For Better And For Worse
Chapter 19

Prison

Krist was brought to prison and the prison guards picked him up and are taking him inside. In the cell corridors, the inmates welcome him to hell. He didn’t pay attention to them. The guards brought him to a cell and threw him into it. In the cell there was a two-level bed, lower and upper, and a toilet pot and a faucet. He sits on the lower bed and looks at this filthy place. That’s when he hears a voice.

Voice: Hello Kristian, welcome.

Krist was both scared and surprised to hear this voice which also called him by his name. Who could it be, is it God? Obviously not. A man comes down from the upper bunk and stands before him.

Meanwhile, Commander Boris and his agents return to the brigade. Along the way, he remains thoughtful.

Kevin: Commander, I find you very thoughtful.

Boris: yes, you were right inspector, he was innocent but I realized it too late.

Kevin: What made you admit it?

Boris: it was my son who made me understand it.

Kevin: In any case, there was nothing we could do, all the evidence was against him.

Boris: you’re right, someone arranged for him to pay and you know what I’m thinking?

Kevin: no, what are you thinking?

Boris: At the trial, the case was in favor of Krist, he should have been cleared.

Kevin: Yes, I too was surprised that he was found guilty. What are you thinking about ?

Boris: I think the judge and even the jury was corrupt.

Kevin: It’s possible but it’s a serious accusation and we have no proof.

Boris: I know but I will have to try to speak to Bernard. You need to go and talk to Doctor Romuald too.

Kevin: Okay.

They continue on their way while chatting. Meanwhile, Krist seeks to know this man who miraculously knows his first name.

Krist: who are you and how do you know my first name?

The man: gently my dear friend, we have a long time to spend together. If you finish your questions immediately, how are we going to talk?

Krist: I want to know who you are.

Man: Okay, I’ll tell you. My name is Aristide.

Krist: ok Aristide, how do you know my name?

Aristide: I’m a pastor, I…

Krist bursts out laughing.

Aristide: what makes you laugh?

Krist: a pastor in prison! Either I’m delusional or it’s really late.

Aristide: why does this surprise you when you are currently in prison even though you are innocent?

At this point, Krist stops laughing and looks serious. This man knows a lot about him as he sees him for the first time in his life. He needs to know who he is.

Krist: How about we sit down?

Aristide: why not?

So they sit down to talk.

Krist: so… you… you’re a pastor?

Aristide: yes and you can use familiarity with me.

Krist: ok, tell me a little, how did you end up here?

Aristide: well, having a twin brother can also be negative, especially if he is a failure.

Krist: I thought twins had a unique destiny?

Aristide: no, you are wrong there my friend, each human being has his destiny. Esau and Jacob did not have the same destiny.

Krist: Yes, you are right. So what happened with your twin brother?

Aristide: well I chose the path of God and I became a pastor. He, on the other hand, chose the opposite path. Every day he brought problems to the parents. After we got our high school diplomas, he dropped out of school. I arrived in town, I prayed a lot, I had faith so the holy spirit told me that I must do theology. So I chose that and after three years I came out. Straight away, I was assigned to pastor a local church, one of the largest churches in the city. After two years, I was able to buy land and build my house. I took good care of my parents so my little brother decided to come and live with me. Even though he led a debauched life, I couldn’t reject him so I took him under my roof. After only a month, my brother came running home, with clothes full of drinks and b***d. I asked him what was going on and he said to me:

Arsène: they want to kill me, people want to kill me.

Aristide: who wants to kill you?

Arsène: please don’t let them kill me, save me my brother.

Aristide: what did you do?

Arsène: I fought with a man and I think I killed him.

Aristide: what? At the moment, people were knocking on my door, saying that if I don’t get the killer out, they’re going to burn the house down. I asked my brother to explain to me what happened.

Arsène: we had been drinking and then I was talking to a girl and he came to tell me that she was his girl. Directly, he pushed me and we fought, my hand took a bottle and I broke it on his head. Once he fell, I stabbed him with the broken bottle.

Aristide: shit Arsène, what have you gotten yourself into, when are you going to stop this shitty life?

Arsène: from the moment even if you save me from his people.

Aristide: promise me.

Arsène: I promise you.

Aristide: ok, give me your clothes and never dirty mine. So we exchanged clothes and I went out. They picked me up and started beating me. They wanted to kill me but God sent the police who arrested me. I was tried and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Krist: My God! Who could do what you did for your brother?

Aristide: There is no greater love than to lay down your life for those you love, said the Lord Jesus (John 15:13). He himself has already proven it by giving his life for us.

Krist: I see, it’s really incredible. Does your brother even visit you?

Aristide: yes, and he has also changed. I’m proud of him now.

Krist: Glory to God. Now tell me how you know me?

Meanwhile, at Krist’s, Isabelle remains sad in her room. Stella goes to say goodbye and goes to the university to submit her files and do her pre-registration. After he leaves, Krist’s mother comes to find her daughter-in-law to comfort her. Isabelle’s phone rings and she picks up despite herself.

Isabelle: hello doctor!

Charles: hello Mrs. Isabelle, how are you feeling?

Isabelle: if I tell you that I’m fine, will you believe me?

Charles: Of course not. I am sincerely sorry for what happened to you and your husband.

Isabelle: thank you doctor.

Charles: I know I gave you time off but right now we have a critical case that requires your skills.

Isabelle: doctor, I don’t think I could be useful, I’m really not in good shape here.

Charles: yes I know but I also know that your magic hands could save this woman a cesarean section, please make a little effort, what would your husband have wanted?

Isabelle: doctor, I am sincerely sorry but I can’t.

Charles: Okay, I understand you, we’re going to prepare her for the cesarean section. I hope it will be better before you return.

Isabelle: I hope everything goes well for her.

The doctor hangs up, Isabelle was crying. Her mother-in-law wipes her tears and advises her to go.

Odette: go ahead my daughter, it will do you good to occupy yourself a little. Don’t just sit there and do nothing, you risk depression, and my son won’t want you to be depressed. If you can save this woman and her child, don’t hesitate.

She looks at her mother-in-law for a moment and agrees to go to the hospital. Odette takes her on her motorbike to take her there.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the commander and his agents arrive at the brigade. The commander and Kevin go to see Marlene.

Boris: Marlène, I want you to do some research for me on Mr. Bernard. I want to know everything about him, the state of his accounts, everything. Do the same on the judge.

Marlene: okay commander.

Boris: I also need to research Doctor Romuald.

Marlene: very good commander.

Boris: I will be in my office.

He returns to his office and so does Inspector Kevin.

At this moment, Isabelle and her mother-in-law arrive at the hospital. As soon as she arrived, everything was ready for an operation. She asks that everything be stopped and she succeeds in giving the woman a natural birth of magnificent twins. The woman in question and her husband thanked and blessed him immensely. After which, she returns home with Odette. Meanwhile, in prison, Krist continued to question his fellow inmate.

Krist: Now tell me how you know me?

Aristide: I had a dream, God made me understand that soon you will come here. I’ve been waiting for you for two months.

Christ: why?

Aristide: God entrusted me with the mission of helping you not to go astray.

Christ: why?

Aristide: I know that with everything that happens to you, you are angry with God but you shouldn’t be.

Krist: Do you think I’m wrong for being that?

Aristide: obviously! In times of trouble, God wants us to call upon Him rather than denigrate Him (Jeremiah 33:3).

Krist: it’s not easy you know. How do you invoke someone who let you suffer all this injustice?

Aristide: Everything God does has a reason that you can’t grasp right away. You are sentenced to five years in prison and at the same time, your wife becomes pregnant. One day you will understand why and I am here to help you. But in the meantime, know that it will be up to you to put an end to this drug trafficking.

Krist: what?