

  She sat up and bowed her head in prayer. I said a prayer as well.

  “Can I get you anything else?” I asked.

  She had just put something in her mouth. She shook her head “no” and covered her mouth with a napkin.

  “No Honey. This is great. Thank you.”

  She doesn’t like to speak with food in her mouth. She gets embarrassed and blushes. It’s cute. The way beauty clings to her is simply stunning. I had to look at her for a second longer.

  “I’ll leave you to enjoy, hopefully. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  I went downstairs to clean up the mess I had made in the kitchen because we would be leaving shortly.

  I turned on some music and sang along. I was so consumed in what I was doing; I didn’t even notice my wife was standing at the edge of the kitchen. I don’t think she said a word. I stopped singing and turned the music down.

  “Yes Honey?”

  She lifted her head up very slowly. Her eyes were red and her face was impressed from the underside with a demon’s face. The skin on her head was boiling and bubbling like it was going to explode.

  “Minister, I coming back and when I do, you will die!”

  A demon had possessed my wife, but how?

  “Demon, be gone out of her body and out of my house. You are not welcome here.”

  The spirit started laughing “See you soon, Minister.”

  My wife and the spirit disappeared.

  Melayla.

  “Melayla! Melayla! Where are you?” I shouted and ran to our room.

  She wasn’t in the bed anymore. This is impossible. Where could they have taken her?

  “Melayla!”

  I heard water coming from the bathroom. I went to the door and cracked it open carefully. I wasn’t sure what was on the other side. I looked into the mirror on the wall for the reflection of the room’s contents. I saw Melayla. She was singing in the shower. She was okay. She had been okay all along. I was so worried. I went back to the kitchen to finish the dishes.

  But if she was never possessed, then what was that earlier? How did the demons use her body without using her body? They must be experimenting again, which is why her skin was boiling and falling off her bones. They are still working on imitating people. Her eyes were bulging like they were fighting to stay in the sockets. If I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes, I never would have been able to picture my wife looking so awful. I sat on the bed. “Father, what is happening?”

  “Mike,” Melayla called.

  I jumped as I was unaware she was standing behind me.

  “Yes,” I replied as I finished washing the last dish.

  “Is everything okay? You are kind of jumpy.”

  I turned to face her. “Uh, nothing…I just didn’t know you were there. Are you ready? Because I am ready. And you look AMAZING!” I said as I pulled her closer to me and kissed her forehead.

  “Yes,” She replied.

  I packed the car and we headed for the ship. It took a little while to make it through the traffic, but it wasn’t too much trouble loading the ship. I have had less favorable experiences.

  The ship is awesome. There are about one hundred couples on board. As we stood by the rails of the boat, we admired the sight. The sun was almost completely down and the remaining rays on the water were awe worthy. The views are so calming and peaceful. It feels so good to get away for pleasure. It feels even better to be with the love of my life.

  Tonight, she is wearing a dress with a shimmer of gold. It wraps around her neck then continues downward in the front to just above her knee. In the back, the fabric falls between her shoulder blades, continues down her back, and extends a little pass the knees. While it is a straight dress and she is a curvy woman, it doesn’t hug her too tightly exposing all her curves. It just fits and looks classy. I prefer that look to some of the other looks I come across. She knows what she has and doesn’t have to show it all to get attention. When we were dating, it made me curious and kept me interested; now that we are married, it makes me appreciate her even more for keeping secrets for me.

  The moon marked its presence by dancing off her face and down her dress. It seemed like every breath I tried to take was more and more shallow. Twenty six years later and she still takes my breath away.

  “What are you thinking about?” she turned to me and locked her eyes with mine.

  I tried to speak but I couldn’t, not yet. I put my hand to the side of her face. Her eyes sparkled at my touch. I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She placed her hand on mine. Her eyes looked eager to read my thoughts.

  “I was thinking about how beautiful you are. And how blessed I am to have you as my wife. If God decided not to send another blessing my way, I’d be just fine as long as I can keep you.”

  She grinned and let out a soft laugh. “That’s a good one, Mikey. But I’m sure you can do better. Don’t worry, we have more time.” She turned and laid her back on my chest as she looked back out to the water.

  She never was one for being wooed by lines. Yet, I was as serious as a heart attack. I wrapped my arms around her waist. I opened the jewelry box revealing the diamond eternity band before I leaned in and whispered in her ear.

  She looked at it and exclaimed. “O my Mikey! It’s beautiful. Thank you!” She tilted her head slightly. “I love you too.” She whispered just loud enough for me to hear her.

  After dinner was served, we remained on the deck for about an hour more before retiring to our room.

  “Melayla,” I spoke to her in a soft voice as we lay in bed snuggling. “Is there anything you need me to do or fix when we get back home?”

  I knew it was not the type of conversation she expected right now, but I need her to be prepared for was lies ahead.

  “What? When we get home? What are you talking about Mikey? What’s going on?”

  I really don’t know how to follow up to the conversation I spontaneously started. I don’t want her to worry, but I want her to understand that I am in danger; we all are in danger.

  “Nothing. I just want you to make me a list of things that need to be done so I can take care of it.”

  She turned around to look into my eyes. This is a position I hoped she wouldn’t take. This woman can read me like a toddler’s book with her eyes.

  “What’s wrong, Mikey? Just tell me. I can handle it.”

  She is a very strong woman. I know she can handle anything that comes her way. It’s me. I don’t know if I can handle the thought of her doing it alone. It’s my role to protect her.

  “Satan is planning his biggest attack ever. I will have to fight him. In the end, I know God will be victorious. I just don’t know if I will survive. I am getting older. I don’t know how much more my body can give.”

  She leaned in closer to me. The look in her eyes brought a tear to mine, which I fought hard to stop in its tracks. I have to remain strong and confident. She will feed off any sign of weakness.

  “You don’t think you will make it out of this battle alive. You want to finish everything and seal it off like a cancer patient on their dying bed. I won’t accept defeat. God has never left us or forsaken us. Yes, you will face the greatest battle yet. But you will fight and by God’s hand you will wi
n.”

  She cupped my face with both her hands. “And you will come back to me. I won’t believe any less and neither will you. No matter how much stronger the enemy gets he will never out power our God.”

  I love this woman. Even Pastors need encouragement from time to time. God hand-picked her to be at my side. I am a man of God, but I am also a husband and a father. For a moment, I let my fear of not being able to fulfill my duties to my family outweigh my faith in God that he will allow me to come back to them. When we choose to fight for the Lord, he doesn’t leave us to do so at our own risk.

  “God knew I needed you.” I told her.

  This time she kissed my forehead. She turned back around and I pulled her closer to my heart. I don’t know how much longer we have together on Earth, but I have such peace knowing we have an eternity in Heaven.