What an emotional wrecker this has been! And to think that the scumbag has found his way in the church… oh boy! This had better end well!

Dzimah’s voice thundered through the auditorium as he marched deeper inside, eyes wild and face twisted in rage.

“Herh, Nana Akua! You think you can run away and I won’t find you? Didn’t I say it, that you’re one of those foolish church girls? You’ve come to hide in a church and you thought I wouldn’t find you? You must be stupid! Get up and come home! NOW!”

Nana Akua’s reaction as her eyes fell upon him was as visceral as could be.

She let out the loudest scream of terror anyone had heard, rushing away from her seat and scrambling towards the choristers’ section. Several of them, startled but instinctively protective, stepped in front of her.

“Jesus! What’s going on?”

“Who in God’s name is that?!”

“Is he serious?”

“What kind of disrespect is this?”

Dzimah was already storming toward them, shoving past rows of stunned congregants, muttering loudly.

“Kwasiafuo! Brainwashed fools with no sense… I’ll burn this whole place down if you people fool! If you like, try me and see…”

The congregation had no idea what exactly was going on, but it was clear this awful man had done something horrendous to Nana Akua that had deeply distressed her, and that he had more wicked intentions for her.

And they were not going to let that happen. Especially not in their blessed sanctuary.

It didn’t matter how annoying she had been, he could not be allowed to hurt her.

The ushers and other young men rushed in, forming a barrier he could not get through.

“Sir, you need to leave. Now!”

“You’re not allowed to cause a scene here!”

“You can’t do this here, boss…”

He didn’t listen. Of course, he was never going to.

With a growl, he swung at one usher, the blow landing squarely on the young man’s jaw. While that usher stumbled back, another tried to grab him from behind, but Dzimah twisted violently, throwing another punch.

The scuffle intensified.

Gasps, cries, a baby wailing in the back. Greener Pastures had dissolved into chaos.

Nana Akua curled into herself behind the choir stand, hands over her ears as she cried loudly.

The poor girl looked like she had seen the door to hell. Obviously, anywhere near this monster was equal to hell.

“Nana Akua!” Dzimah bellowed again as they restrained him. “Tell them to let me go or I swear—you’ll REGRET it! You think this church will save you? You think they can stop me? You are mad! All of you! Mad fools! Gyimifuo!”

Ushers struggled to keep him restrained, arms wrapped tightly around his flailing limbs.

Then loud footsteps followed.

Measured. Controlled. Furious.

Maame Ama had stepped down from the pulpit and was storming toward Dzimah, her face contorted with a rage nobody had ever seen before.

She reached him.

And suddenly…

SLAP!

A merciless, open-palmed strike across Dzimah’s face. One that echoed louder than the sermon preached a minute earlier.

The room fell deathly silent.

“HOW DARE YOU!”

Everyone was still.

Nobody had ever seen Maame Ama like this. Obviously, she had the occasional moment where she’d get annoyed. But this level of outrage? Not even Apostle Bright had seen her this furious.

And the slap? Nobody would ever imagine her to be the type to spank a person, much less deliver one of the loudest slaps they had ever heard.

But who could blame her? Aside Rose, Dzigbordi and the other pastors, she was the only other person who knew who this foul-mouthed, violent individual was. And knew the level of grief his awful acts had caused the poor girl wailing in the choristers’ corner.

She didn’t know how he managed to find Nana Akua, but she did know one thing: his brazen audacity to display his psychopathic tendencies to everyone and demand she return was beyond nauseating.

That slap was but a fraction of what he really deserved.

“HOW DARE YOU!” she thundered, her voice shaking the very rafters. “How dare you walk into the house of God and bring such filth and… and such VIOLENCE into this place?”

His face twisted into a sneer, albeit a weak one. Getting slapped by this woman had taken him aback quite badly, and as expected, he was livid at the ‘audacity’ of a woman to hit him. Yet, this level of fury was nothing like he had ever seen.

“You disgusting demon! You have the guts and the temerity to walk into this place and demand that Nana Akua return to you? Just so you can hurt her more than you already have? God forbid! You have caused our beloved sister enough pain. Enough trauma. Enough torment. If you think you can just walk in here and drag her back into that hellhole you call a home so you can kill her, let me tell you right now that it will never happen. NEVER! Not while I breathe and serve the God of heaven and earth.”

The congregation was still and silent. Even the children stared wide-eyed.

The only sounds besides Maame Ama’s ferocious rebuke were those of a stricken Nana Akua, crying as she leaned on Auntie Sonia and Dzigbordi.

“She is under the protection of God Almighty, and I, together with this church, will never let a man like you, a man who has abused, humiliated, and violated one of God’s daughters, lay another finger on her! No way! I don’t care if you’re supposed to be her husband. A true husband protects his wife, puts his life on the line for her. You are NOT fit to be called that, and I will NOT let you harm her! You’ve done enough evil. Begone!”

She turned slightly. “Pastor Mensa Kuma,” she called sharply. “Call the police. Now.”

Then, pointing to the ushers, she barked, “And drag this demonic thing out of here. I want him gone. As far from us as possible.”

Dzimah started to protest.

“You people will regret this, I swear…”

“Silence!” Maame Ama snapped, the righteous fury in her eyes blazing. “Shut up, you filthy vermin! Let me tell you this: you are going to ROT in prison for every single monstrosity you’ve committed upon our dear sister. It is no less than an evil beast like you deserves. And hear this: even if you find Jesus tomorrow, even if you fall on your face and beg for mercy, you will still face the consequences for what you’ve done. God forgives. But He is not mocked. Justice will be done. Every seed you have sown, you will reap! I promise you that!”

She gestured to the ushers. “Take him out. Quickly!“

Roughly they obeyed, yanking Dzimah’s arms behind him and dragging him down the aisle. He kicked and screamed, tossing curses in every direction, but the congregation had found their courage, countering his foul words with divine rebukes. Several congregants stood and blocked his view of Nana Akua entirely.

Eventually, the voice of Dzimah, a voice full of hate and fury, slowly faded as he was dragged and thrown out of the sanctuary, with the ushers ready to pin him in place until the police came to pick him up.

Nana Akua was crumpled in the arms of Auntie Sonia, sobbing uncontrollably. Her whole body shook as she whimpered through her tears.

“Oh God, he’ll kill me… if I go back… he’ll kill me… he’ll finish me…”

“No, no, no, don’t worry, he won’t,” Auntie Sonia whispered, wrapping her arms even tighter around her. “We won’t let him take you back, okay?”

“Never.” Dzigbordi rubbed her back, while a third person, Paula, gently cradled her head against her shoulder. “You’re safe now. He won’t get near you. Not ever again.”

“He’s gone,” Nathan added. “And he’s never coming back.”

The warmth of the choir closed around her like a human shield—protective, present, and powerful.

Maame Ama approached the shield and knelt beside them, the fury in her eyes giving way to compassion. She gently touched her shoulder slowly. “It’s okay, Nana Akua,” she whispered quietly, “You’re not alone. Not anymore. He will never hurt you again. Not while God lives, and not while we breathe.”

Nana Akua looked up at her and nodded slowly.

Suddenly, Pastor Mensa Kuma stepped forward. “We must press charges. I’ll get in touch with a lawyer immediately after service. That man should not be allowed to walk free.”

“I know someone at Sentinel Security,” Pastor Richard chimed in. “He has private guards. Discreet but well-trained. If I speak to them, they can have guards at her house before sunset. The angels will protect her mohm, but wisdom is profitable to direct.”

Rose nodded. “I agree. Let’s not leave anything to chance.”

Murmurs of agreement filled the sanctuary. And suddenly, the congregation began to move like one living body.

“I’ll cook for her for the next few days,” a woman declared from the back.

“Add me to the list,” another called. “We can make a rota.”

“She shouldn’t sleep alone,” yet another person said. “I can stay over a few nights. We’ll keep her company.”

“I’m a nurse. I can do health checks. I can stop by her house tomorrow.”

“She’ll need legal fees covered. Count me in.”

Dozens of hands shot up. Dozens of voices.

The same people who were unhappy about her possible return, still burned over her past behaviour, were now volunteering and offering to stand in for her and protect her.

Nana Akua was shaking in disbelief as it washed over her.

This rising tide of compassion.

How were these people showing her so much compassion? After being a thorn in the flesh of many of them, she would have had no complaints if they turned their back on her and called her horrid union with Dzimah ‘divine retribution’ for her past. Even that morning, a lot of them gave her the most cautious of looks, making their distrust for her well known.

Yet, here they were, protecting her from the monster she had fallen for, and holding her up.

Through trembling lips, she whispered, “Thank you all… I… I don’t deserve this. I hurt so many people here. I just… I… I—”

She broke down. The tears came in fresh waves. She could barely speak, overwhelmed with gratitude.

But she managed to get out one more word.

“Thank you.”

Auntie Sonia and Dzigbordi said nothing, simply hugging her tightly as tears of relief ran down her face.

Maame Ama turned to the congregation, her voice heavy with emotion as she spoke.

“People of God… thank you. This is what the church is supposed to be. This is what it means to leave the ninety-nine and run after the one.”

She gestured in Nana Akua’s direction. “She wasn’t perfect. Neither were we. But today, you’ve shown her, and you’ve shown heaven, what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ. You’ve welcomed back a soul who didn’t think she could ever come home.”

Tears ran down her cheeks, and she wiped them as Rose came to stand by her. “Thank you,” she said to the church. “Thank you for not just listening to the sermon, but living it out.”

And at that moment, the sanctuary was silent.

Nana Akua was home.

Not perfect. Not yet healed.

But finally home.

It was an unlikely return. But one so desperately needed.

For a poor, tormented soul had found solace from the evil she had walked into, back with her brethren and sistren in the Lord.

THE END

My oh my, what a beautiful ending! That was so powerful, from the slap to the collective aim to help Nana Akua. This was beautiful. After such a painful period, the church rose to protect and help her. Indeed, this is what it’s like to be the hands and feet of Christ. This was just… beautiful.

Thank you for reading, and as always, continue to enjoy yourself around the State!