The Things That Will Be

Chapter Thirty One

"Clarence...let me go!" James cried out in pain. But Clarence simply remained steadfast in his path.

"I'm not doing that. I'm not gonna let you throw away this gift God has given you." Clarence said.

"What gift? My wife and father are dead. My sister is in an abusive relationship so there is no reason why I should even be here. It's all fucked." James said as tears crashed from his face into the waters below him.

"Don't say. Yes, they are gone but you being alive right now is one of if not the only thing keeping their memory alive. Even if you are not going to live for God, live for them. Stay alive for them. Don't throw yourself away just because the ones you love are no longer here. Please, James." Clarence said as tears fell from his own eyes.

It was in this moment that James had an epiphany. He nodded his head and with that Clarence put him back on the bridge and away from the deadly waters. James looked at Clarence and wiped his tears away.

"It just hurts...y'know. The world feels somewhat darker going on without them. To not see them in this world feels significantly hopeless." James said. Clarence nodded.

"And it's going to feel that way for awhile but the pain is nothing more than a reminder to push forward and heal." Clarence said. James nodded. "In fact, the first step can be found in that church over there." Clarence pointed after he said this.

James looked over to where Clarence was pointing and saw the church. But it wasn't just any normal church, it was the one that him and Eileen were wedded at. James sighed in anxious fear. He hadn't stepped foot in a church since his father's funeral and he hadn't wished on going back anytime soon. He shook his head and began walking towards it.

He got to the building and walked in. The moment he arrived, he was bombarded with memories of the wedding. The once beautiful and precious moment of his life had now become quite sad and miserable for him.

He took a seat on one of the pews and looked at the figure of Jesus near the pulpit and observed its design. He put his hands together and started praying for the first time in a long time. Suddenly, he noticed someone sitting next to him. At first he thought it was Clarence until he looked over and realized who it was.

"Jesus...it's really you." James said in awe with tears in his eyes. Jesus simply nodded with a smile.

"Yes, it is I, I am here to speak for The Father." Jesus said. "What do you have to ask or say?" James thought about it and then answered.

"Why were you so distant? Why did you never  show yourself to me when I begged for faith? Why, whenever I called out to you, you never answered back? I've waited so long for a response. I stopped believing and only now do you expose yourself to me. Why are you like this?" James asked. Jesus remained silent which made James grow furious. "No...now you have finally exposed yourself to me you are not about to just remain silent like you always have. ANSWER ME!" Jesus finally spoke up.

"I've kept my doors open, James. I've waited for a response but it was shadowed with doubt. You've always been one to ask questions. You were never one to house blind faith. You denied the Trinity only accepting it when it was convenient for you exclusively. To you, I was nothing more than an adjustable paradox that you could contort. But now you are here and you want to criticize and critique me? In my Father's house? You judge others for having mud in their eyes when you haven't bothered taking the wool off of your own. The world doesn't revolve around you. It revolves around the Empyrean. The doors have stayed open yet you haven't bothered to walk through. Only with the fear of closing doors do you get angry about not seeing them open this entire time. Explain that, James." Jesus said. James shook his head and smirked in arrogance.

"No, I don't need you. I never did." James said and he walked off and away from the proclaimed Son of God.

Jesus stared at him in great sadness and remorse. Clarence saw this and tried to stop and intervene with James but it was too late. James had made up his mind.