LOVE BEYOND BORDERS By Ewoma

Chapter Three 

 All through that week and the next, Aileen and the rest of the editorial team worked extra hard putting finishing touches to the latest edition of the magazine. It was due for release the following week as it was the usual custom to allow circulation on newsstands, book stores and grocery stores before the actual month started. The online edition also went live on the same day as the paperback copy. This was done so internet subscribers to the magazine could download their copy on that first day too. 

Aileen and Emily both worked the hardest when press time arrived, which was usually second to the third week prior to the release of the new edition. That was because both of them also acted in the positions of managing and production editors respectively. On most nights, Aileen got home very late and extremely tired. And on the nights she couldn’t make it home because of supervision of production procedures, she had to make do with the couch in her office. 

The online edition team were also not left out, as they often worked round the clock to ensure circulation and intense traffic to the magazine. Moreover, they also responded to social media hiccups along the way. 

The garland festival was that same week coinciding with release of the new edition. Aileen knew that the time was short and she had to get writers and photographers prepared for the event. Sometimes, in her quiet moments, she wondered if she was ever going to get married. There was no doubt that she enjoyed her job but it was very demanding and time consuming. She doubted if she was going to be able to run a home and take care of a husband and children, and keep the work going at the same time. Right now, Aileen knew it was a lot of effort and discipline on her part to keep up with church activities and keep afresh on a daily basis her intimacy with the Lord. But she also knew she had grace and His Grace was sufficient for her for the time being. 

Aileen sighed and stretched lazily on the couch in her office. She wasn’t going home tonight. She knew it. Emily had called  to inform her that the magazine was going to be put on press,  and printing was going to be done that evening.

 She checked her watch, it read six thirty, and in a few hours, she’d be going to the printing room to oversee events. Aileen perused her smart phone and decided to while away the time before she was needed, to do some micro blogging on the Internet. Going through her mail, she had received a notification from Twitter about direct messages from Sparrow. Immediately, Aileen sat up and quickly logged into the social network. She realized her heart beat had quickened in anticipation and expectation. 

The messages read: 

Sparrow: “How are you today? I’ve missed chatting with you for a while now. Guess, you’re very busy at work. I know that, and so I prayed for you for God’s strength and love to overshadow you. Stay blessed”.

Aileen went on to read the two previous messages and was touched. With her busy and tight schedule, she had almost completely forgotten about her Twitter friend and her decision to keep the conversation going. She quickly responded to the last message.

And it read: 

Aileen:  “Hi, how are you doing today? Sorry for not keeping the conversation flowing. Really been busy. But it’s nice to hear from you again. Stay blessed”.

Aileen waited for a while hoping to get an immediate response but she didn’t. But as she was about to log out, the message came in.

Sparrow: “Hi, I’m fine...it’s been a while!”

Aileen: “ Yes, it has. It’s been work, work, work all the way”. 

Sparrow: “Sure, work is good for you especially if you enjoy what you do”.

Aileen: “That’s right, I really do”.

Sparrow: “So, what do you do for a living?”

Aileen: “I’m an editor with a woman’s magazine”.

Sparrow: “That’s terrific! You like writing then?”

Aileen: “Absolutely! I love words and writing. And you? What do you do for a living?”

Sparrow: “Oh, I’m a journalist with a newspaper here in Denver.” 

Aileen: “That’s good. We make a team then. I mean we’re sort of in the same field, isn’t it?

Sparrow: “Yeah, you could say so. So how’s the faith going? I know you are a Christian”.

Aileen: “Yeah, I’m fine. God has been faithful and His grace is sufficient for me. I have learned to trust God no matter what happens”.

Sparrow: “Yeah, God’s always watching our backs and all we’ve got to do is trust Him in everything”.

Just then, Emily knocked and stuck her head into Aileen’s office.

“Aileen? We’re going to press now. You ready?”

“Yep, just give me a minute”, she replied, trying not to get distracted from her conversation. And then, she sent the last message as Emily shut her door with a soft click.

Aileen: “I’ve got to go now. My assistant’s just called out for me. Been nice chatting with you again”.

Sparrow: “Ok! Chat with you tomorrow, then?”

Aileen:  “Ok, I look forward to it”. 

Sparrow: “Will look forward to it, too. Bye “.

Aileen:   “Bye!”

Once again, Aileen felt the excitement deep down in her heart and as she stepped out of her office on her way to the printing room, she desperately tried to put a face to her Twitter friend but still couldn’t imagine it. Then, she chuckled out loud as the most bizarre thought crossed her mind. For all she knew, she could be chatting with an eighty year old man or woman!