Fortune's Books

PRISONERS OF HOPE A Novella by Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu © Copyright 2018 F.E.C. Nwaiwu

DEDICATION Dedicated to Tina Su Cooper, a U.S. woman whose husband, my editor Douglas Winslow Cooper, in his article entitled “Like a Plaintive Melody” wrote [in 2014] the following words expressing his profound grief though full of love to Tina Su Cooper, his wife: Most mornings I sing to my beloved wife, as she lies immobile in the hospital bed we have at our home: You were meant for me. I was meant for you. Nature patterned you and when she was done, You were all the sweet things rolled up in one. You’re like a plaintive melody That never lets me free, For I’m content the angels must have sent you And they meant you just for me. ****************** *“You Were Meant for Me (Broadway Melody of 1940)” by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed; lyrics © EMI Music Publishing Co. ****************** This song captures the bitter-sweet nature of our current situation, happy to be together, sometimes sad that Tina’s ill-health has limited her so greatly. She has been quadriplegic...

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my profound gratitude to my editor, Douglas Winslow Cooper, Ph.D., a former Harvard University professor, for his valuable contribution and support in editing this literary piece through his company, WriteYourBookWithMe.com I also thank David Chidi Eberechi and his wife Esther Dave-Eberechi, for their financial support and encouragement offered to me which enabled me to realize this creative work of artistry. Above all, I thank my lovely mother, Nwaiwu Juliana, and my wife, Chidinma Nwaiwu, who have helped me, encouraging me to write even when there was no hope of realizing this huge dream. Also thanks to my siblings Nwaiwu Gift, Nwaiwu Promise Nnamdi, Nwaiwu ThankGod Uchenna, Nwaiwu Temple Chizuru, Nwaiwu Confidence, Nwaiwu Happiness Chinyere, and my sister in-law Ogechi Nwaiwu and her children.

International Acclaim for Prisoners of Hope In this well-crafted novella, minister and teacher Fortune E.C. Nwaiwu tells of the last days of respected Elder Levi, a man whose faith inspired many of his fellow church-goers, a man doomed to a premature death due to lung cancer and pneumonia, likely caused by his smoking habits. Fortune Nwaiwu writes easily, clearly, wisely, and prolifically. Dr. Douglas Winslow Cooper, USA The author has really put a lot of effort into this piece of work. There seems to be a really multi-layered world developing here with unique characters and a hint of mystery to the plot. The text is quite moving and engaging. Such a moving piece of work, very scary! Well done. Lee Ann from First Editing, USA. Fortune has great passion, and he is  a good story-teller.               Sherry Terry Fortune E.C. Nwaiwu has an interesting story to tell with some incredibly compelling characters. Adanta and Mildred have a lo...

AUTHOR’S PREFACE Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu is a published author of both literary and religious books. He did not come into writing because he was good at writing or he knew what to write. His writing skill came up as a manifestation of God's benevolent gift bestowed on him. When he was an undergraduate student‎ reading works written by people, especially Horace Walpole, Wole Soyika, and William Shakespeare, he desired to be a great author like them, and then he prayed to God to make him a great author. If he has nothing to write about and puts his pen on paper, some ideas and novel thoughts flow out from his imagination. After writing a Bible study guide titled Echoes of the Widows, he was touched, having felt the pains and agony of widowhood, then he set out to extend such sufferings and griefs of which widows experience into his novella titled Widows In The Web Of Grief. He has written many unpublished books. Due to lack of funds, he is unable to publish some of t...

FOREWORD We are all going to die, eventually. Even though we are hoping for heaven, we are not eager to die immediately. We still have much to do while here on Earth, and we hope it will meet with favor in God’s eyes. We are strengthened by hope and yet confined within the limits our hopes and beliefs set for us; we are “prisoners of hope,” in author Fortune Nwaiwu’s captivating phrase. In this well-crafted novella, minister and teacher Fortune E.C. Nwaiwu tells of the last days of respected Elder Levi, a man whose faith inspired many of his fellow church-goers, a man doomed to a premature death due to lung cancer and pneumonia, likely caused by his smoking habits. During Levi’s last days, much occurs, including the sexual abuse of a God-fearing woman, the making and breaking of marriage plans, and a shoot-out between the police and some murderous kidnappers. In the end, the wisdom of her parents is confirmed for one of the central characters. Fortune Nwaiwu writes easily, clearly...

PRISONERS OF HOPE BY FORTUNE E.C. NWAIWU CHAPTER ONE  I was awakened by a loud volley of strange voices in the middle of night.  I raised my head to listen to what was happening, but I could not grasp anything due to different voices talking, weeping, and groaning all at the same time. The sound which their moving feet made indicated that all was not well. They matched to the church compound and then went to the parsonage. They knocked on the door persistently, "Sir Peterson, open the door. Sir, open, please!" they cried. I was in the church watching through one of the glass windows what was happening. None of them thought that I was sleeping in the church. If they had been kidnappers, I would have escaped from them. This was what I thought. I learnt a lesson: let no man know where you sleep in the night, for security reasons. Though I did not know exactly what had happened, I remembered what happened to one bishop. He was aroused one night and told that there w...

CHAPTER TWO I was mercilessly beaten, whipped severely with my belt stripped from my waist as I set out to preach the word of God for the recent cross-over night. Everything I had was forcefully taken, except my Big Bible that revealed my identity to them, and yet there was no fear of God in them. I was left marooned in a lonely road, and then I whimpered and cooed like a forsaken bird in an uninhabited place. My soul unconsciously groaned, “Where are you, Lord?” Then I was reassured that God was with me, and that was why I was not shot dead. My mind returned to the gun they pointed on me, disorganizing me, making me to moan, “You can take whatever thing I have, please, but spare my life.” Thereafter, I was left with bruises, and I writhed in pain with no one to help. “Well, such is life,” my soul yelled, and then what Paul said in the scripture, “If I tell you what I passed through in Antioch” resonated in my mind. I stood up from where I was lying down. I walked towar...

Prisoners of Hope by Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu CHAPTER THREE As I entered the hospital, I saw Levi lying in his sick bed, writhing in pain. To him and everyone in the hospital, it was crystal clear that he would soon join his ancestors. He had been into several hospitals, and yet, there was no improvement. I met him in the General Teaching Hospital. I discovered from my observations that Levi was afraid to be in the hospital, as he saw many patients dying like fowls suffering from a bird flu. Seeing that most of the sick persons around him had died, he pleaded that his children should take him home, “I can't continue to hear the crying of heart-broken fellows who have lost their loved ones day-after-day,” Levi groaned in pain. “It will be better for me to breathe my last in my home than in any other place.” I wept heartily as I saw Levi in such a condition. I groaned, “Levi, may the Lord be with you.” My mind gently whispered to me; immediately Levi wrinkled hi...

Prisoners of Hope by Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu CHAPTER FOUR A few days later, I returned to the hospital to ask Dr. Smart if there was nothing he could do to sustain Levi's life. As I entered the hospital, my mind whispered to me to follow the route to the patients' zone. As I walked along, I heard a groaning sound. I then looked up to decipher the exact place where the groaner was. Suddenly, I saw her lying in her sick bed, moaning as she breathed. I was told that she had been in such a state for long. I was grieved, and wanted to pray for her before other patients cut in. She spoke to me: "Man of God, we recognized you as the only one who visits us here always. Ever remember us in your prayers, since no one asks about us, neither friends nor relatives. We are always reminded that our sins are the cause of our sickness and suffering. We have, though, learnt a lesson out of it, as this ordeal prepares our souls to accept Christ, drawing us nearer to God....

Prisoners of Hope by Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu CHAPTER FIVE The news about the arrival of Levi reached Cornell, Mildred's lover. Cornell immediately went to a supermarket and purchased a large quantity of beverages – Five Alive, Millo, Peak milk, big tins of glucose, and energy boosting foods. He brought them to Levi so that he would give his consent to the marriage of the daughter. Mildred was not happy that Cornell had come to her father without informing her. She feared what her dad would say. She knew that nothing would make her father accept his gift, since her dad had earlier denounced him for marrying her. Mildred looked at her dad, and her dad's eyes met hers, and she wept bitterly. "I did not ask him to come, Dad," Mildred purred. "I don't know who told him that you are back from the hospital. I only want to keep a distant relationship with him." "Be quiet, my daughter," said Levi. "Neither a distant nor a c...

Prisoners of Hope by Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu CHAPTER SIX There remained only nine days before Levi would die, the medical experts had predicted. Levi sat in his veranda, using his eyes to scan his compound, pondering where he would be buried when he died. He thought about how befitting his burial would be, and then realized that since he asked his wife to sell most of his valuable property, and there was nothing left in the family, he would be buried like a poor church rat. He called Fabian in a croaked voice and showed him where he wanted to be buried. Pointing at the place, "You see that cocoa nut tree, beneath it is where I want you to bury me, if your cousin fails to return. Who knows how he has been managing?" Levi asked. "Father, you are not dying yet. You still have many years to live," said Fabian, "forget about what the doctors said. Haven't you read from the Bible where it asks, “Who is the man that says and it comes to pass w...