There was a rustling sound just outside the trash can and it opened up, startling Mirabel out of her tired
sleep. She started to scream when a hand covered her mouth.
"Stay quiet, do you want to wake the neighborhood?" A male voice spoke hurriedly. He stared at the wide-
eyed girl, looking disheveled. Despite the stench, he could see she was very beautiful, though her eyes
carried unanswered questions.
"I've just come to trash dirts and so surprised to see Chief Daramola's daughter in a bin! Oh my God, you
know I've only seen you on TV!"
He smiled at her, proud of the singular achievement of seeing her one on one though not exactly in the
perfect scenario.
"Oh, I'm sorry I still have my hand over your mouth." He let go cautiously.
Mirabel just looked on, staring at those warm, welcoming, brown eyes. It had been long since she had seen
another person look at her with such genuine interest, other than Miss Clark. But he was a man and that
scared her the more.
"You don't need to be scared, dear. I can't hurt you. You need to get out of there before someone sees me talking to a bin and sends for an ambulance thinking I've gone nuts." He smiled broadly. "It's alright, come on now. I can give you a cup of coffee and something to nibble. Plus I'm very curious to know why you're hiding in a trash can of all places. But no pressure, okay? Relax" Mirabel took his outstretched hand after a moment of hesitation. "My name is Zoe, I forgot to mention." He smiled radiantly as he led her around the alley and into his house. Her eyes darted all around cautiously, taking in every detail and hoping she could find something for self defense if it came down to it. She followed him as he ushered her to a couch, which she relaxed into comfortably. He had such a warm cozy sitting room. It gave her a feeling of a real home. There was something different, something she couldn't just decipher. She relaxed her head, and for a moment, dared to
close her eyes. She sighed in relief as she forced all fear out of her mind. All she needed was just one moment of peace.
She looked better and indeed felt great after she had treated herself to a very warm bath and a cup of coffee.
Sitting on one of the sofas, she didn't want to leave, but she knew she had to go. Zoe sat across from her,
busy on his laptop. From her assessment, he could be in his early twenties.
"Zoe…"
He looked up and smiled at her. Oh that smile, so ravishing. She took a deep breath then continued.
"Really, words can't fully express how I feel now. Thank you so much for all you've done. It really means a
lot."
"That's what every gentle man would do." Zoe smiled again.
"Don't say that. I know that I'm young, but I strongly disagree. In fact, I'm even shocked that I'm able to speak
with you right now and even sit in your house. After seeing my mum get married to the man I hate the most,
I thought the worst had happened until he started molesting me right from when I was seven. I literally hate
men now!" Mirabel spoke at the top of her voice.
She broke down in tears, "After each time, he'll say he loved me, that he cared for me. I always wondered what that word 'love' really meant. Over the years, I've come to believe that any love from a man is nothing but a cup full of crap." Her body shook as the tears poured out. Zoe didn't know whether it was proper to hold her close and comfort her. Hope she wouldn't misread it? So instead, he kept put, listening with rapt attention. "I've been telling my mum right from the day I summoned the courage to do so. I think I was ten years. But she never believed me, she thought I was cooking up stories because I hated him. Instead of receiving love and help from my mum, the gulf between us only widened. Last night, I couldn't take it anymore so I ran away." She wrapped her arms around herself, stilling her quaking body. Mucus ran down her nose uncontrollably. Zoe whispered a prayer. "I don't even know why I'm telling you all this! You're a man just like him. Taking advantage of ladies." She hissed in disgust. Zoe moved to the sofa closest to her.
"One thing I know is that we didn't meet by coincidence. I'm so sorry your step dad did all that to you. But I
want to assure you that I'm not that kind of man. That's why you feel at peace and could open up."
She sniffed, "Yes, peace… that's the word I've been looking for. At first, I couldn't decipher the feeling I had
since I stepped my foot in your home. Now I know, it's an indescribable peace."
"That's it hun, the peace that comes from God. It passes all understanding."
She looked at him unsure, so he continued.
"Mirabel, if you're looking for a perfect love, then you should look for a personality. That personality is God
Himself. He is Love personified." He paused and smiled at her.
"How can that be possible?" Mirabel asked, her eyes lit up curiously.
"The Good Book says love is patient, kind, doesn't envy or boast, and so many other attributes. All these
attributes, God expressed when HE came to sacrifice His life so that we could find ours."
"So if you want to experience that love and peace everyday, then you first and foremost must experience the
love that God offers you. You're a young girl Mirabel, a very beautiful one. But you should know that you
won't be able to fully take pleasure in the love that any man will offer you when you've not been healed by
the Love from your greatest Lover."
"Who's that greatest Lover?" Her tears had stopped and she was getting immersed in the conversation.
"Jesus, Mirabel. His name is Jesus. His love for you surpasses every other level of love you'll receive from
anyone else. He'll heal your broken heart and give you peace if only you let Him."
"I'm so broken Zoe, so shattered. If there's still anyway to help me heal, I'm up for it…." She broke down
again in tears.
"I'm more than ready to meet the greatest Lover you just spoke about."
Zoe smiled widely, his joy knew no bounds. Indeed, His Lover will be so glad to receive one more person to
pour love on, one more to make His bride.
