“Allow me kiss you, even if it's just once.

It was my boss. He was at it again. Ever since my old boss resigned and he came onboard, no day passed without him making passes at me. He was a married man with kids, but his wife seemed not to be enough for him. “This is improper, Sir. This is a workspace and you're harassing me as well” I told him, my voice filled with contempt. “Come on, don't be a child. Nobody is harassing anyone here. I like you, Imelda, and you know it. Just loosen up and allow me to take care of you as you deserve. See, I'll pamper you, spoil you silly, and meet your every need. I'll increase your pay. Just say yes. You don't have to prove too stubborn” he pressed. I swallowed hard as I looked away. Mama—she was still lying on the hospital bed, completely immobile. Her bills kept increasing by the day, and her health declined too. Mama was suffering from a terminal disease. Cancer was eating her up by the day and each session of chemotherapy left my account. void of substance. She could still be managed and saved eventually, if there was enough money to carry out the required treatment, and here this man was, tempting me with what I needed at that point the most. It was not like he was bad looking after all. He wasn't like his peers who had pot bellies and unnecessary fats already. For a man in his late forties, he looked well groomed and had a nice physique. He was handsome too, but I knew better—he was someone's husband, someone else's property. I had no business hovering around or entertaining him. Besides, I valued my relationship with God and respected my body too much to give in to sexual immorality. “Hey, beautiful!” he snapped his fingers in my face, jerking me out of the world of my thoughts. “Just let me know when you're ready to accept my offer. I'll be expecting you” he walked into his office after he said the words. I bent over my table and let the tears of frustration that had welled up to flow freely. “God, I need you now more than ever. Please, save Mama. She's all I've got and I'm not willing to lose her.” I reached out to as many people as I could for funds, but the more I did, the more Mama's situation consumed the funds. Her situation grew worse by the day, and the pressure from my boss skyrocketed too. “Your mother has less than a week to survive. If nothing is done before the time elapses, I'm sorry, you may lose her” the doctor told me. My heart skipped a beat. My mother was left with a week? I was speechless and still basking in confusion when his text came in, “Meet me at Grace ville hotel by 8pm. Let's have a good time and you'll get your first handsome reward.” At this point, I was torn in-between letting go of my virtues to save Mama or holding on to them and trusting God to intervene. I walked out of the hospital, unsure of my next decision. I didn't know what to do, but one thing was certain—I was going to make a decision that night. I went back home, took my bath, dressed up, and off I went. Yes, I went there to see him. No, not him, I mean him—God. I walked into the church premises, ready to pour my heart out to God. In bitter anguish I rendered my heartfelt prayer to him. “I’ve been faithful in my service to you, Lord. I've offered my body to you as a living sacrifice. All I have done is to please you, Father. Will you not look upon me with pity at this point in my life? Will you allow sorrow to clothe me as a garment? Don't turn your back on me at this point, my father.” I called upon him using numerous scriptures to back each prayer point. When I was done, I slept off in the church premises. The vibration from my phone woke me up the next morning. It was the doctor calling. My heart skipped. “Did God finally forsake me? Was my mother gone?” I wondered. I picked the call with shaky hands. “Something just happened, Imelda! I don't even know how to say this.” I began to sob. “Doctor, what happened to my mother?” “That’s what I can not explain. Imelda, after thorough check this morning, no trace of cancer was found in your mother's body. She's as fit as ever. You need to come and witness this for yourself, ” he told me. I could not believe my ears. I couldn't even give a response. I ended the call and ran off, off to the hospital. I saw my mother—whole, hale, and hearty. I engaged her in a tight embrace. My mother was back on her feet. Mama was whole again. I thanked God with tears in my eyes, for not letting me down and not allowing me to make a foolish decision. What if I had slept with my boss and she still died? But with God, nothing was lost, missing, or broken—everything was intact. Eventually, I got a better job at a firm, something the doctor helped me achieve. My former boss, he was down with AIDS and hepatitis C—diseases I would have contracted if I had given in to his advances. And yes, I got married… to the doctor. Indeed, God did not fail me because it's not in his character to do so. ______ God protects his own. Sexual purity pays. Keep staying chaste. Don't compromise. God doesn't forsake those who put their trust in him and obey him. One love.🤍 Interested in learning the art of story writing? You shouldn't miss my story writing training. See how to enroll in the comments section. ©️ Rejoice S. James