The Weeping Witch

Chapter Twelve

Life was truly a blissful place for me now. My perspective changed in a moment's notice and I began to see the wonderful colors of the world. Like a veil of darkness was lifted from my eyes allowing me to see all that was beautiful once again. I glided swiftly everywhere I went, as if I were on a large, fluffy cloud. Although, as much as I wanted to spread my happiness and talk about it. I couldn't. Thomas and I agreed to keep what was growing between us a secret, and I wasn't about to let him down.

It was a cheerful blue-skied Sunday morning. Although the sun was shining, it was bitterly cold-it was quite early in the morning after all. My family and I walked briskly along the path leading to the village of Salem. Like every Sunday morning, we faithfully trekked that same path towards the House of God to hear the sermons Reverend Parris had to offer us. Alice skipped along playfully, as any young girl of eleven should. Entertaining herself, she giggled as the frost-bit grass crunched beneath her boots. Father walked sullenly beside Mother with long strides, causing her to half run just so she could be at his side. I drifted casually behind them, noticing all the wonders around us I hadn't noticed before. What a damn fool I was. There was so much beauty, and I was blinded by my forced hatred of this place. Maybe it wasn't so horrible after all. I could-we could, Thomas and I could make this bitter place the most cheerful and loving place. I knew it would only take the two of us to do so. A soft wind whistled through the trees as if they were telling me they agreed. They had only witnessed hatefulness in this lonely village, and to have new love blooming in their midst, I think it made them overjoyed. I smiled up at their long, waving arms, showing them that I too, was overjoyed.

It was such a drastic, and awful change to come from the welcoming arms of nature into the hateful room filled with hellfire and brimstone. Father led the way as we carefully took the steps leading to the large room which we called the House of God. I glanced back over my shoulders to take one last look at the beautiful world and fresh air that surrounded this godly place-which it seemed like hell on earth to me. Alice and I followed Mother to where the women and girls would sit, and Father walked to where the men and boys sat. After I slid into the bench beside Alice, who was already snug against Mother, I ever-so-slightly glanced over my shoulder to catch an unlikely glimpse of the man I now loved. To my hearts thrill, Thomas was sitting directly behind Father, which he then caught my eyes and held them to his gaze. The corners of his mouth began to form a warming smile, and I quickly sat forward, not wanting to bring any unwanted attention that he and I did not need. Even if we wouldn't tell a soul for a while, it was exhilarating to keep such a secret. For we both knew very well that a new found love should never be covered in secrets, that led to sin.

Sinning was the very last thing on my mind. How could such a beautiful thing like love be linked to sinning? I couldn't understand it, and I believed I never would.

The Reverend bellowed out words chosen from the Bible, and some of his own choosing. Just as every sermon of his went, he carried on to talk of all of "God's children" one day meeting him in heaven. He added in almost every time that if we pleased God enough he would give us large mansions we would live in by ourselves. If that didn't light up his serious, God-fearing face, I don't know what would. He seemed quite pleased with the fact that he would be getting a huge, golden mansion after God declared him his perfect child. At least, that's what I believed he thought God would do. I, however, believed otherwise. How could God deem a man like the Reverend holy enough to enter into his kingdom? After all, Reverend loved his possessions more than most, especially the "flock" he was supposed to be leading into the Kingdom of God. I knew I wasn't the only one bored of his repeating sermon. Everyone around me grew restless, it was only the children who showed it. Alice sat idly twiddling with her thumbs, allowing the Reverend's words go in one ear, and out the other. How I wish I was not as caring as her when I was her age. I took every little word to heart that our Reverend would speak. Maybe that was why I was feeling a tug at my heart whenever I would think of Thomas, or anything not having to do with God or something spiritual. Although there was a larger tug at my heart pulling me towards Thomas, and didn't even want to think of giving in to the smaller tug. I wanted happiness, and that is what I would get. There wasn't a thing in this world that would keep me from my happiness with Thomas.