Rosa and the Graven Kings - A Spiritual Warfare Novella

Chapter 14

The water was burning Rosa's eyes. She wiped them and then stared at her mother.

Rebecca placed her forehead on Rosa's, sighed, and caught her breath. "Oh, my! Oh, my! . . . Jasmine? . . . What are you doing out here?"

Rosa gulped and whispered, "Would you believe it if I told you?"

Rebecca kissed her forehead again and then looked into her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to speak clearly. "Did I almost lose you? Sweetheart?" She sobbed a little. "Thank God you're still alive."

Rosa grasped her mother's elbows. "Don't cry, Mom. I'm still here."

Then Rebecca yelled, "Jasmine? Why? Tell me why!"

Rosa shut her eyes as a wave of tears burst down her cheeks. Her mind went back to the time she was driving home from the party. It was now or never. Should I tell her? Rosa sobbed and replied, "Can you still love me, Mom? Think good about me?"

Rebecca didn't say anything for a while. "You played with a boy? Didn't you?" Rosa nodded and scrunched her eyes. Then Rebecca said, "That's why you're out here. Trying to find hope away from the travail back home. Trying to convince yourself that God loves you after all these years of not telling me."

Rosa stopped herself from sobbing and mumbled, "Did you know before I told you?" Rebecca nodded to say she did. Rosa blinked. "H-how?"

"Your body language the night you came home. You were acting different after that time. I figured I was wrong, so I didn't say anything."

There was a long silence-except for Courage's panting. It sounded like he was crying too.

Then Rosa whispered, "Possible for you and Dad to still . . . love me? Watch over me like I've done nothing wrong?"

Rebecca nodded and rubbed Rosa's cheek with one hand. "We'll always love you, sweetheart. Our sweetheart. Every day. Forever." She sighed, holding back tears. "I know how you feel. I really do."

Rosa sniffed. "T-true?"

Rebecca scrunched her eyes for a while, but it didn't stop tears from dripping. "I-I-I . . . your dad and I know what forgiveness means."

"Did you guys do the same thing?" Rebecca nodded yes. "Before you got married?" Rebecca nodded again.

"I used to blame myself, Jasmine. I did. I had to learn how to repent and move forward and try to do the right thing." She rubbed Rosa's cheek again. "Forgive yourself. Love yourself. Walk in the ways of God, and He will keep you from danger. It is Him who saves you from Satan's traps if you simply obey." She cleared her throat, sternness returning. "Don't ever do that again, please. It's not worth it. It's not everything you're looking for. It's sin."

Rosa swallowed hard and stuttered, "Are you going to tell Dad?"

"He knows how you feel, too, dear."

"All I feel is stupid."

"Listen, we will make mistakes. We will do things that we'll regret. But the Bible says, 'Go and sin no more.' If you believe God loves you, then love yourself. Blaming yourself is only going to get you into more trouble."

Rosa nodded. "I know."

"I've learned the hard way . . ." Rebecca whispered, moving her forehead away but still close to Rosa, ". . . that God will forgive me. Through tears. Through failed attempts of suicide. Through sleepless nights."

The two stared at each other for a while.

"Mom, I'm a copy of you."

Rebecca smiled a little. "Jasmine, I love you. Your family loves you. God loves you, and nothing can separate you from the love of God."