Marina

Chapter 5- The Girl in a Wheelchair

He had continued to learn from Octo but he couldn't stop thinking of the gold light.

He would stare at Martha and her gold light. 

Alek would reach out and touch the light around her.

"What are you doing?" Martha asked as to her it looked like he was touching air.

He wondered if that was the reason why he had never seen any of these shadow people get close to Martha.

The next week Martha let him know they were giving out hot meals again and He without thinking went to the parking lot. 

That's when he watched from afar as these people set up the tents and tables in preparation for handing out food.

He saw the same blonde girl with blue eyes struggling with balancing a box while trying to wheel towards the location she wanted to go.

He got closer and just before the box would fall he grabbed it.

"Do you mind If I help you?" Alek asked.

The girl smiled brightly at him.

"Sure! And you...I remember you."

"You do?" Alek asked. 

"Yes I served you last week"

Alek nodded.

"What is your name?" She asked. 

It was difficult to pay attention when her pretty light was burning brighter than ever.

"I uh...My name is Alek"

"My name is Marina" She extended her hand and he hesitantly shook it.

Alek enjoyed the feeling of the fire. 

Then he thought about what Oscar had said.

Was this girl a slave to this light? 

Is she genuine?

"What is your group called" Alek asked as he gestured the volunteers.

"It's called Food for All, An organization created by my church"

Alek hummed "church huh"

"Yes if you are curious my church is called Knoxville South church. It's not very far from here" 

Alek looked at the cross on her neck and thought about how he could now understand why Oscar responded how he did about the light.

Religious people were often hypocrites and thought too much of themselves.  But that didn't answer his curiosity. Did everyone who had this light Christian?

"Is every volunteer here Christian?"

"Yes they are from our church" 

He didn't know why but he blurred out the next words "Can I volunteer? I know I'm homeless too but-"

"We would love for you to join" She touched his arm as she said that.

He nodded.

He helped them and handed out food. He could look at his shadow staring at him in anger from across the street. 

He knew it was pissed.

After everyone was fed she turned to him and handed him a dinner box.

"Would you eat with me?" 

Alek took the box and nodded.

They ate at this table, Alek sitting next to her and he kept stealing glances at the light.