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TO NEW BEGINNINGS

I watched Cergio take Lota's hand in one of his, while he placed his other hand on her forehead. He looked at me.

"It's going to be fine. Seek him out earnestly and he'll hear your call." He said, and I nodded in understanding. I looked at my family members, who seemed a little confused. With my eyes, I pleaded with them to go along with everything. This was only for their good-for our good.

He closed his eyes and began praying. I closed mine, joined my hands together, cleared my mind of any doubt or every other thought, and replied amen to his every prayer. The more intense it got, the harder I prayed and pleaded in my heart for Him to listen.

Something distracted me, a sound or perhaps a feeling. Slowly, I opened my eyes, then gently turned my head to the side. There it was, the same masquerade that has tormented me for as long as I could remember. An evil and demonic embodiment at the beck and call of an evil god. Looking at it, I felt anger, not the type that was ready to explode and destroy anything that came in its path, but the calm, fed up type. The type of anger that has built up out of tiredness, forging a spirit ready to battle its demons and put an end to it once and for all.

It was in a corner and I watched it dance, moving its body without so much as taking a step closer. I knew I was the only one seeing this. Normally, I would panic, but that wasn't the case anymore. Rather, I believed it was here because it knew its end was near and probably thought its presence would scare me to put an end to the prayers. Too bad, the Kasie of yesterday is no longer the Kasie of today.

Quietly, I turned away from it and looked at the others. They had their eyes shut; I was more than glad to see they were taking part in this liberation. Then I shut my eyes and continued with the prayer. Not just with my heart, but now with my lips. I prayed against every hold the deity might believe it has on us and asked for it to be broken and for us to receive our liberation, for Lota not to die, for Him to prove that I'd been wrong all these years to stay away from Him. I wasn't sure how long but the prayer lasted a while and there were times I heard him quote verses from the bible, all to make his point and I said amen to all of it and so did the others.

"Mum." Lota's voice caused us to open our eyes. There she was, eyes open, moving from one person to the other, with confusion clear in them. I released a sigh of relief before lifting my eyes to Cergio, who did the same; there was a smile on his face, same as mine. I turned my head to the corner I'd seen the masquerade, and it had disappeared. It was nowhere to be seen. I watched mum embrace Lota as tightly as she could, a joyful smile on her face and tears of joy gathered in her eyes.

"Thank you." She said to Cergio, and he looked from her to the others, then back to her.

"No, thank God." He said, still wearing a smile.

"So... is it gone? Are we free?" Junior asked and everyone's eyes fixated on Cergio, mostly to receive a suitable reply.

"For now, I believe so." Cergio said, and they released a sigh filled with equal part relief and worry.

"The enemy never truly goes away. It hides or runs away when it realises its host is no longer a vessel fit for its inhabitation. Therefore, when you come to Christ and accept that your body is the temple of God, it has no choice but to leave because the power of God is greater." He explained, and I was glad to see they were listening.

"For a long time, this household has lived in darkness and fear but God is here and he's calling every one of you back to his path because he loves you all and wouldn't want to see any of you perish... Ephesians 6 verse 11 says: 'put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.' Therefore, please, do not give the enemy a chance to crawl back into your lives."

Cergio opened his hands. "Let us pray." He said and without uttering a word, the ones closet to his joined their hands in his and likewise the rest till we formed a circle, joined by our hands. We closed our eyes and listened as he prayed, and in the end, we echoed amen.

After we released our hands and opened our eyes, I stared at Cergio while wearing a grateful smile on my face. He smiled back. By this time, daybreak was close, and with the moon hiding away, the sun was gradually taking over. Quietly, I drew in a deep breath, happy with the thought that a new day was here and with it brought good tidings.

It was later that we got to know what had happened to Kamalu. That same day we had that encounter, his home and shrine had mysteriously caught fire, but after it they had doused the fire, and his body was nowhere to be found. No one knew where he went, and no one could testify to seeing him leave the village. It was a mystery that we might never solve, but... I like to believe we'd fought the battle and won. Maybe he perished, maybe he returned to hell where he belongs. Either way, there's no dying for us any moment soon, especially a death from a deity.

It was 1st January 2021, a new year, a new life, new hope and new love. Slightly, I clenched tighter to his hand interlocked with mine where we sat in the garden that early morning and watched as the fireworks displayed in the sky, one after the other. Some neighbours did the fireworks or whoever could get their hands on one and were familiar with lighting and aiming it at the sky.

I lowered my eyes and shifted it to Cergio, whose gaze fixated on the sky. He was leaving back to the states in a day's time and even though we've talked about not quenching what we have going on, the continual calls we would have on a regular base every day, I wished more than anything that he could stay. The thought of missing him when he's gone made me even sadder. Perhaps I should tell him how I feel. I never know when I might get to see him physically next. It might be months or even a year.

"I love you." I confessed, my eyes still on him. He heard. I knew it because he lowered his eyes and shifted them to me, staring back into my eyes. I didn't feel scared, and I wasn't shy either. That had disappeared. I simply felt nervous, and my heart raced.

"You don't have to say anything. I just thought you should know how I feel about you..."

"I love you, too." Cergio was quick to interrupt. The good interruption, if you would ask me. A quick breath of laughter left my lips, followed by a smile. To be honest, when I said those words, I didn't expect to have him say them back to me, although the thought of it was great.

He leaned closer and left a soft kiss on my lips. "I wish you didn't have to leave." The words rolled out of my lips after he rested his forehead on mine and we sank in the moment.

"I wish the same." He said and only if wishes could come through, we'd have our way.

Soon, news came in about the family business and it wasn't good. Everything was crumbling down one after the other in strange ways, but we weren't all that disheartened because we knew the source of the wealth. It was only right for it all to come crashing down to make way for a new beginning. No matter how hard we fall, we were going to get back on our feet. This time, with the help of God.

Standing in the airport, with my arms around his neck, I held him in what might be our last embrace. "I'll miss you very much." I told him once I we let go of the embrace. Lightly, he soothed my cheek with his hand, a faint smile on his face.

"I'll miss you too." He replied, and I smiled, glad to hear that and also trying to seem okay with the fact he was leaving. Eventually, his hand returned to his side, away from my face.

"Have a safe journey and... call or text me when you get to Lagos and when your flight from Lagos is about to leave for the states... also, when you get to the States." I said, reminding him of what I would look forward to. Cergio nodded, then leaned closer and left a kiss on my forehead. We stared into each other's eyes for the last time.

"I love you." He said.

"I love you too." I replied before he turned away then, I watched him go and when he looked back, I waved and he did the same, both of us wearing a smile like we were okay with what was happening. After he turned away and kept going, I turned away.

Steadily, I drew in a deep breath as I shut my eyes for a second, trying to control my feelings and the sadness that was eventually taking over. At least, I would have left for Lagos with him but back home, we were yet to discuss Chidera's burial and Eze had left before Cergio, although he told us to inform him of what the plan would be and he would be there.

Before I could take a step forward, my phone in the handbag worn over my shoulder rang and I reached into it to fetch it out. It was a number not registered in my list of contacts and though I wondered who it was, I slid a finger on the screen to answer, then brought it close to my ear.

"Will you marry me?" The voice on the other side asked, even before I could say a word. I knew who it was. I could recognise the voice. My heart palpitating within my chest. Gradually, I made a turn. There he was, nearly seven feet apart from me, holding a phone close to his ear. He wore a simple smile on his face and I wasn't sure if I wore an expression or not, but it surprised me to see him. I watched him walk up to me then lower the phone from his ear. So did I, the element of surprise probably written all over my face. For what felt like a while, we stared at each other until a young teenage girl tapped him.

"Can I have my phone? I have to board the plane." She explained politely, and Cergio nodded.

"Thank you for letting me use it." He said as he returned the phone to her. She nodded before walking away.

Cergio shifted his eyes back to me. "I had your number but not a sim card from this country so, I... I borrowed a phone." He explained, and when I didn't speak, he continued.

"While walking away, it really dawned on me I was leaving behind this... beautiful and amazing woman. The mere thought of missing you and... the way I feel about you, I've never been so sure in my life about my feelings the way I'm sure with you so I..."

"Yes." I interrupted. The word had been ringing in my head and as beautiful as his speech was, I couldn't wait any longer to let the word out. He stared at me, somewhat confused, or rather surprise.

"Yes, I'll marry you." I repeated and a slow but sure smile wore on his face and I smiled as well. "But... are you sure? I mean, you haven't known me for more than a month and... and I come with a lot of baggage... are you sure you're ready to take on that?" I asked. He had to know the truth and the possibility that being with me might not be a bed of roses. I'm still fighting my demons, so is my family, and we might continue to fight for a long time because generations of sin and deal with the devil left a mark which wouldn't wipe away easily. We always have to be on our toes, and marrying me will mean marrying into the family and all that trouble.

"Yes... we all have our baggage, and it doesn't matter to me how heavy yours might be. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That's all that matters." Cergio said, and I beamed. His words were warm and satisfying to hear.

"I'm sorry I have no ring. It was in the heat of the moment and I proposed and... and didn't prepare a ring. I..."

"It's okay... it's just an ornament. I wore them in the past and it didn't turn out half as special as what we have right now... I'm okay with whenever you give me one." My reply was sincere and without wasting a second more, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held in a good embrace. I felt his hands around my waist, accepting the embrace.

Eventually, he left a light peck on my lips before he was on his way once more. We waved each other goodbye. This time, I watched until he was out of sight and heaved a sigh of relief mixed with happiness. I couldn't ask for a better life partner.

Seven months later...

After Cergio had rightfully fulfilled all the traditional rites, including paying the bride price, we had our own simple traditional wedding in my father's compound within the village with friends, family and well-wishers present to witness our joy. I got to meet his parents, and they were more welcoming than I imagined. Two days later, in a church, I got to walk down the aisle in a wedding dress towards him, and we officially tied the knot in front of God and everyone else.

A year ago, I existed. I appeared to have everything, but I was lost. I didn't know what it was, where the problem arose from, but I knew I wasn't myself and God in his infinite merciful ways saw me. He decided I was worth saving and brought Cergio to my doorstep. He saved my life and the lives of the members of my family from the clutches of death. Today, I can testify that he isn't just a name or religion that exists, he's amazing, he's outstanding and he's all forgiving.

It's never too late to come to him and no matter how big a problem is... he'll be there to break it down.

THE END... Or rather, new beginnings.

Thank you all sooooo much for reading this story to the very last chapter and word. I know I'm not perfect and neither was the story but I'd written this story to the best I could. For a few months I've had this story dancing in my head and I couldn't start because I have to think of a title before I can start a story. One day, just like that, the perfect title flew into my head. I got a break from school for a month and decided to write it within that month and I did.

Honestly, all in all, I hope any reader could've taken even if it's a little bit of lesson from this story. Like always, feel free to VOTE and COMMENT (GIVE UR BEST REVIEW) I'd like to read it but please, don't be rude. There are less offensive ways to tell the truth.

THANK YOU FOR READING DANCING WITH THE MASQUERADE AND MAY WE MEET AGAIN IN MY NEXT WORK!!!