Terror By Night

Chapter 14

I close the Bible and my eyes as well. I take a moment to allow the words to sink into my weary soul. The Bible never says we won't face trials, or problems or even evil. But at every step, at every challenge, He promises to be there. I can't see Him, I may not always feel Him, but by faith I believe it.

My subconscious forces me to become aware of the silence that has fallen around me. Not just in my little circle, but within the nearest surrounding groups. My eyes sweep across and land on multiple sets of eyes watching me intently. I must have been reading louder than I thought.

Xavier breaks the silence. "That was beautiful Layken. I don't understand all, well, most of it. But it's beautiful."

I do my best to ignore the others who are still watching, listening to us. "That was the Psalm my grandmother marked from me. She wanted me to be reminded that no matter where I am or what the circumstances look like, I won't be alone."

"What do you mean?" A blonde girl sitting behind Xavier asks.

"I mean, that as a Christian, I have a heavenly Father who cares about what happens to me and He never leaves me."

A boy who's with the blonde chimes in, "But what do you mean He never leaves? You can't see Him."

I'm drawing many curious glances from other students ease dropping on our conversation. I plunge on. "The Bible teaches us that once we believe on Jesus, He comes to live in our hearts. He creates a connection between us and Father God. As His children, He cares about what happens to us and watches over us."

"I don't feel watched over. I feel abandoned," the blonde girl says softly. There's the hint of barely held back tears in her voice.

"But you aren't abandoned. Look around you. You aren't alone. And even if you were, He would still be with you because He lives in your heart. The comfort comes from knowing no matter what happens, we have hope there's something better waiting for us. And He sends people to help us along the way. Look around you. You have friends."

"And you," she adds quietly.

I nod back. "Yes. You see, you never know where the help may come from. It might be a stranger."

The boy huffs. "That sounds like some fairy tale. How can you believe something you can't see?"

"It's called faith. I can't even tell you I have all the answers. But I have faith that the answers will come. It might not look like how I imagined. But I'd rather have my faith and have hope, than have nothing."

The boy doesn't respond. The blonde looks like she wants to say something more, but the boy stands and pulls her to follow him off to another part of the gym. Guess he didn't want to hear any more.

"Don't let it bother you," Xavier tells me. "Some people only want to believe in what they can feel and see for themselves."

"And what about you? What do you believe in?"

He holds my gaze for long minute before saying, "Undecided."

The statement makes me curious, but I don't feel now's the time to pry. I let it go and start to put my grandmothers Bible back into the duffel.

Zoe reaches over and takes my hand. "Thank you Layken. I'm glad you she left that for you. It was like she was reading to us."

I offer her a soft smile. "Grandma Jean is a smart lady. She knew what she was doing."

"If only she'd packed some of her famous Snickerdoodle cookies," Nolan throws out.

I laugh. "Don't you wish. It wouldn't have done us any good. You always eat them all before me and Zo can get our hands on any."