Underneath

👉"chapter 14" : Old lady and the church

" May the peace of the Lord be with you..."

"And with your spirit" the church replied.

"...and may the blessings of the Lord abide with you, and guide you through this new week, in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit..."

"Amen" once again in unison.

"Go in peace this mass is ended " the priest said, him arms stretched fort.

"Thanks be to God"

Zara watched as the priest and the alter servers left the church in perfect formation, before she made her way to the alter. With her knees kissing the ground ,her head bowed and her eyes closed.

She stayed like that till the voices reduced to distant car engines and all that was left was blissful silence.

Zara stayed calm, her calves have started to loose their ability to feel, and her foot trembled lightly, but she continues to revel in the silence.

Silence in the church was incomparable to common silence found somewhere else, there was something about being on holy grounds and opening your mind. To Zara it felt like an eternal flow of cool water.

She let the events of the past week hit her like a brick, she let all her fears and worries wash over her as she let the eternal cool water wash it all away, she was on a solid trip to dream land when she halted her journey...

There was one thing about silence Zara could discern anywhere and anytime, when it was broken , it never turns back to normal.
" She kneels so humbly before the creator, one would think she was an angel..." The familiar voice stops, taking a deep breath and sighing , it's sound sending a smile to Zara's lips as she completed the words

"...but a sinner she was, she is and will forever be. You know I still think the author was placing an irreversible curse on that character, but as always you'd argue straight up that he wasn't, am I right sister grace?" She said looking behind her ,at the old lady whose smile never falters, NEVER.

"You know me too well child, come over here let me hold you " she said patting the empty seat beside her. Zara rises to her feet, she winces a bit at the noise produced by her joints, funny how they were the same kind zombies made whenever they supposedly resurrect from their graves.

The very second Zara was at arms reach, sister grace took her arm in hers almost like she depended on it and started looking at every feature of Zara, almost like she was trying to glorify every angle with her stare.

"My dear, harder days are coming , pain will even be a companion, your troubles will follow you like your shadow, but the worst fact is the fact that those you trust just might end up being the enemy" she touches Zara's face with the tip of her fingers " you are so beautiful"

" I know , you basically tell me that all the time" Zara said with a chuckle.

"It's because it's true, you're intelligent, smart, hardworking...you are beautiful on the inside and outside. Zara we shouldn't let our past be the pillar upon which we are judged .
Yes you did that to him, I know how hard it was, I know how traumatized you were, but look at who you are now . Child, if you don't learn to forgive yourself how on earth do you want to do the same to others"

Zara's smile falters as she realizes the depth of their conversation.

" My dear no matter how we try to hide the truth, we should always know that it's just waiting to pop off one day. I love you like my daughter Zara, but do you love yourself?" She asks zara.

Zara takes her time to think about what sister grace had just said, of course she loved herself, she loved herself for her ability to still stand even after what she had been through, without further ado she answered firmly " yes, I do , I love myself"