The Hidden Thing Beneath the Tree

When I was twenty-one, a boy full of love for a girl next door named Benewaa, that was the moment of my life. Our love was all we had, and our youthful energy was the only thing we possessed. There I would meet her in the village hidden corner, proclaiming my love and doing things that were not typical of our age.

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Our very first kiss happened in a deserted classroom at night. That was the same place where we had first engaged in lovemaking. Benewaa would sneak into the classroom first while I stood outside, making sure that nobody was around. After I had confirmed that we were alone, I would quietly come in, and we would then hurriedly go through our moments.

As I told you, we were young, and young people's impulses dominated us. I was feeling like a king because I had someone to kiss in the dark. She was telling her friends about us and thus making me feel like a star.

However, eventually, we lost the closeness. The currents of life separated us so much that we even lost contact before it all turned to mobile phones. I went to university, and she went to a school whose name I can't remember now. Some years later, I heard that she had gone to Nigeria with her aunt. Only the memories of our hidden meetings remained. I never thought that one of these moments would bother me later.

While I was still a student, I made a visit to the village, and a woman approached me saying, "Krakye, a dark spirit is fighting against your light. Go find the spirit and make peace, otherwise, something very important will be lost to you."

At first, instead of accepting her warning as a warning, I put her off as a crazy person. A crazy person that even looked and acted like one; dirty hair and clothes, roaming and talking to herself.

In 2013, I was introduced to Linda and after a year we were married. We embraced the new life together and decided to have kids. A couple of years went by but our efforts were in vain. We turned to medicine and the doctors reassured us that there was nothing wrong. What’s more, they prescripted patience and a balanced diet.

After four years together, we were still childless. My spouse was the most worried. She prayed at dawn and fasted during the day. We gave herbal cures a try, mixing and matching different things to boost our fertility. We were medically fine but still did not have a child like most other couples.

The pastor’s wife of my wife who is a prophetess called for us to meet with her. The first question she asked was, “Did you ever enter into a covenant with any gods from your village?” I laughed, “Me, gods? For what? No, the village I grew up in didn’t have any gods.”

She then asked, “Think back to your childhood. Did you go to any fetish sites with your parents?” I said, “My parents were very religious Methodists, they would never take me anywhere like that.”

She was doing the investigation of the goddess in our village and my dad had the to talk with them and tell them about the gods. They couldn't even name two since their Christian faith was so strong that they were no longer interested in the gods of their hometown.

I had a dream one night about Benewaa. We were under a giant tree in the middle of a jungle and then out of nowhere a strong wind started blowing and the dust was swirling around us. We ran to our home but felt the sound of heavy steps behind us. We looked back but there was not anyone there. We screamed while running and I woke up.

When I related the dream to the pastor’s wife of my wife, she inquired, “Are you aware of anything regarding that tree under which you stayed?” I affirmed with a nod, “It is in our village along the way to the farm.” “Did you ever take a piece of that tree?” was her next question, and I answered in the negative. “Did you ever urinate under it?” was the last question and I answered no again.

What I could not tell her then was this…

One day, I had gone with Benewaa to that very place and we got intimate under the tree. I still remember the day it rained, and the church which we usually used was occupied for a crusade, leaving us in dire need of place.

We used the way until we got to the tree. It was not bright, and I thought that very few people would be there so I said, “Let us do it fast here.” She was hesitant and tried to pull me away but I was firm and started to lift her dress. She was scared and I also had my own fears, but my lust conquered them.

We were fast, with her hands holding the tree. I do not think that we lasted more than a minute when she unexpectedly withdrew and I had to let go on the floor. I was pleased, and she walked ahead of me while I followed. It was not until later that I realized this connection would be a shadow over my future.

I spoke to the prophetess and told her everything. I felt bad, and I did not want my wife to find out. The prophetess said, “That tree is what is following you. The gods took shelter in it the night you were there. We need to pray more, but we have to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”

Instructions to part the yoke with the gods were given to me by her after a week. I went to the village to meet a fetish priest, told him my story and the advice of the prophetess. He was shaking his head and said, "You had bad luck. Our gods are not totally evil, but I will help you anyway."

It was a difficult time for me. I won't go into the specifics, but I had to go and sit under that tree alone at midnight to conduct a ceremony. The priest went with me only to a certain point and said, "I’m here for you. Don't be afraid. Go and come back."

When the ritual was done, I saw a woman figure coming very fast to me. I was shaking. She went by, slowed down, turned back and disappeared. I ran back to the priest who was waiting. He said, "Hush, don’t talk."

The next day I fled from the place but later came back to see him for advice. He replied, "Nothing. You met the goddess but she didn’t intend to harm you. Your apology is granted. Come to see us often; do not forsake us."

I told the prophetess everything. She replied, "Now, let's leave the rest to God."

In 2021, we had the first baby, a boy and in 2023, a girl. We completed our family. One day when my children are grown, I will tell them, "Be careful with your deeds today. Every decision has its repercussions. They might not be on you right away, but that doesn't mean they won't come to you."

—Edward

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