𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Fourteen.

The girls continued to practice each day and it was finally the day of rehearsals. The week before the actual church event. Tori was still feeling a bit worried because she didn't see sister Anna in awhile.

"Sister Marie?" Tori called.

" yes, dear what is it? Do you need help with practice?"

" no I'm fine I think I'm ready for the church event. We practiced so much and I think I'm finally tired. I was actually wanting to ask you about sister Anna I didn't see her around for  a while. Do you know where she is?" sister Marie looked at her.

" well, dear, I think you should get back to practicing sister Anna is fine you don't need to worry."

" sister Marie we are in a convent and I don't think it's appropriate to lie. I know you're not telling me the truth, and I feel as though since you're a nun, you should be ashamed of lying to me, especially in the convent and especially with what you practice maybe tonight you should go and repent for your sins, that would be best.."

" I'm sorry Tori I feel guilty lying, I will go tonight to pray for forgiveness of my sin, but I don't think it's something I should discuss with you. It's not appropriate and I'm not sure I'm even allowed to tell you anyway."

" Sister Marie, could you please tell me I know you might not want to but sister Anna and I became very close when I came back to the orphanage. She  is the only one who made me feel comfortable and OK with the position I'm in and she's helped me a lot and I don't feel right, not knowing what's happening with her. I think I have a right to know, why wouldn't she want me to know?" Tori asked.

" because to put it simply, sister Anna is dying and she wouldn't want you to know that because she knows how much you care about her. You two have became very close I know, so you knowing this could really be a distraction on you. I need you to not think about that right now. You need to focus on practice, everything needs to be perfect for the church service next week. Sister Anna wanted you to have fun while you were here. She wanted you to have a good time and not worry about her and if you  knew the only thing that would be on your mind is sister Anna and you wouldn't be able to have fun or do good at the church service and you need to have God on your mind, right now."

" no! How could I have fun while someone I care about is dying I don't even know what's going on with sister Anna. Sister Anna has helped me a lot and if I had the audacity to have fun and not worry about her dying, I would feel guilty and I think that's kind of wrong don't you?"

" look sister Anna said herself that she would rather you have fun then have to worry about this kind of thing right now. you've already been through a lot in your life and you don't need another thing to worry about. Things have been better for you. She only wants you to be happy and if you're not happy, then sister Anna would  be the one feeling guilty. and I think that's wrong to make her feel guilty. I don't think you want sister Anna to feel that way while she's dying."

" of course I don't want sister Anna to feel guilty. I don't want her to feel sad but I feel sad knowing that she's gonna die and there's nothing I could do about it. Why do I deserve to have fun while someone I care about is dying how is that any good?" Tori said with tears in her eyes.

" it's not you're calling to make. I know you're sad, you don't want her to go, but you have to make peace with this situation. God is saying it's her time to go join the others in heaven and she's happy to finally get to meet the one who created her. She's OK with where she is because she's grown up Happy to serve God and happy to help others. She did all she could in this life and now it's time for her to go up to heaven. she's getting everything she's ever wanted that's why her last decision to make was to help you because you remind her so much of the way she was when she was a little girl. She just wants the best for you and you're finally going to have that. So please be happy, it's her last wish."

" I guess you're right if it is really her last wish then I'd only want for her to be happy. I just can't believe she's leaving so soon I thought she had many years to live. I thought she could spend time with me while I became the girl she wanted to see me become.."

" honey, even if she might not be here with you the way you want, she'll  still be able to see you and  watch you become the girl she wanted to see you become in spirit up in heaven."

" I suppose that's true I think I'm a little tired though I'm going to go up to my room to rest is that okay?" Tori asks sister Marie.

" of course.  By the way, Tori.. sister Anna only has a few days to live, but if you wanted to see her one last time.. you could although  she would be a little upset if she knew I told you about everything.."

" if there's still a chance I could see her one last time then of course I have to see her. I know she might be upset at you, but she serves God. She'll forgive you you don't have to worry about that kind of thing and I'm sure you know that as well that's the reason you asked, isn't it?"

"Yeah..yeah it is." Sister Marie said smiling.

"Okay." Tori said walking upstairs to go to her room.