Scandal of Grace

4

°Listen to "Just be held" by Casting crowns for this chapter. ❤

"I am told that Christians do not love each other. I am very sorry if that be true, but I rather doubt it, for I suspect that those who do not love each other are not Christians." -CH Spurgeon

*

"Please stop! Stop please!! I'll do whatever else you want!!!" I yelled at the defiant looking man, peering down at me through his long dark eyelashes.

I was sweating now. My palms felt like pools of water. I dragged myself backwards from the dreadful man. I could not seem to make out his attire in the dark. But his face was lit up by the beautiful stars radiating through the window right above my head. Those stars - the opposite of my present predicament.

My back was touching the wall now. There was no way out.

Please God, I cried inwardly.

I thought I had a death wish because I found myself hitting his chest with my tiny palms that obviously could not push any part of him away.

He laughed evilly. But I was breathing heavily. My heartbeat was drumming so hard, I thought, for a second that there was a wild party going down there.

"Please!!!" I shrieked.

Someone was shaking me. Someone was also tugging at my arm. "Please! Don't do this!!!" I shouted again.

"No baby. You're here." A calm voice said beside me. My eyes fluttered open to see mom and Darkling beside me on my bed. My sheets were soaked with sweat and rumpled from my struggles.

Mummy pulled me in for a hug. Darkling was growling beside me.

It was a dream. Relief washed through me at the realization.

"Mummy..." I was crying now.

"Shhh..."

After a while, mum pulled back gently from the hug and stared right into my eyes. "You saw them again?"

"Not them, ma. Some man." I said, calmer now. My mum gave the best hugs, for the record.

"What did he do to you?"

I looked away and saw the time.

3:24 am.

I finally answered her question. "He wanted to hurt me. Just me." I shut my eyes. I felt my mom taking my hands in hers and I knew what was coming next. We were going to pray.

"Grace, let's pray."

I nodded gently.

I couldn't have been more rest assured after the prayers, though short. It was like a container of iced water released upon my fiery soul. I began to feel peace. But like everything in my life, I doubted it would last long.

Mummy stayed with me since then. Dad came in few minutes later, after the prayers, probably after discovering his wife was not beside him on the bed. Mum narrated what happened to him and he prayed for me too. We ended up observing our family altar in my room. I knew I wouldn't have survived without these people.

Mum left for the kitchen when it was five. It was both a school and work day - a Monday. Dad left for his study after that too. Not without making some funny comments about the neatness of my room, despite the fact that I had a dog with me.

I closed my eyes as the cold shower hit my face. It was cold and soothing. I loved the feel. It bettered my mood and lowered down my heat up mind.