REKINDLED || Completed

44

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Forty Four
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Asher felt an unexplainable peace that night.

The sides of her neck tingled uncontrollably and she pressed her eyes tighter and parted her lips to say the words she never thought she'd say ever again.

"I accept you Jesus Christ, as my one and eternal savior"

"I surrender to you, " Oren cued

"I surrender to you" she echoed, clenching her jaw.

"To fix me and fulfil your divine purpose in my life"

She repeated the words.

"Amen"

She opened her eyes just when he started his own prayer

"...Lord I may not know all the details, I may not know the depth of all that hurt, but one thing I know so well, is that there is no wound you can heal, no problem you can't fix... "

Asher stared at him, eyes closed with his brows furrowed slightly.  For a second or more, she let her mind drift.

She pictured that young bruised and battered young girl, she pictured that girl giving all her pain and past to the lovely man. In the present she wasn't listening. The deliverance was painful, far painful than she had imagined.

Before she knew it, she felt drawn into a firm chest then realization crept in.

"He loves you Asher, more than you understand"

"—Olivia" the word slipped out and she took a painful breath as she welcomed the painful memories that name brought. "My name is Olivia"

Oren didn't say a word for a time and in that silence she let her empty gaze go across the field.

This time felt like their souls bonded. She didn't know what it was but it felt like she belonged there, in his arms. She felt like this could be a forever type thing.

Then she got reminded of Harry's question from earlier.

Would she say yes if Oren asked for forever?

There were mixed feelings...the feelings were undeniable. She had tried her best to deny and suppress them but they only grew.

From the very first night she'd set her eyes on him she should have known there'd be no going back.

He pulled away slowly, a small smile on his lips "Can I ask you something"

Asher couldn't even begin to feel embarrassed of her blood red eyes, it was already on display but she did the best she could go wipe them against her sleeves.

"It doesn't change anything about you, you know?"

She was confused

"That you cry, I mean. You are human"

She pressed her lips into a thin line  "Your question?"

She wasn't about to be flattered.

"Sure. What's next for you?"

She blinked twice, nothing coming to mind.

Did she actually expect such a question? Yes.

Did she have a good answer? No.

"I... I don't know. I don't want to be rushed."

Oren nodded in understanding  "It's okay. You have all the time to decide. Your arts degree won't find itself a use anyways"

"What are you doing with your life? Like right now, does this thing...fulfil you? " She asked in honest curiosity.

He seemed so at peace with what he did, not that she hated it. She just wondered if it made sense...you know, like her art.

"It completes me, yes" he gladly responded

"How?" She pushed

He leaned back on his hands, sending his gaze up to the sky, his Adam's apple dipping...

"When I left all of my life to God, I stopped worrying about so many things. My paycheck, where I'd live... If I had a future... and let's just say, I learned to walk not just in Him but with Him and His desires became my desires, hence my satisfaction in singing His praises"

Asher stared at him like he was from another planet wondering within herself, how can I know these things?

Her head spun momentarily so she just laid on her back with her arms resting on her stomach.

He turned to her then "Are you okay with us sitting this long outside?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, seeming to not remember

"Do you have your inhaler?"

She felt her pockets  "I do"

She couldn't forget it for one day.

"So...do you feel cold?"

"Not really" she shrugged. Her hands were freezing but she didn't want to leave.

"Are you sure...we should head back to where it's warmer " then he touched her hands  "You're cold"

Oh well. What could she say?

They started heading back

"Don't think I'm weak because I have asthma" she blurted in the pressing need to defend herself.

Even Harry sometimes treated her like an egg.

"I've never said that"

"You act like I'll die if I stay out too long"

"I care about you, Asher. That and I'm feeling cold too"

She slumped her shoulders. She felt pathetic.

The Bean House came in view and they could barely see anyone.

"Do you think they left?" He asked and she shrugged

"The lights are still on"

Just then a familiar form could be seen. Harry.

When they got to the doors, they were blown away by what he was doing.

Decorating.

Asher and Oren exchanged amused looks  "Should we just let him to this?"

"I don't know" Asher giggled. This was just too exciting to watch

How he put in so much effort to make sure  it was just the perfect surprise for Anya was just so heartwarming.

Why did she wish she was Anya?

"I don't he think he wants us snooping, can this be our little secret?" She heard him ask with an incredulous grin

Our little secret.

Our...

She snapped out of that daze, nodding.

They locked hands and turned on their heels, making away as fast as they could...which was pretty much them just jogging.

When they got to her place, Asher didn't like the idea of him leaving.

It was pathetic—she knew, but for the umpteenth time, these feelings had come to stay. Whether she liked it or not, Oren had grown on her

"Bye Oren" she flashed a tight lipped smile

He leaned down and stole a hug, then stepped back three steps with an unreadable expression before whispering the words "Good night, Olivia"

**