Nomads

Chapter 4

Luke's fever had finally gone down and stayed down. And he was bursting at the seams to get out of the house and go see Naomi. He had so many questions for her.

After being stuck at home with no more answers from γιαγιά and not allowed to leave the house, he had decided to give this finding answers in the Bible thing a shot. So he folded his fingers like his γιαγιά did, and he asked God to help him understand. He felt kind of weird talking to the sky, but he still tried.

Then he opened up the Bible she had given him and read the book titled Luke, since that was his name. And he was fascinated. And confused. So he read Matthew. And got similar results. So he read Mark. Then John. Then Acts. Twice. And he read through romans, both Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians.

And he drank in the printed words on each page, and the little notes along the margins written by his mom, always rereading the things she underlined.

When he hit Hebrews, he found an old, folded up piece of paper bookmarking it.

Pulling it out from between the pages, he debated whether or not he should open it. It was his mom's, so of course now that she was gone it belonged to him, but...

Everything she wrote on the margins was already so personal. He found himself finding out so many things about his mother that he didn't know before.

Sitting in this apartment in her old room and reading this book that was hers before she married his dad, before she had him, before they moved to that small town and before he lost her, it was like looking into the past at a woman he hadn't seen his mom be in a long time. It was like she was helping him through these pages, cheering him on and encouraging him to press on despite his lack of understanding.

Like she was there, telling him a story like she did when he was young.

He missed her so freaking much.

Looking back down at the paper in his hand, he decided to open it, not able to find any reason good enough not to.

It turned out to be a letter that she had written to whosoever happened to open up her bible.

Dear reader,

I'm sure that you're probably wondering why I am writing this. The only explanation I can think of is that I just like leaving encouraging notes in fun places for people to find them.

I am so incredibly uncertain of the future. Not only have my parents told me they are moving back to Greece (a place I've only been to once since my parents moved to the states before they had me), I have also found myself being asked by this man that I love to marry him. And I actually said yes. I can't believe I'm getting married and my parents are moving overseas a week after the wedding.

Enough about me. I'm writing this addressed to you after all. Whoever you may be.

I'm not leaving this book with my parents because of any abandonment of my faith. Mom and dad gave me a new one a few months ago, seeing as I've scribbled on every inch of blank space I could find in this one. I just want to leave this one in their hands, to give me another reason to come and visit my family.

This book is something I hold very dear to my heart; both physically and spiritually. It's a book that seeks you out just as much as you seek it out. So if you're reading this, then you are probably searching for something.

Maybe it's answers, maybe it's peace of mind. But I'm gonna let you in on a little secret that it took me forever to realize.

You REALLY gotta pray just as much as you gotta read to find answers. This book, it's not like other books. You don't read it like you read a novel or a textbook. You have to engage it, meditate on what you read, wrestle with things you aren't sure you like sometimes.

If you wanna know everything, well, that's not gonna happen in a day. I got this book when I was 10. I ran out of writing room when I was 23. And I'm quickly filling up the one I got months ago.

Anyway. I'm running out of space. So whoever you are, whatever your questions are, I pray that you find the answers you need in this book. Just don't give up. Just because you find something challenging, that doesn't mean it isn't what you're supposed to do.

Good luck!
Lydia

He set the letter down and blew out a puff of air. Pray? How on earth does he do that? How will he know if it worked? What would he even say?

Just then his γιαγιά walked in with that blasted thermometer in her hand.

"Γιαγιά, I feel fine now. Can I-"

"Relax, my boy. If the thermometer says you still don't have a fever, then you'll be free to keep exploring."

He scowled, groaning dramatically and letting his grandma stick the stupid beeping thing under his tongue.

"I weawwy feew fime-"

"Stop talking and we will find out if you're as fine as you feel."

Pouting, he folded his arms and waited for what felt like way longer than 20 seconds until the thing beeped.

Luke stared at his γιαγιά intently, trying to gauge his health status from her stony face.

She finally sighed. "Your fever has stayed down. Go on, but be home by sunset!"

He sprang out of the bed, zipping around the room to grab his backpack, his phone, the Bible, and whirled around to kiss his γιαγιά on the cheek before tossing a thanks over his shoulder and flying out the door.

The old lady just sighed and shook her head, knowing he'd probably be out until much later than he'd weakly promised.

Alright, chapter 4, not too long and not a lot of drama.

What do you think happened to Luke's mom in terms of her change from before he was born to the way she was when he was alive? Like why do you think Luke didn't have a similar relationship with/understanding of God as his mom?

What do you think of her note in general?

I don't know. I think Luke's parents are such an interesting, enigmatic part of this story for a while so I'm curious to know what your theories are.

Anyway, hope you guys are having an amazing day! Next chapter we'll see what's been going on with Naomi while Luke's been stuck at home with his fever.

<3 Ava