The Moonlight Assassin

Breaking Free

Tabby has just finished her devotional in her room and went out to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast. Later on, her family came over to join her for breakfast. Her mother, Miriam, noticing the glow on her face, asked her, "Tabby my dear, am I seeing a glowing face?" Tabby joked, "Mom, it's just my skincare routine!" Both of them laughed at each other. Tabby continued, "No mom, I just read the Word a while ago, and was inspired by what was said in Ephesians chapter 5 - that we must live like people of light." Mommy Miriam agreed, "I agree with you, my dear. As followers of Christ, we are to live as children of light. As we shine the light of God toward others, we are able to bring change in their hearts."

"Mom," Tabby asked, "are you happy that I'll be finally leaving Del Fierro? Wouldn't that be detrimental to our financial situation?" Miriam replied, "I'd rather have a low income and not lose my dignity, rather than have lots of money yet get hurt physically and mentally every day. Tabby, this is for your own good, I have seen you with bruises and wounds and you have told me how you suffered in the hands of the Del Fierro family. Now is the time to fight and to break free." Tabby smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Mom. Indeed this is my time to break free, away from the persecution of this family. I love you, Mom." They then hugged each other tightly, with Tabby in tears.

Meanwhile, Miguel prepared his breakfast drink just in time for his gym session that morning, when suddenly, his phone rang. It was his gym buddy and now a church friend, Tommy Lao. 

"Hey there, brother Tom, what's up?", asked Miguel.

"I just want to check on you, bro Miggy," said Tommy, "I'm glad you have taken the call. Have you downloaded the Bible app, just like what we have instructed you yesterday?"

"Yes, bro, and I was amazing. I just read a verse this morning and I was mindblown," replied Miguel. "I was taken from Genesis straight to Ephesians because I was hooked on two words: 'darkness' and 'light'."

"That's interesting, bro, how did you come to that?", asked Tommy.

"I gotta share to you the details later at the gym. See you, bro!" ended Miguel.

"Sure, I'll look forward to it. See you too!", ended Tommy.

Miguel then took a ride going to the gym and met his friend Tommy.

 Tabby also went to the gym for a Zumba session. As she went her way to the dance hall, there saw both his boyfriend Miguel and friend Tommy, who were at the treadmills doing cardio. There she waved her hand at both.

At the treadmills, Miguel shared with Tommy what he learned from his devotional: 

"Bro, I just realized that God is indeed the light, who brought everything to life. Can you just imagine a world where everything is dark and gloomy? Can you just imagine if there were plants and animals and humans and there was no light to shine on them? Wouldn't that be depressing?", he said.

"Yeah, bro," Tommy answered, "That would be so sad."

"Even I wasn't expecting where God will still shine lights at night. Just like the moon. The moon only reflects the sun, but still gives light to the surroundings. The stars that twinkle won't be there if God never commanded them to do so. I am just so amazed, bro," said Miguel, "I remember that verse: For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! - Ephesians 5 verse 8! Well, memorizing it makes me excited for more!"

"I'm happy for you, bro Miggy!" said Tommy, "Would this mean you won't be afraid of the moonlight anymore?"

"I do hope so, bro," said Miguel, "I want to break free from this ordeal."

At the Zumba session, Tabby met someone whom she heard from her boyfriend, Miguel. It was chef Magdalena "Maggie" Nestor, the owner of a local restaurant in Sitio San Roque and a café in Maharlika City, where she finished culinary school. Maggie was present in the Zumba session as an assistant to Jacob Kim, a Korean fitness trainer who teaches Zumba in that gym, and who also happens to be Maggie's boyfriend.

"Hi Tabby, nice to meet you," greeted Maggie. "Nice to meet you too, miss Tabby," also greeted Jacob.

"Thanks for having me, Maggie and Jacob," said Tabby. Soon a wonderful conversation was about to begin.