Between Faith and Love

too soon?

After spending hours comforting Zephaniah, the warmth of their closeness gradually faded as March realized the time. She knew Zephaniah's parents would be home soon. Reluctantly, she whispered, “I have to go,” gently kissing Zephaniah’s forehead before pulling away from their embrace. Zephaniah, still drained from everything, gave a soft nod, her eyes filled with sadness.

As March walked back home, her heart weighed down by everything that had unfolded, she noticed her aunt and uncle waiting for her in the kitchen. They stood there, their faces etched with a mixture of disappointment and understanding. It was as if they had been waiting for this conversation for a long time.

Her aunt spoke first, her voice quiet but firm, “Zephaniah’s parents told us, March.”

March froze, her heart pounding. She couldn’t bring herself to respond. She just stood there, staring at them with a look of despair. Her aunt approached her slowly and, without a word, wrapped her arms around March in a tight embrace. Her uncle leaned against the kitchen wall, his face soft but resigned, his eyes filled with an unspoken acceptance mixed with disappointment.

As her aunt held her, the dam of emotions that March had been holding back for days finally broke. She cried, her sobs heavy with the weight of confusion, fear, and pain. Her aunt gently stroked her hair, whispering, “I know, I know, March. It’s really hard. But you know this is wrong... You know that your actions have consequences. You both are just confused teens.”

March, feeling a sharp pang in her chest, pulled away slightly from the embrace. With tears in her eyes, she muttered, “No, I am not confused.”

Her aunt’s expression softened, but she sighed deeply and said, “But she is.”

The words hit March like a blow. Her heart shattered at the realization. She knew deep down that things had gone wrong, that everything was becoming more complicated than she had ever imagined. But she also knew how deeply she loved Zephaniah. Standing there in her aunt’s embrace, she felt torn between the love she couldn’t deny and the consequences that loomed ahead.

Her uncle, watching quietly from his place against the wall, added softly, “You’re both young, March. And love... love can feel overwhelming. But you need to think about where this will lead.”

March wiped her tears, her heart aching. She knew they were right. She knew that everything was a tangled mess of emotions and expectations. But in that moment, she couldn’t do anything. She just couldn’t let go of Zephaniah. The love she felt was too powerful, even as the weight of the world pressed down on her.

Later that day, March sat on her bed, feeling completely numb. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her chest. She stared blankly at the wall, trying to make sense of everything but feeling too overwhelmed to even process her thoughts.

A gentle knock on the door broke her daze. It was her aunt, standing at the door with a soft, concerned expression. "Your mother wants to talk to you," she said quietly, holding out the phone.

March hesitated for a moment before taking the phone and holding it to her ear. On the other end, her mother’s voice was calm, though there was a hint of hesitation. “Hey, sweetheart,” her mother began, her voice softer than usual. “I’ve been feeling better lately, and... well, I think it’s time. Maybe you can come back home now.”

March sat there, still processing the conversation with her aunt, the confrontation with Zephaniah, and now, this. She didn’t know how to respond. It felt like her world was spinning out of control, and her mother’s words felt distant, like an echo she couldn’t fully grasp.

After a long pause, with no real emotion in her voice, she numbly answered, "Soon."

Her mother waited for more, but March didn’t have anything else to say. She quietly handed the phone back to her aunt and crawled under her blanket, covering herself from the world. She just wanted to disappear for a while, to forget everything and escape the turmoil swirling around her. In the darkness under her blanket, the weight of the situation pressed down on her even harder, and she felt more lost than ever.

The next morning, a heavy silence lingered over the house. March had barely spoken a word since the confrontation, but her aunt and uncle, sensing her pain, offered her to come to church with them. Maybe it would provide some comfort, some distraction from the overwhelming emotions she was carrying.

March, still in a daze, agreed. She sat in the church pews, absentminded and lost in her thoughts. Her surroundings blurred as the familiar voices of the congregation filled the air. She felt detached, as if she were watching everything from a distance. Then, as if fate were playing a cruel game, she saw Zephaniah. Zephaniah walked past her through the aisle, avoiding eye contact, her face pale with worry and sadness. March’s heart tightened, but she said nothing, her voice trapped inside her. And Zephaniah didn’t utter a word either.

The pastor began his sermon, talking about love, family, and God’s plan for everyone. March barely registered what he was saying, her mind too clouded by everything that had happened. Then, the pastor paused, smiling broadly as if he had wonderful news to share. “I have something exciting to announce today,” he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

Zephaniah, sitting a few rows ahead, stared down at her lap, tears welling in her eyes. She could feel the weight of what was coming before the words even left the pastor’s mouth.

“As many of you know, it’s a joyous time for the Corvell and Reid families,” the pastor continued. “It is my pleasure to announce that Lila Corvell will be marrying Caleb Reid next month!”

The congregation erupted into applause. Zephaniah’s parents beamed with pride, and Caleb smiled as if his life was falling perfectly into place. But March... March was completely shattered. The announcement felt like a knife through her heart. Her body trembled, and before she knew it, she was standing, tears pouring down her face. Without a word, she turned and walked out of the church, her heart breaking with every step.

Her aunt watched her leave, concern etched on her face, but deep down, she thought this might be for the best. Zephaniah’s tears finally spilled over, her body shaking as she fought to keep it together. She glanced behind her, hoping to catch a glimpse of March, but she was already gone. Instead, she saw March’s aunt and uncle, their expressions heavy with hurt and understanding. They nodded at her, as if they knew this was all too painful but inevitable. Zephaniah didn’t want this marriage—it was an arrangement, forced upon her by her parents’ expectations—but March had left before she could explain.

Back at home, March collapsed in her room, the agony consuming her. She sobbed uncontrollably, her hands pounding against the wall in frustration and heartbreak. She punched the wall again and again until her knuckles bled, her body sliding down until she sat on the floor, completely drained. The pain was unbearable, and all she could do was cry, her body shaking with the force of her sobs.

Downstairs, March’s aunt and uncle returned from church. They heard the faint sound of March’s cries through the walls, and their hearts broke for her. In the living room, they hugged each other tightly, both of them devastated for their niece. They reassured one another quietly, trying to hold themselves together, even though they knew there was no easy fix for what March was going through.