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Chapter Three | Hospitalized
It was Freshman year and Derek had only been on the football team for 4 months but within that short period Buford took a liking toward him; spending extra time with him on the field before the rest of the team arrives and after they leave. At first, their bond was similar to father-son but then it twisted into something more deviant.
It was Tuesday, the practice had ended two hours ago but Coach asked Derek to stay later so they could work on some 'drills'. By the time Coach was finished it was a little past 9:00 P.M., and the custodians were closing up. He felt a wave of nausea, anger, and sadness flood his body and he knew he couldn't go home at least not yet. Instead, he took a detour and wound up in an empty church parking lot; after several breathing exercises he worked up the courage to go inside.
Upon entrance, he was surrounded by a tall wall, exquisite paintings, tall stained-glass windows. Expectedly the church was empty aside from the priest who was lighting candles at the altar. Derek didn't interrupt the priest he didn't even signal he was there, just sliding in a pew, arms resting on the pew in front while he kept his head down. He sat quietly unsure of what to say to the Big man upstairs whom he hasn't spoken to in three-four years.
"I'm back and I need you. I n-need you. I need the God that is supposedly almighty and all-so-powerful. Where is the God that is supposed to shine a light on the darkness? Isaiah 42:16 "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into a light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."
"According to your old-ass book, you said you would turn the darkness into light making rough patches smooth and you wouldn't ABANDON them – us." It was as if he vomited everything that was bothering him leaving him light-headed and empty.
