**Chapter Three: The Pitfalls**
It weighs on my mind as to what is happening as I sit before the pastor, and what he does makes me feel an unease I can't quite put into words. The atmosphere in the room shifts, and I can't shake the fear that creeps in.
In my young mind, I question if what's happening is right. He makes me do things that school teaches us are bad, but I can't speak up. No one would believe me. I'm trapped in a silence that feels like a heavy burden, convincing myself that maybe this is part of my walk with God.
As the pastor finishes, he warns me not to mention what happened in the room to anyone. The weight of his words presses on me as he leads me down the stairs after having relieved himself of whatever he felt compelled to do. I feel weird, but I put on the cheerful smile I had when I ascended those stairs.
Once downstairs, the pastor prays once more, and we conclude the prayers. He's on his way home, leaving me to grapple with the unsettling events. I immediately head upstairs, my mind heavy with thoughts. As I pull out my books to tackle the assignments from school, the echoes of what transpired in that room linger, casting shadows over my innocent understanding of faith. As I delve into my schoolwork, I try to bury the discomfort, but the unease lingers, casting a long shadow on the pages of my assignments.
As I lay my head to sleep, it still looms in my mind, a haunting presence in the darkness. The next day arrives, and I try to go on with my day as usual, grateful that at least I don't have to see the pastor today.
I wake up, the weight of the previous night's events still pressing on me. Getting ready for the day becomes a mechanical process, the routine providing a thin veil of normalcy. I eat breakfast with my grandparents, exchanging smiles that hide the turmoil within.
The day unfolds, and I find myself at school, a sanctuary of sorts. But today is different; I have a test. The usual nervous energy before an exam is intensified by the lingering discomfort from the night before. As I sit with the test paper in front of me, I try to focus, to push aside the shadows that threaten to distract me.
The pitfalls of silence become more evident with each passing moment. The day carries on, but the weight on my shoulders persists, a silent burden that accompanies me through the familiar halls of school.
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Unseen Grace
General Fiction** In the small town of Harmonyville, young Talia Hope Mitchell, at the tender age of six, found herself caught in the discordant notes of her family's life. The Harmony of Grace Church, where her grandparents took her every Sunday, seemed a stark c...
