Faith

Chapter Ten

A low and old voice was calling her name in an inviting manner sounding calm and kind. Her eyes twitch as the voice continued to call her name. It sounded familiar. Opening her eyes, all she could see was a fuzzy image and a large vibrating white light. The image eventually began to clear up revealing an old familiar face. It was a man completely dressed in white. He was tall and he contained a small mustache above his upper lip. His arm was outstretched, his hand inviting her to take it. Grandfather? Elise thought. She watched him smile and the scene started to fade to black.

When Elise awoke that next morning, she questioned if what she experienced last night was real or if it was only a dream. Why was Grandfather Elliot in it? She wondered. She got out of bed and checked her mother room to see that the bed was empty but well-made. Her mother left for work. Elise stood in the apartment scanning floors and watching the sun rise through the window curtains. Goosebumps appeared on her skin and her eyes became watery from the cold air. Suddenly a feeling of loneliness washed over her and her stomach churned in uneasiness. She began to feel homesick. Although her old home was full of hurtful and painful memories, she had grown attached to it. Leaving it forever just didn'tseem real; As if she lost one of her arms; feeling completely abandoned and useless. She imagined Jordan'sface in her mind, their hug and his unexpected kindness he showed the last couple of nights. She felt herself missing him terribly.

I” know,” Elise spoke to herself while pulling out her school uniform. “I will visit him after school.” While changing, a memory of their grandfather, herself and of Jordan replayed in her mind. The three of them were sitting together on the front door steps of their home one evening gazing out into the valley. Elise and Jordan were still kids and were laughing happily, smiling and telling grandfather about their times in school. Grandfather Elliot would smile and laugh along too. He was the one that united their family together as one. To laugh together and to treat each other with kindness is what he taught them. Elise smiled while straightening her uniform out. She and Jordan were extremely close to Grandfather Elliot. A few months later he died and their family fell apart.

            Elise shook away any remembrance of her grandfather out of her head and she ate some breakfast. The feelings of loneliness lingered as she took her bites but she forced herself to be happy although it wasn'treal. How could she be truly happy when her family just separated? When she stepped outside, she made her way through the parking lot. She felt strong winds whip passed and she shivered while searching the clear skies. I have to try to be happy. She thought. This is the way life is going to be from now on.

***

            Julia helped her mother clean the dishes while staring outside of the window. After they finished washing them, they began to wipe them with cloths to dry them off. Julia, feeling nervous and a sense of hope, kept glancing at her mother'sface. She finally got to the moment of what she wanted to ask her.

            “Mother,” She said. Celine looked at her with a smile. “Have you ever thought of moving to the city?” Celine looked away, her mouth now fixed in a firm line. Her hand had transitioned to wiping the bowl quickly to extremely slow circular movements across the surface. Julia'schest began to sink and her hope started to vanish away. She waited in silence for her answer.

            “No and I don'twant to,” Celine replied. Hope crashed and Julia'sheart hung heavy.

            “But why?” She asked. While finishing wiping her bowl and set it onto the counter.

            “Because we do not need to and this is our home. Besides, the city is too crowded.”   Julia's voice was caught in her throat and she grew tense. She told her herself not to let anger over take her but at this moment she felt it rising inside of her.