Always With Me

Part 20- Becca Lowrey

 I got off of the phone with Zack a few minutes past eleven. He told me that Brent told him about Dahlia, and I told him about their conversation earlier today.

"Dahila came to my house earlier today, and she was torn up. She had gone to talk to Brent, and he left her in his driveway. And he hasn't even told his mom yet, Zack. I seriously have no idea what to do about him," I said to him as I sat on my bed.

"I think he told his mom tonight. I saw her out by her car, crying her eyes out when I went to help my dad bring in his things. He had just told me, so I wouldn't be surprised if he had just told her, also." Zack answered into the phone.

"I guess he did. I just feel so bad for her. I can't help it. She has no one, and she is living with Ellie's family. ELLIE'S FAMILY. Not even her own. Her mom is in Cincinnati, Ohio in a rehab center, and her dad hasn't even responded to her about the pregnancy. I think that means that he is avoiding her, but I would never tell her that." I pulled my blanket over my chin and bundled up underneath my covers. My room was dark except for my lamp, and it was late on a Friday night.

"I feel horrible for them both. Brent has been a friend to me since I moved here, so I feel for him, also. But, I need to go to bed. I have a pretty big game tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Zack. I love you, so, so much," I sighed, "And play good tomorrow. I wish I could be there, but I am so proud of you here."

"I love you more than words, Becca. Goodnight," he said as he hung up the phone. I put it down on my bedside table and turned out my lamp, closing my eyes and going to sleep.

The next day was very uneventful. I stayed at home and laid in my bed. I wasn't feeling very good, so I went down to the kitchen at some point and checked my temperature. I didn't have one, but my head was hurting and I felt like I was about to fall every time I walked. I took some Ibuprofen and went back to sleep, attempting to cover the windows. My dad was at work, so I was at home alone. He called me later and asked how I felt, and I told him that I was feeling better. I ate some soup for dinner and then got back into bed.

I woke up again late that night. I was unable to go back to sleep, which meant that my mind was not allowing itself to block out all of the worries that had been surrounding me. I got out of my bed and washed my face and brushed my teeth, but I was still unable to clear my mind. The lights in the bathroom were hurting my eyes, so I turned them off and went down to the kitchen to fix myself something to drink. My dad was already in bed, so I was alone in the kitchen. I went to the living room to turn off the lights when I saw a thick book sitting on the bookshelf. For some reason, I could't help but walk toward it, taking each step as if I were trying to hide myself. I grabbed the book, and looked at its leather cover. The book was a Bible, although I had never done much reading out of it. The bottom of the book said, 'Clark and Angela Lowrey', and the book was faded. I turned off the lights and went back up to my room, carrying the book with me.

I sat down on my bed and flipped the book open, running my fingers over the pages. I was holding my mother's Bible. I hadn't been able to find anything that belonged to my mother in the house besides the necklace that she left me and a few pictures that she had obviously neglected to grab. I landed on a page in Luke,which I recognized from Sunday School.

I have never read a Bible before, but I decided that I needed to at least attempt to read.

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 15 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 16 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.