Jesus of Detroit by Maysam Yabandeh - HTML preview

Resurrection

The garage is cleaned up, but it would take years for the smell of tragedy to wear off. Ranging in color from light gray to black, the smoky and sooty traces on the wall serve as a constant reminder of the deadly fire that claimed Ade’s life and his popular podcast with it. Sera would repaint the garage if she hadn’t already spent all her money on renting the new podcast equipment.

The podcast must go on.

Still haunted by the trauma of the fatal fire, Sera has left the garage door wide open. You never know whom the truth will offend this time. You never know when they will come back to finish off their unfinished job. You never know if it is the last time that your dad says he loves you and he’s proud of you.

Sitting behind the white round plastic table, Sera presses the Enter key on the new second-hand laptop, and the intro music begins.

The white patio table that she borrowed from Mr. Park’s cafe replaces the wooden one that burned away in the garage fire. Despite her budgetary constraints, Sera managed to replace most of the equipment of the Common Sense podcast, which once carried the waves of compassion to thousands of awakened hearts. But, how would one replace the irreplaceable voice that gave the podcast its life. Without an inspiring voice, these are nothing but inanimate objects. Without a wind, waves will die before they rise.

One can only try. The podcast must go on.

The photo of the legendary podcaster is hung on the wall behind his usual side of the table. Adekola is laughing in the photo, as he always did. Any ordinary daughter would be emotionally destroyed after that tragedy. But not Sera. Sera has faith. She believes in a life greater than ours on Earth. She believes in an eternal soul that outlives the body. And she believes in resurrection. Yes, she does. Ade’s inspiring voice shall not stop. She believes that with all her heart.

The podcast must go on.

The intro music finishes.

Swallowing the tears that have welled up in her throat, Sera takes her eyes off Ade’s smile. She looks over her shoulder to ensure that no intruder is by the garage door to stop Sera as they did stop Ade. Taking a deep breath, she gathers all her strength and leans in on the tabletop microphone. “This is Adekola—” Her voice turns squeaky as she chokes on her tears.

Getting away from the microphone, she covers her mouth with her hands to stifle her cry. It takes a few moments, but she finally manages to regain her composure.

A horrifying roar from outside tells of a motorcycle approaching. The last time Sera heard this monstrous noise, it was followed by an explosion and ended with immolation.

Sera’s heart beats faster. She is concerned but not frightened. The podcast must go on, she tells herself and leans in on the microphone again. Whatever happens, happens. After clearing her throat, she says, “This is Sera, and you hear us from the Common Sense Studio. Today, we’ll resume our discussion on the difference between believing in a faith and trusting its leaders.”

The intruder’s dark shadow enters the garage and stretches across the rear wall all the way up to the ceiling. With its dark face, the shadow looks down at defenseless Sera, who’s armed with nothing but a microphone.

With her heartbeat peaking, Sera slowly looks over her shoulder to face destiny.

The sunlight streams in from above the head of the man standing by the garage entrance, making it difficult to make out his face in the bright light.

Sera gulps, hearing every beat of her heart.

The man steps inside, his shaved face gradually emerging from the brilliant light.

It takes a few moments for Sera to recognize the man without his signature beard. She smiles and turns back to the microphone. “And our guest today is the son of his mother, the one of the many, human and flawed, yet another reminder, Jesus Freeman.”

The End