Mini-Story 3

Mini-Story 3 (Part 14)

It was as I was hugging my parents that I realize that God knew how they would react. I could never guess until it happened. I was so distant with them before, always feeling resentment towards them, because I simply didn't understand their purpose in this world, and I completely mis-judged them. They were never bad parents. I was a bad child. I should've been more patient and kind toward them.

I make a promise to myself that things are going to be different this time around. I would never take them for granted ever again. I quietly held them, offering a prayer towards heaven, asking God to forgive me for the way I treated my parents before. A feeling of calm comes over me. I feel as if my soul is cleansed of what previously tarnished it.

I release my parents and step back so I can see their faces.

"You guys are the best," I tell them, drying my tears, and working to regain my composure. "Things with us will change for the better. I love you both so much."

"We love you, too, honey," my mother says, as my father nods in agreement.

My father looks very serious as he puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Your test begins shortly, and we wanted to wish you luck. We know you will be a great addition to the Savers of Justice. There's no way that you can fail."

"We are so glad Layla found you. We were so worried," my mother says.

We hug once more, and then they guide me to the elevator. We enter, and ascend to floor number seven, where the tests are held, I discover from the innate training, as we go up. I still don't understand how it works, only that it makes me feel in the know about what is going on, and where I am. I was afraid of this test before, but with my parents in my corner, the fear has fled my heart, like it was never there in the first place.

We exit the elevator, and I see a long hallway, directly as we pass through the elevator doors. I wonder which room the test is held in, and no sooner than I ask myself that, the answer comes to me. Eighth door on the left. I am seriously loving this training. It's so convenient. Otherwise I would have to ask so many questions. I suppose giving members training makes everything run so much easier.

We get to the eighth door on the left, and I realize all the doors have a keypad, and they slide to open, rather than with a traditional lock and handle. Technology, brilliant in its design. This would be my first experience inside the testing chamber, and my previous nervousness has left me completely. I feel confident in my ability to perform flawlessly, just as my parents probably did when they first came to Headquarters.

Layla enters a seven digit code, of various symbols, rather than numbers, and the door slides open without making a sound. Sweet setup. This building was ingeniously designed. I wondered when I would stop being surprised, about the ease of being in Headquarters, where I was already feeling like I belonged, like this would be the fastest adjustment of my life. Better than when I was struggling socially through both middle and highschool. Better than when not even one of my crushes even noticed me, let alone liked me back. Better than when I believed my parents didn't care, because I didn't understand that they were protecting me all along. Things can only go up from here.