Journey

Chapter 1: My Life

Journey

By Fraterphoenix

Copyright © 2019 by FraterPhoenix Publishing
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2019
Second Printing, 2020
Third Printing, 2024

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner (like the name of some leaders of different nations). Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Life throws curveballs, sometimes even when we're doing everything right. Tough times can shake us, but they don't define us. Even in the midst of challenges, holding onto hope can be the key to unlocking a strength we never knew we possessed.

This story follows a young woman named Mary Wills on a transformative journey that will push her beyond her wildest dreams. It all begins with a period of hardship. Will she emerge victorious? Can we navigate life's dark alleys and emerge stronger? Prepare to learn alongside Mary as she embarks on a life-changing adventure, documented through her personal journal.

Every life has a story worth telling, and Mary's is no exception. Are you ready to begin? Turn the page and join her on this incredible voyage of self-discovery.

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Journal Entry One

Seven years, at least, had passed since they pulled me from that hellhole. Words couldn't describe the horrors I witnessed there. If not for the Chevaliers, I'd still be a broken soul toiling in those mines. They took me in, trained me for years, and slowly helped me rediscover my self-worth. It's been a blur, of how long it took. As a slave, death seemed a mercy compared to that existence. Every fiber of my being yearned for oblivion.

This journal, penned at my Master's behest, is torture. The mere act of recollection is excruciating. Each sentence is a battle against a torrent of tears or the primal urge to flee into the woods, never to return. Yet, I find the strength to continue, fueled by the unwavering bond with Alsaashdyn, my dearest friend. She, too, was plucked from the depths of despair, though her story unfolds in a tapestry far richer and older than mine. Together, we bear the scars of the past, a silent pact forged in the fires of shared suffering.

But the past, however ugly, cannot forever hold us captive. Tonight, under the watchful eye of a crescent moon, I steal away to a hidden clearing deep within the Chevalier grounds. There, beneath the watchful gaze of the ancient oaks, Alsaashdyn and I share whispered secrets and dreams. She speaks of reclaiming her stolen legacy, while I yearn for a future where the echo of clanging chains no longer haunts my every step. We dream of a world where freedom is not a privilege, but a birthright.

Perhaps, one day, this journal will be more than a record of my pain. Perhaps, it will become a testament to our resilience, a beacon for others trapped in the darkness. Until then, I write, my hand trembling slightly, a testament to the fight still raging within. For even the deepest scars can heal, leaving behind a fierce determination to forge a brighter dawn after darkness.

But in this journey, I find solace in the teachings of Christ. His message of hope and redemption offers a light even in the darkest of times. The horrors I endured may have tested my spirit, but they cannot extinguish the unwavering faith that burns within me. I pray that through my story, others who have suffered may find strength in the Lord, and know that they are never truly alone.