I'll Be the Light

Colton's POV

I got ready for church with black slacks and a white vest shirt and tie. I tied the laces on my black dress shoes and I checked myself in the mirror. My blonde hair was styled in the usual way and I had just shaved. I looked good. I chuckled to myself and headed downstairs to see my family by the door, waiting for me. "Are you finally ready?" My mom asked as she grabbed her purse. "What? No I did not take that long. Schy's still putting on clothes!" I pointed at a crouched Schyler who was putting on her brown flats. "Shut up Colton," she smiled at me as she stood. "I came down with everything ready," I did a little pose and they all laughed. "Alright let's go!" My dad said and we headed out to the car. My dad started the engine and we were off to church. On the way there I saw Schy check her phone and smile, like she was hiding something. "What?" I asked her, leaning over to see. She hid the screen and glared at me.
"No no," she teased and replied to whoever she was texting. I rolled my eyes and watched the buildings go by.
We soon arrived and as we got out we saw Genna's family entering the building. "Hey there's Genna!" I said and opened the door even before we had stopped. I ran up to the door and yanked it open to see her family standing there, greeting Pastor Wren.
"Hi guys," I waved at them and they smiled.
"Where's Genna?" I asked, scanning the pews for the faux hawk I knew all too well.
"She's singing a song today, Colton," Annie said.
My heart beat a bit faster. I have never heard her sing.
"Can I see her?" I edges towards the back room where she, no doubt, was hiding.
"No no no. You can't see her yet," Annie and Schyler both said as they grabbed my arms and sat us in the front row.
Now I was confused, but I sat down anyway and waited. Our families talked and laughed as the church filled up quickly. Pastor Wren finally took his place behind the podium and sound checked the mic.
"Hello everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday morning. Now before we begin, we have a special guest. A new resident, Genna Binner, will be singing us a song today. She's been through rough times and still she's standing. Please give a round of applause to Genna," he announced and he took a seat in the pews. The girl that walked out of the back room was not the girl I knew before. She was more beautiful than I thought she could ever get. She wore a pale pink sun dress and her hair had mysteriously grown to her waist and bounced with soft, golden curls.
She stood by the microphone as a friend of mine, Drake, took a seat at the piano. "Hi everyone. This song is a personal favorite of mine and my cousin. This is 'Amazing Grace'," she spoke into the mic and smiled. My heart skipped a beat. She was gorgeous today.
Drake began to play a slow tune and Genna closed her eyes and opened her mouth to sing. I actually leaned forward a bit I was so eager to hear her. The first few notes twinkled from her mouth and I was captivated.

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

With every word and every note she took my heart and held me to my seat. As she sang my heart soared with the melody. As she sang the sun had shown through the stained glass windows and shown on her, so that it appeared as if she possessed a halo like the heavenly angels. My little angel.
My heart melted as she sang and my head spun.
She finished and the church erupted into applause. She smiled and took a seat next to me. I was at a loss for words.
"Wow." Was all I could say. She blushed crimson.
"Thanks Colton," she said, leaning into me. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed, then released her when Pastor Wren came back onto the stage.
"Such a wonderful gift the Lord has blessed her with. I think we all want to see her use it one day in the glory of our Father," Pastor gestured to Genna. She truly was amazing.
She blushed even more as the church shouted amen.
"Now let's get on with today, shall we?"
He asked and we all said amen again.
The rest of the sermon went nicely and it ended too soon. Everyone spilled out to their cars, complimenting Genna as they left. "You were amazing Genna," Schyler hugged her. Genna giggled and hugged back.
I felt left out so I joined in. I swept them both into my arms and swung them around. "Colton put us down!" Schy squealed and I did, still clinging to Genna.
"Let her go, she's mine!" Schyler joked, grabbing Genna.
"No she's mine!" I scooped her up and over my shoulder and I took off. "Hey! Help me!" Genna wailed and I just laughed.
"Have her back by dinner Colton!" I heard Tim shout from behind us and I shouted back to him that I would. I ran with her to the park, our park. It wasn't really far so I carried her the whole way.
Once we arrived I ran past all the kids and adults and straight to our willow tree. I laid her down under and I stood above her, gazing down at the angel beneath me. She grinned up at me. "What?" She giggled. I have her a crooked grin. "I think God's missing an angel," I said, laying down next to her.
She laughed and mock punched my arm.
"I'm serious! I didn't think you could get any more gorgeous, but you proved me wrong," I admitted. Her face went crimson.
"You know I did this for you, right?"
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to impress you though," she blushed deeper.
"Genna, you impress me everyday. You don't need to do anything else." I took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She giggled and put her head on my shoulder. We stayed like that, just gazing at the gently swaying branches. "You know what my dream is?" She asked. I shook my head and she continued.
"I want to get married in a church, live in a sunny yellow house, and raise my family the way I want to. No fighting or sin so they don't have a childhood like I did. I want to live a better life than I lived when I was younger. I want my kids to have a brighter future, a great family, and a house that will always feel like home to them," she explained. I watched as her eyes took on a dream-like look as she talked about the future. She really wanted this to happen.
I loved the way her imagination took off.
I squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead.
"That sounds amazing," I said, smiling at her. She gave me a dazzling smile back and cuddled into my side.
She dreamed of the life she wanted to live after high school, while I dreamed of another girl. It's unfaithful I know, but I can't stop thinking about Annie. I'm not the guy for Genna and I need to tell her that before she falls more in love and it's harder to tell her without hurting her more.