Trickles of Life

MY FIRST AND FOREVER LOVE

"Amen"

I rose from my kneeling position, prepared to launch my tired body into bed. All the fanfare of my sixteenth birthday had really caught up to me.

Mum and dad had decided they wanted today to be special, and well… they had gone overboard. I smiled as I straightened a wrinkle in my sheets. I had such wonderful parents.

I was about to climb into my bed when I noticed my mother standing by the door. She pushed her lithe frame away from the door frame, sending me a tired smile.

“Mummy," I said, returning the smile.

Her purple nightgown swished as she walked into the room.

“Thanks so much for today," I said.

She waved off my thanks.

“You've said that a hundred times already.”

She sat in my bed and tapped the sheets next to her, a signal for me to sit. I did. It was then I noticed the hint of worry in her eyes.

I frowned.

“Mom? Is something wrong?"

She forced a smile and shook her head.

“No dear," she wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “It's just… My little girl is sixteen today.”

I laughed.

“I’ll be fine, mummy."

“Of course you will be," she said with conviction. “Whenever challenges come, remember Deuteronomy thirty-one verse six…”

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” I recited by heart.

Mum smiled, pride shining in her eyes. I had given my life to Christ as a young girl, and to me, the Bible was a treasure of God's promises.

“Yes, my dear. Good night. God be with you."

***
Two ladies walked next to me on either side, leading me along a dark,gloomy corridor. I stared around. This place wasn't familiar at all.

I looked down at what I was wearing.It was a black extravagant gown, one I knew my mother would never buy for me because of its indecency. The v-neck of the dress was so low that I felt completely naked. The gown stopped a long way above my knees and clung to my body like a second skin, an extremely uncomfortable second skin. I could barely walk in the high heeled stilettos.

How had I gotten into this outfit?

“Excuse me," I turned to one of the ladies who I now noticed was very scantily clad. “What is going on?"

“You're going to meet your husband," she simply replied without looking at me.

Alarm bells rang through my head.

“Husband?!" I stopped in my tracks. They stopped too. “There must have been a mistake. This is impossible. I’m only sixteen!"

The other lady turned to me along with the first.

“Exactly. The age when every descendant of the Smiths gets a spirit husband.”

My entire body went cold. Yes. I am a Smith. This was impossible. This couldn't be happening to me!

“No, no, no. I can't be…”

I yelled as both ladies grabbed my elbows on both sides, dragging me along the corridor, against my will. Fear instantly crawled into my chest. No matter how hard I fought, I couldn't escape. These women were impossibly strong.