Willow

"I can't do this anymore Matt!" I yelled from my bed. I locked the door to my room so no one could stop me. 

"Willow, I can help you through this! Please! I can't live without you!" Matt pleaded outside my door. I truly couldn't do it anymore. My parents constant arguing about me, my 'boyfriend' taking his anger out on me and always feeling alone. 

"Willow, I'm your best friend! You're not alone, you never were. Please just open the door." Matt began to pound on the door, trying to break it down. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts. 

"I didn't say goodbye for you to do this, Matt!" I exclaimed. I said goodbye because he's my best friend and I love him. But I can't live like this anymore. I ran my thumbs over the sharpened blade I was holding. 

"Willow, listen to me. Remember all those times I would come over and climb in through your window? You'd lock it and make do goofy things before you'd let me in." He chuckled slightly with me at the memory. 

"We'd talk all night and listen to music. You made all the pain go away, I can do that for you....if you let me." His voice softened and he stopped banging on my door. 

I let out a strangled sob at the memories flooding my mind. When Matt's parents died from a car crash, he went into depression. He wouldn't leave his room, or eat, or sleep, I finally dragged him out of his room and made him live. He got better, then he started going to church. He said he 'gave his heart to God' and all the depression went away. 

Matt would always ask me to come, but I always turned him down. How could I believe in a God that let my life be like this?! Matt broke my concentration and started talking again. 

"Willow, I know you would feel better if you gave God a chance. Please, what have you got to lose?" 

He was right. I've got nothing to lose. I looked over to my dresser. In top was a Bible that Matt gave me months ago. I've never opened it though. Taking a deep breath I headed over to the dresser and picked up the book. 

There was a book mark in it. Turning to that page I found a fragment of words highlighted. It read: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life." 

I read over those words over and over again. I was still broken, but a sliver of hope was still aching in my heart. Setting the Bible down I yanked my door open and leaped into Matt's arms. I kissed him on the cheek. 

"Thank you Matt. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." He wrapped his arms around me lovingly. 

"Ditto." He replied. I laughed at his short reply. 

"So," I started. "Church is on Sunday right?" 

Matt smiled widely. "Yes, yes it is!" 

"Mind if I tag along?" I asked. 

He pulled me into a tight hug before answering. "I'd mind if you didn't."