REKINDLED || Completed

15

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Fifteen
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"This is hard," Jaden sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

"I know," Oren said simply.

Jaden shook his head. "How do you do it, dude? How are you always so calm?"

Oren leaned back in his seat, exhaling. "I'm not. It's just the Holy Spirit."

Jaden blinked. "Whoa, whoa. There's another guy?"

"Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," Oren explained, a small smile playing on his lips. "Three in one. Same power, same presence."

Jaden's brows knitted together as he tried to wrap his head around that. "I've only ever heard about Jesus."

"Yeah, I was the same. But having Him in your life comes with His Spirit—kind of like a seal, proof of your salvation. The Holy Spirit helps in your weaknesses. Teaches you. Changes you."

Jaden stared at his hands, turning the thought over in his mind. "...Oh."

"Exactly."

"So... how do I know I have the Holy Spirit?"

Oren’s gaze softened. "Your heart changes. Your actions change. You stop living to please yourself and start living to please God. And you feel peace—real peace." He paused. "It’s a lot, really."

Jaden let that sit for a moment before exhaling. "We should talk about this more."

"I’m here, man. We’ve got time." Oren chuckled and reached for the radio dial, filling the silence with soft music.

It was strange—the way you could never force someone to change. All you could do was pray and be there. But Jaden wanted this. He needed this. And that made all the difference.

Oren felt at peace knowing that. He couldn't ignore his friend. Not now.

---

Asher fumbled with the buttons of her shirt, her breath coming in wheezes. Panic clawed at her chest.

Then the door swung open.

Everest cursed. "Wednesday—what the hell?" He was at her side in a flash.

"I—I need—" She couldn’t get the words out.

He shoved a glass of water toward her. "Here—do you have asthma?!"

She snatched the cup, but her grip was weak, and water sloshed over the sides. She barely got a sip down before coughing violently.

"My inhaler’s dead!" she gasped, her voice breaking.

A string of curses tumbled from Everest as he raked a hand through his hair. He crouched to her level, his eyes wide and frantic. "Gosh, Wednesday—I don't know how to help!"

She wanted to say something, anything, but the air wouldn't come. Her vision blurred.

Everest shot to his feet. "I don’t have an inhaler—damn it, I need to call 911." He grabbed his phone, fingers shaking as he dialed.

A knock sounded at the door. He hesitated but ignored it.

"911—"

The door swung open.

"What happened to her??"

Asher barely turned her head before she felt a warm hand slip into hers. Oren.

"She’s having an asthma attack," Everest said, lowering his phone. His pulse thundered in his ears as he watched them.

"Jaden!" Oren snapped. "You got an inhaler?"