The Quiet One

Twelve

Hey...I need to talk to you. She texted to Noah.

Sure...what's up? Do you want to meet and talk? He asked.

With permission from her mother, she responded, You can come here.

Okay. Are you all right? It sounds serious. He asked.

She texted back, Yeah. Just please come soon.

He never responded, so she figured he must've gotten in the car and headed over. She hated that she probably worried him, but she had to come clean.

In a few minutes, the doorbell rang. She looked through to peephole to make sure it was Noah and not Jared. After last night she was shaken up. She saw Noah standing out there with a box of chocolates.

"Hey," he said, handing the box to her. "I got these for you a few days ago for our next date. By your texts it seems like they might be comforting now."

"Thank you," her eyes filled with tears. How could she betray such a considerate guy and let addiction get the best of her?

"So what's going on?" He asked, stepping in. As he came in Mel nodded and politely smiled hello, but got up and left to give the two privacy.

She started from day one. "Remember our first date?"

She continued her story and spoke for twenty minutes straight before she fully confessed what was going on and what she believed happened last night. Some tears were shed, on both sides, too, when Noah heard what Jared did to her.

"I could strangle that beast," he said, his angry face turning blood red. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Kimberly. You don't deserve this."

"Don't I?" She asked. "I allowed myself to get swallowed up in alcohol, so much so that I pushed you away." She paused in deep thought and looked at him with comprehending eyes. "And I think even God."

He seemed a bit happier hearing of her belief in God. "No one deserves it, and especially not you. Sure, your pushing me away was hard for me, but here you are, making things right. You can make things right with God, too."

"I would like that," she nodded. "I really think I need that. Please help me with that later. The only reason I told you, though, is because I think you deserved and explanation. It's not fair for you to live wondering where you went wrong with me, when you didn't. I did. I also know you trusted me, and I want you to know the truth, not what I've tried to turn it into. Now, you really can't tell anyone whatsoever. I'm going to take Jared to court and can't jeopardize my case, so there can't be rumors floating around."

"That's totally private," he said. "I will never share this with anyone. Thank you for telling me the truth, and I like you even more for it. I am terribly sorry about what Jared did to you."

"Thank you. I'm sorry about what all I've done to you. I must've caused you a lot of emotional stress," she worried.

"I forgive you," he said, "but don't worry about me. Worry about yourself right now."

"Thanks," she said. "So how do I get right with God?"

"You need to accept Him into your heart," he explained. "Ask him to enter into your heart and repent of being a sinner and ask for his forgiveness and presence in your life. He'll be right there listening."

"Okay," she said as she squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. "God, please forgive me of these terrible sins I've engaged in. Please come into my heart, I finally open the door today. Lord, be present in my life and guide me through this new emotional process and give me Your strength. Thank You for Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

She smiled as she opened her emotional, tear filled eyes to see that Noah felt the holy presence of God, too. "He is with me now, isn't He? Hallelujah!" She proclaimed. She laughed and shouted and celebrated her newfound faith that freed her from her confining sin and mistakes, and eased her incredible pain.

Hearing the ruckus, Mel came back downstairs. "Everything going okay?"

"Amazing," beamed Kimberly. "Never better."

Noah also beamed, and Mel shot her daughter a curious expression.

"Noah showed me Jesus, and how to accept Him into my heart. I'm saved now, Mom. I'm a Christian," she smiled, amazingly at peace, despite her circumstances.

"Oh, honey, I've prayed for you to reach this point since you were born. I'm sorry I didn't urge you along sooner and better. Maybe none of this would've happened to you. I guess I was just so afraid of you seeing God talks like lectures and not wanting to have faith. I'm so happy you've found Him," she smiled, with happy tears in her eyes.

"Me too. I didn't know you were a Christian, though?" She said, surprised.

"I guess I haven't done a good job of being one, have I? Well, today, I recommit my life to Christ and we'll walk this spiritual journey together," Mel proclaimed.

Kimberly smiled, overcome with the fulfillment she'd been dying for. "That sounds great."

Noah joined the conversation. "Now that we're not unequally yoked, would you go steady with me?"

"Of course!" She exclaimed.

At the end of the night when everyone was home and in bed, Kimberly evaluated the past thirty six hours in her journal.

Saturday:
10:38 pm-

The past two days have been crazy and life changing. A little over than twenty four hours ago, I was at Jared's feeding my addiction and reliance on alcohol. I went too far with it- I passed out on his couch and never came home until morning. (At least that prevented me from driving drunk.) More frightening than that, I woke up in his bed with him with all of my clothes scattered throughout his bedroom. I know I must've been taken advantage of. I confronted him over text, and he acted like it was no big deal. I'm going to get a restraining order on him. On a better note, I fessed up to Mom and Noah today and got right with them both. More importantly, I got right with God. I've been saved, and I feel incredible in so many different ways. I'm at peace, despite my circumstances, and I feel joyful and fulfilled. No more are the days of feeling worthless and finding my identity in things other than Christ. No more is my alcohol addiction. I'm sure it will be more difficult later than it was today, but I have Jesus fighting for and with me. This is my greatest comfort throughout this all.