The 12:23AM Cry — Fiction

I finished watching the movie at exactly 12:23 a.m. It was a Christian movie and it made very good sense, one that spoke to me at the exact place, and as expected the movie moved and prompted me to pray, but I refused to... I thought I could do it together with my morning prayer later in the day, time's gone and my eyes were closing.

That was how I adjusted my bread spread, changed the position of my pillow and lay down on the bed.

It was quiet in a different way, but I didn't pay attention because our house is situated in a new site, houses were far from each other.

Immediately I closed my eyes, I heard a distant cry....

"Toyosi...."

Is it jolted or bolted awake, I sha awake with my eyes wide. I was thinking if I hear well or not. But, that's my name and it's one very few people know.

I sat in my bed for like a minute waiting to see if anything will come up again, I waved it off since I heard nothing and lay my head back to sleep.

Less than 5 minutes after, I heard another loud cry, this time it felt a little close...

"Toyosi...."

I sprang up again. This time a lot more terrified, I made my way quietly to my window, checked through it closed it slowly and dropped my curtain.

I don't mind bearing the heat tonight.

I waited a little to hear a sound or some movements, but nothing came. That was when I noticed that the night was unusually silent. My fear increased.

I stepped back, off my phone torch and and sat on the bed for what looked like forever. After some time I checked my phone and saw that the time was just 12:45 a.m.

What's going on, is this time crawling 🤦?

I waited a few more minutes, didn't hear anything and decides to sleep back, but this time I said a shirt prayer, because my mind returned to the movie I watched earlier and refused to say any word of prayer after.

After saying the prayers, I looked around and waited a bit more, then I laid down back. And for over 10 minutes, I didn't close my eyes. I just stared at the wall I wasn't seeing.

As soon as sleep was carrying me away, the cry came again, this time it was as if the person calling out to me was right there inside the room with me

"TOYOSI....."

I can't even describe what I felt at that moment, it was beyond fear...maybe shock.

Without thinking twice, my default settings took over. It was one I've unconsciously or unknowingly learnt from my mum.

I began to shout at the top of my voice as well...

"The blood of Jesus! No evil will befall me! He who calls me calls on Jesus! He who calls me calls fire! I am the temple of God! He who calls my name for evil calls yourself! I am saved!....."

That and many more was what I was saying, praying and declaring at the same time.

Well, few minutes later, I reduced my voice and was just mumbling the prayers.

Then I heard a knock on my door, I wouldn't have opened up if not because I heard my brother's voice.

"What's your stress, if you see the way we were using you to laugh in the other room enh...." He said laughing...

"I don't understand..." I said.

"I was the one calling you to come help us change the line, there's light in the other line."

"Is this a joke...? And you were shouting like that" I asked

I almost raised my hands at him because it wasn't in any way funny....

As I’m making this post, it is 12:45 a.m. here in Nigeria…

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Images are AI generated.

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