Azariah - God Has Helped

Chapter 6

Kiara lay back on the bed, letting herself breathe for the first time in hours. Her mind was tangled with thoughts of Shanoya, Davar, and the whirlwind of emotions she had carried for so long. She missed Shanoya—her presence, her laughter, the way she understood Kiara without words—but she also felt herself drawn to Davar, whose warmth and humor had slowly brought her out of her shadows.

Kiara had met Shanoya on Badoo, almost by accident. At first, it was just casual messages, a way to pass the time and connect with someone new. But there was something different about Shanoya from the very beginning. Her words were thoughtful, her humor sharp, and there was an honesty in her that Kiara hadn't seen in anyone else. Conversations with Shanoya weren't just small talk—they were real, deep, and unhurried, the kind that made Kiara forget the world outside.

As their friendship grew, Kiara realized that Shanoya had a calm strength about her. She listened without judgment, offered support without pressure, and had a natural warmth that drew people in. Shanoya was independent but caring, confident yet vulnerable when it mattered. Every conversation, every shared story, every laugh they exchanged made Kiara feel seen in a way she had never felt before.

It didn't take long for Kiara to realize that her feelings were deeper than friendship. Shanoya made her heart race, made her smile in moments of sadness, and made her believe that love could exist outside the boundaries she had known. Slowly, Kiara began to understand that a woman could be more than just a friend—she could be a soulmate.

Shanoya's presence opened Kiara's eyes to new possibilities. She realized that love wasn't just about gender or expectation—it was about connection, understanding, and the kind of trust that made her feel safe to be herself. With Shanoya, Kiara felt a lightness, a joy, and a sense of belonging that she had never thought possible.

It was more than attraction—it was a recognition that this was someone who could truly walk beside her through life, someone who could understand her deepest emotions without needing her to explain everything. Shanoya's honesty, empathy, and gentle confidence had become a magnet for Kiara's heart, and she found herself wanting to explore this new kind of love with all the courage she had left to give. It had been a confusing year. The memory of past betrayals still lingered, and Kiara knew she had trust issues with men. Yet, Davar had shown her patience, respect, and a gentleness she hadn't felt in a long time. He made her laugh, distracted her from her darker thoughts, and gave her hope that she could feel safe again.

For as long as Kiara could remember, she had believed in the teachings of Christ. She had been raised in church, surrounded by sermons about love, faith, and doing what was right. She tried to live by those principles, letting her conscience guide her in every choice. She believed that following Christ would protect her, guide her, and ultimately reward her with a life of goodness and purpose.

But everything changed the day she was betrayed by someone she had trusted in the church. That person—someone she had looked up to, someone who should have upheld the values they preached—used her vulnerability for their own gain. The betrayal cut deep, leaving scars that no amount of prayer could heal. For the first time, Kiara felt that her faith had failed her, that the moral compass she had clung to so tightly had been shattered by the very people who should have guided her.

After that, something inside her shifted. She stopped trying to follow rules she didn't trust anymore. She stopped waiting for protection from the world or divine justice to fix the pain she had endured. The church, the prayers, the belief that good deeds would safeguard her—they all felt empty now.

Now, Kiara did what she wanted. She made her own choices, navigated her own path, and lived according to her own rules. Sometimes it frightened her, the freedom she had seized, but it also gave her a sense of control she hadn't felt in years. She realized that she couldn't rely on others—religion, men, family, or even the world—to protect her. If she wanted to survive, heal, and find happiness, she had to do it herself.