15/07/2026
Mary ran blindly out of the hospital.
Tears streamed down her face, making it difficult for her to see the road ahead.
The doctor's silent shake of the head, kept replaying in her mind.
She refused to believe it. She couldn't.
Not after everything Oliver had been through.
Not after they had finally found his father.
Not after they had begun planning their future together.
"No, Lord," she cried as she hurried toward her car. "This cannot be how the story ends."
Instead of driving home, her hands instinctively turned the steering wheel toward her church.
It was the only place she wanted to be.
A few minutes later, she parked hurriedly and almost ran into the church auditorium.
The large building was quiet.
There was no service going on.
Only the gentle sound of worship music played softly through the speakers.
Mary walked straight to the altar.
The moment she reached it, she dropped to her knees.
Then she broke down completely.
"Father!"
she cried through uncontrollable tears.
"You gave him back his father.
You reunited a family that had been separated for years.
Please don't let death separate them again."
She laid herself flat on the altar, weeping bitterly.
Every prayer she knew came pouring out.
She quoted Scriptures, she worshipped, she cried and . pleaded.
Minutes passed. Then almost an hour.
Unknown to her, someone quietly entered the church auditorium. It was her pastor.
He had just returned from a hospital visit.
Earlier that afternoon, he had personally gone to pray for Oliver after hearing about his sudden illness.
Both Oliver and Mary were faithful members of the church. He loved them like his own children.
The moment he stepped into the auditorium and saw someone lying before the altar, he paused. Then he recognized her and his heart sank.
He walked quietly toward her.
She was still praying through tears.
"Oh Lord, please spare Oliver."
The pastor swallowed hard.
He gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"My daughter."
Mary looked up immediately.
"Pastor," she called in tears.
The moment she saw him, she began crying all over again.
The pastor carefully helped her to sit on one of the front pews.
He handed her a handkerchief.
"Easy. Please calm down."
Mary tried wiping her tears, but fresh ones continued flowing.
The pastor waited patiently.
After a few moments, he spoke.
"I was at the hospital earlier."
He looked at her kindly.
"How is Oliver now?"
Mary lowered her head.
"There is no improvement."
Her voice trembled.
"The doctors are doing everything they can. .But..."
She couldn't complete the sentence.
The pastor nodded slowly.
"I understand."
He remained quiet for a few seconds before speaking again.
"My daughter, our God has never failed."
Mary looked at him through tear-filled eyes.
"I know, Pastor, but I'm afraid."
He smiled gently.
"Fear is natural, but don't allow fear to become your faith."
Mary remained silent.
The pastor folded his hands together.
"I want to tell you something."
His tone became more serious.
"When I prayed for Oliver today..."
He paused.
"I sensed strongly in my spirit that this sickness is not ordinary."
Mary immediately lifted her head.
"What do you mean, sir?"
The pastor looked toward the altar before answering.
"I believe there is more to this than what doctors are seeing."
Mary's heartbeat quickened.
"Pastor, are you saying someone is responsible?"
He raised his hand gently.
"I am not saying that. Not yet."
He sighed deeply.
"As I was praying,.I kept seeing someone."
Mary leaned forward immediately.
"Who?"
The pastor slowly shook his head.
"I cannot tell you."
Her face fell.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have complete clarity."
He spoke carefully
"I don't want to accuse an innocent person."
Mary nodded slowly.
The pastor continued.
"God is not the author of confusion.
If He wants to expose someone, He will reveal the matter completely.
I need certainty. I need confirmation.
I must know exactly what happened,
how it happened and who is behind it."
He looked directly into Mary's eyes.
"I cannot stand before people and make accusations based only on impressions."
Mary admired his caution, even though it increased her curiosity.
"So what should we do?"
The pastor smiled gently.
"We pray. We keep praying."
He stood up and stretched out his hand toward her.
"Come."
Mary stood beside him.
The pastor placed both hands gently on her head.
"Father, you are the God who reveals hidden things. I use Mary as a point of contact to reach Oliver. If this battle is physical, give the doctors wisdom. If it is spiritual, expose every work of darkness.”
“Amen!” Mary said
"Let every evil plan against Oliver fail and give us undeniable evidence of the truth."
"Amen," Mary whispered through tears.
When the prayer ended, the pastor looked at her again.
"I'll continue praying. I won't stop until God gives complete direction."
Mary nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, Pastor."
He smiled.
"Go back to the hospital, Oliver needs to see faith on your face, not fear."
Mary managed a faint smile.
"I'll try."
As she walked toward the church entrance, she felt slightly stronger than when she had arrived.
But deep inside,
one question refused to leave her mind.
Who was the mysterious person God had shown her pastor?
And what exactly had they done to Oliver?
******************
The next morning, the pastor came back to the hospital. Before he came, he said he wanted Oliver's father, the step mother and Oliver's mother to be in the hospital. He wanted to pray with them.
To be continued…
Watch out for the next part!
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Double Bind
©️ Nzubechi Queen Ozabor
Part 43