Satan's Work

"We can't lose hope in her, Laura. Have faith in our Lord." Said Eric to Laura, his wife.
"We'll go to church again tomorrow. Jesus will help her, I know He will. He's the answer." Said Laura, as tears filled her eyes.
She couldn't hold it in anymore. She bursted into tears. Eric reached his pocket and gave Laura a napkin.
"Don't cry, please! We'll get through this. You're the strongest person I know. And you're right. He will help us." Said Eric with a shaking voice, as if he was somewhat unsure. But he couldn't be! His faith was so strong in Jesus that he had to be sure. Laura nodded with a little smile. It had been a few days Donna had been incredibly sick. She was born in a very religious family in Alabama. She was a good girl; always going to church on Sundays, always praying before a meal.
Before all this she was perfectly fine, except for shortness of breath for a few months.
Donna lived in a small house by her father's farm. She liked helping him sometimes but what she liked the most was riding her horse.
Her room was nicely decorated with white and red roses. Her father grew all of them on the farm and then moved them to Donna's room. The room was always filled with the nicest smell. By the window, there were a few roses and the bees fisted on them day and night. She had Mona Lisa painting in her room. Her smerky smile always encouraged her. It showed certainty; as if she knew everything was going to be alright. So she'd just smile and watch the world pass by. The walls in her room were painted with light blue.
Eric and Laura went upstairs to check on her. When they reached the door they could hear Donna wheezing. They opened the door and saw poor Donna laying down on her bed, struggling to breathe. Her wheezing had gotten worse. The only thing that kept her distracted was Lucy, her dog and companion. Lucy was very well trained. Anything Donna wanted, Lucy would provide.
"Good girl, bring me that." and Lucy would bring the exact thing Donna wanted. Now she'd just lay down on her bed all day long, looking in her eyes and provide the only thing Donna needed, comfort.
"Mom, Dad. I didn't see you there. How are you?" Said Donna, struggling to finish her sentence.
"We're good Donna. Try to talk less.
What are you reading there?" Said Laura, worried.

"Genesis.. it reminds me.. how easily we were created.. and how easy it can be for us... to return to Him."
Eric put on a smile, trying to look calm and happy. He then sat down on her bed, petted Lucy and looked into Donna's eyes.
"That is true, Donna" he said, "there's a time for everything. There's a time to be born, there's a time to die; as there's a time to live. But do you know when's not the time for? Letting go, giving up."
"Dad, I'm not afraid to die. I'm stronger than ever but… " Donna couldn't finish her sentence. Eric put his finger on her lips and said "Shhh! No need to finish that sentence. Put the book away. Try to get some sleep."
He slowly took the book from her and petted Lucy again.
"Me and Mom are going to sleep soon. Anything you need, come wake us up." Said Eric as he was smiling. He then kissed Donna's forehead and got up. Laura went to her and kissed Donna's forehead as well.
"Goodnight sweetie! Sleep tight". Said Laura.
"You too mom, dad."
"Goodnight Laura". 
Eric and Laura left the room.
When Eric closed the door, Laura took his hands and whispered:
"I'm having a bad feeling. Please, can we go to the kitchen and talk?"
"Of course, Honey. Let's go".
They slowly went downstairs, to the kitchen. Laura hugged him.
"Eric... I couldn't sleep last night. I've been praying day and night and she hasn't gone better. She only gets worse… . I'm afraid. What if... what if..."
"What if what, Laura?"
"What if she passes away? What we'll we do without her?"
Eric held both her arms and looked deeply into her eyes.
"No such thing is going to happen" Said Eric, "what do we always say in our prayers? 'And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil.'
This is just a temptation Laura, this is Satan's work. You just have to stay strong. Do not lose hope; neither in our Donna nor Him."
Laura was crying again but nodded.
"I hear you. Thank you." She said, "I could never do this without you, Eric."
"Now let's go to bed. Here... have some diazepam and you'll sleep like a baby. I'll wake you up tomorrow and we'll go to church." Said Eric as he poured water and gave her the pill. He took one himself too.
"Who's to say? Maybe she'll be better and she'll come with us." Said Laura, with a little smile.
"I hope so! Now go and wash your face. I don't want to see you like this. I'll be waiting in the bed."
Laura went to the bathroom to wash her face. She took a long look at herself in the mirror. "I can't lose hope. I must stay strong." She whispered.
After she washed herself, she went upstairs and joined Eric.
Before getting to bed, she opened the window. It was a full moon that night. The moon was shining in the sky and the wind was caressing the wheat in the farm.
"Come! Come see the moon. It's amazing." Said Laura.
Eric got up and hugged Laura from behind. They were staring at the moon.
"It's beautiful! Let's go to bed though, shall we?"
"Yes, but I'm keeping the window open."
Eric nodded with a smile and kissed Laura's cheeks.
They both went to bed. "Goodnight, love." Said Laura.
"Goodnight, precious".

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" At 6 A.M, Lucy was barking.
"Woof woof!" She kept going on and on barking in Donna's room.
Eric and Laura were too tired to be woken up by her barkings. Lucy even scratched the door, struggling to open it.
At 11 Eric woke up.
He went downstairs, prepared coffee and looked at the clock.
"Good Lord.. it's 11 A.M," he thought, "we're late!"
He immediately went upstairs to wake Laura up.
"Sweetie, it's 11. We're late!"
Laura jumped out of the bed. "I need a shower." She said and went to take a quick shower.
"I'll be back soon. Put on your clothes Eric."
He put on a black suit and a tie, went downstairs and waited for Laura to get back.
Laura came back. She was feeling positive and fresh.
"Good morning, honey!" Said Laura as she kissed Eric. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did, thank you! How come you're so happy?"
"I don't know. Unlike last night, I'm feeling good. I feel like Donna is going to be alright. I feel our Lord answered our prayers."
"Laura, I truly hope so. Now let's get some coffee."
Eric poured two cups of black coffee, no milk and no sugar, and put some cookies on the table.
They sat down and held each other's hands. As always, Laura started saying her grace:
"Our Lord and savior. Thank you for blessing us with this food. Please bring health and happiness to our family, and help anyone in need. In your name we pray. Amen!"
"Amen! It was beautiful." Said Eric.
After that, they didn't say much. They just looked each other in the eye, drank their cups of coffee and ate the cookies.
That day, Laura's eyes were full of hope, Eric noticed. Something he hadn't seen in her in a long time.

When they finished their coffees, Laura smiled and said:
"Should we go tell Donna we're leaving?
"I think we should let her know. Put on your dress and I'll let her know." Said Eric.
"No, I want to see how she is first."

They held each other's hands, went upstairs and stopped outside her room.
"I don't hear her wheezing! Do you?" Said Laura.
"No! I think you were right! She did get better! God heard us!"
Eric opened the door with excitement. They both went to the room and saw Donna lying down on her bed, sleeping on her side so that she was facing the window. Beside her was Lucy.

"Donna?" Called Laura.
"Donna? Wake up!" Said Eric.
They went closer and shouted.
"Donna?!"
She didn't move an inch.
Eric rolled her over by her arms.
"Oh my...."
"What?"
"She's cold!" Said Eric as tears filled his eyes.
It took Laura a few moments to process what had happened. After a big pause, she screamed. As loud as her voice would let her, she screamed. It was a painful moment of shouting and tears.

"And... Eric..? Lucy isn't... moving."
"She's... She went with our Donna."

The end.