Further Up & Further In

Lucy Cried

Lucy cried. During the air raids, as planes droned overhead, and bombs fell in the distance, she did her best to hide. Under the covers, where the monsters couldn't get her. But Susan ran in, and her mother was frantic, and they ran - ran to a safer place.

Lucy cried. At the train station, as she was herded away from her mother, she and her siblings moving like cattle through the crowds. So they boarded the train, and she hung as far as she could out the window to wave good-bye. Once again they were swept away. Away from home. Away to a safer place.

Lucy cried. When Edmund followed her to Narnia, but betrayed her back home. "It was only a game, we were only pretending..." She hid from her siblings, away from their hard minds, and stubborn hearts. She hid from Edmund's cruel words, and Susan's explanations, and Peter's good intentions. She hid, and searched for a safer place.

Lucy cried. When they all finally believed her, but her friend was taken, and her brother soon followed. Susan cried with her, tears of grief, and Peter cried in frustration. Sometimes they all cried in fear. The world was getting scary, and they yearned for a safer place.

Lucy cried. Her brother was saved, but she still couldn't sleep, so she and Susan went wandering through the night and the woods. They followed Aslan to the table. They hid from the monsters. And they watched him die. They cried for good reason that night, and they cried until the sun arose. Their last hope was gone. Their safe place destroyed.

Lucy cried. Her Aslan was alive again, but they found Tumnus as a stone, and when they made him well again, they found Edmund wounded from battle. Oh, she cried, but still she kept her wits about her and did her duty. She healed him. And while she found reasons to cry, she finally believed they had found it. Their safe place.

Lucy cried, but not as much. She had always had a tender heart, and some things still hurt her. But Lucy grew, and practiced with her brothers, and she bled, but this did not make her cry. The world could throw anything at her, and she would stand strong. She cried less for herself. Instead, she mourned the innocents, the bystanders, and the victims. They were who she fought for. Fought to make the world a safer place.

Lucy cried, but more than that, she lived. She cried, and laughed, and fought, and danced. Her heart didn't break daily the way it used to, but it remained dear, and tender, and kind. She did not build up walls. She simply grew in courage and grace. She was safe. Her heart was safe. Nothing could take it away.

So Lucy cried. When she left for the last time. When her sister betrayed them, "It was only a game, we were only pretending..." And once more, for everything. Her heart broke. Completely. Finally. But it healed. It always healed. Lucy cried, but she persisted. Lucy cried, but she held on. Lucy cried, but she was strong.