Reclaiming Light: Oliver's Journey to Freedom

Chapter 1

Oliver "Ollie" Martinez

**

"Oliver! Get up, we have to go! I need to drop some stuff off at the church on the way!" My mom yelled.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" I yelled back, walking out of my room and grabbing my backpack off the floor by the couch in the living room as I passed by.

"Oliver, can you grab that last box?" My mom pointed at a big box on the floor by the front door as she began walking outside with 2 smaller boxes in her arms already.

"Sure." I grab the box and follow her outside. "Whats this stuff? Is it another donation or is there an event?"

"Oh! Oliver Martinez do not tell me you've forgotten the pastors birthday!?" My mom scolded.

I thought for a moment and then it hit me, today's Pastor Jeff's birthday. It's October 16th! How could I forget? That man's been in my life since I was born.

I groan as I think about how much I'm gonna be made to do at the church after school in preparation for a late night service, which will really just be a party for Jeff, just like every year.

"Mom, I haven't forgotten, I just didn't know today was the 16th already. The years flown by so fast. Do you think he's gonna cry again this year?" I ask teasingly, chuckling at the memory of his big body shaking as he cried on the podium while he gave a speech about how our birthdays are the days God blessed us with life and he's so happy he gets to live his with all of us.

"Oliver! Be nice!" She scolded, rolling her eyes as she put the boxes into the trunk of her car, I followed suit and put the big box in there as well.

"I'm being nice!" I rolled my eyes too. "I just don't see the point in a big "surprise" party when we all know he's expecting it and it's the same every year. Do I have to come?"

"Yes! You have to come! That man has helped me and your father raise you since you were born, he's basically your grandpa." She said, starting the engine after we both had our seat belts on. "He's such a kind man, he deserves all the things we do for him. Why wouldn't you want to go? Do you have plans I need to know about? Are you going out with that Beau boy again? You know I don't like him, Oliver!"

"Mom! How many times do I have to tell you, Beau's my best friend, you can't bad mouth him!" I said, pulling out my phone to text said best friend as my mom pulled out the driveway.

"Well, I think he's a bad influence on you." She sighed.

"Well, you think everyone's a bad influence unless I grew up in church with them since we were in diapers." I said, sending Beau a quick text about how much I miss him since we haven't seen each other in a week because he and his parents and his younger sister went on vacation for a week. 

  Messages..

Beau: I miss you tooooo ): 

Ollie: Not more than I miss you because my moms bitching about you again )-:'

Beau: Ugh. Why does she hate me so much!? 

Ollie: Probably because the pastor has used you and your family as an example of "wrong living" for the past 5 years...