The Hope of Eden

His Hands

1921
Lynchburg, Virginia

Carmen sat up, yawning as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

He felt the sudden unction to wake and check on Eden.

His hazy eyes found the clock and he sighed groggily.

2:31 AM.

No matter how early it was, he couldn't deny the unction.

It could've been the Lord urging him.

He would only know if he went.

Yawning deeply, he stepped out of bed and slid on his robe before leaving his room.

"Gott der Gnade, wenn dies deine Führung ist, lass sie gesund sein. Aber wenn sie es nicht ist, bereite mein Herz und meinen Verstand vor." (Lord of Grace, if this is Your guidance, let her be well. But if she is not, ready my heart and mind.) He prayed quietly before opening their bedroom door.

A small lamp on Rosalie's side of the bed illuminated the room, highlighting her sleeping face.

The further he entered the room, the clearer it became that Rosalie was alone in bed.

Where was Eden?

Her bowl of soup from earlier sat on the bedside table, which was strange.

Eden would've put it away or had Rosalie do it if she couldn't.

He picked it up to find it full. Untouched.

He quickly pushed down the annoyance he felt at her negligence and racked his mind for why she wouldn't eat.

She was a wise woman.

She had never refused a meal before.

Oh, dear Eden.

Anxiety.

Many patients were sent to his clinic for a strange sickness that kept them from eating.

After questioning them, he found the leading cause was anxiety.

And it wouldn't have been concerning had the symptoms not been harmful to their health.

Shortness of breath, confusion, dizziness, overwhelming emotions, and fainting.

Carmen's eyes widened at the realization.

The soup would have been her first meal since fainting after their talk. Rosalie told him about the lunch she had made earlier that day, but when he met Eden in the kitchen, he remembered seeing a sandwich on the counter.

His chest tightened at the thought of her being hurt somewhere in the house.

Fear clenched his stomach.

Could she be on the stairs?

"Lieber Gott, bitte lass sie nicht verletzen." (Dear Lord, please don't let her be hurt.)

If Eden had fainted going down the stairs, she could have been seriously injured.

Shaking his head, he hurried out of the room to search for her.

"Eden," He called, walking down the hall.

Please, Lord.

As he walked toward the staircase, he found light shining through the slightly opened library door.

Relief flooded his chest and he hurried to find her.

"Eden, I worried you had f-" The words were taken from his mouth.