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| Predicament |
When an unexpected predicament leaves Asia convinced she's ruined her future, she begins to wonder if God could ever forgive her. But sometimes the answer to our deepest question is already on its way. Scroll down and let the story speak to your heart.
None were ignored.
Raguel gathered each one with the same care a shepherd gathers his flock.
A single parchment floated before him.
He reached for it.
Blank.
The attending angel frowned.
"There are no words."
Raguel studied it for a long moment. "There doesn't have to be."
The angel looked again.
"I don't understand."
Raguel's eyes remained fixed upon the empty page.
"This one was written with tears."
Silence settled over the Chamber.
Finally, Raguel smiled with quiet compassion.
"She's asking if God still loves her."
The attending angel whispered, "Did she pray?"
"Not with her lips."
Raguel gently closed his hand around the parchment.
"But every broken heart eventually asks the same question."
He turned toward the messenger waiting in the Light.
"Go."
The messenger bowed.
"What is my assignment?"
Raguel placed the blank parchment into the angel's hands.
"Answer her."
As the messenger departed, Raguel looked once more toward the earth.
"No child who asks that question," he said softly, "should ever believe Heaven is silent."
——— ✦ ———
Asia sat on the low brick wall outside Jefferson High, her backpack resting beside her. Students streamed past them toward the parking lot, laughing, shouting, making weekend plans.
She barely noticed.
Her best friend, Amara, studied her face.
"You've been quiet all week."
"I'm just tired."
"Asia."
Asia looked away.
"What?"
"You only call me 'what' when something's wrong."
A long silence settled between them.
Finally, Asia whispered, "I'm late."
Amara frowned.
"Late... as in?"
Asia nodded.
"My period."
"For how long?"
"Almost six weeks."
The color drained from Amara's face.
"Did you... take a test?"
Asia shook her head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because if I don't take it..." Her voice cracked. "Maybe it isn't real."
Amara reached for her hand.
"Amara..."
"I really thought he loved me."
The words came out barely above a whisper.
Amara squeezed her hand tighter.
"Have you talked to Roman?"
Asia let out a hollow laugh.
"You mean Roe?"
"Yeah."
"He won't answer my texts."
"He blocked me."
"He... what?"
Amara nodded slowly.
"Instagram."
Another nod.
"Snapchat."
She swallowed.
"My phone."
Amara stared at her in disbelief.
"He ghosted you?"
Asia's eyes filled with tears.
“He told his friends."
Amara looked confused.
"And?"
"Now they're whispering every time I walk down the hall."
The final bell echoed across campus.
Neither girl moved.
"What are you going to do?" Amara asked softly.
Asia looked down at her trembling hands.
"I don't know."
It was the first completely honest thing she'd said all week.
——— ✦ ———
Asia watched Amara disappear into the sea of students heading toward the main building.
She should have followed.
Instead, she tightened the straps on her backpack and turned in the opposite direction.
The late bell rang behind her.
For the first time in her life, Asia Williams skipped class.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she couldn't bear the thought of walking into a room where everyone already seemed to know her secret.
She wandered toward the far end of campus until she found the old oak tree behind the football field. It had become a quiet place for students who wanted to study or simply be alone.
Today, it belonged to her.
She sat on the damp grass, pulled her knees to her chest, and buried her face in her arms.
How had everything changed so quickly?
Just two months ago she was worrying about college applications, scholarships, and graduation.
Now...
She couldn't even think beyond tomorrow.
Her phone buzzed.
She didn't have to look.
She already knew it wasn't Ro.
He had blocked her days ago.
Another vibration.
This time she glanced at the screen.
Mom
"Love you. Dad's making spaghetti tonight. Don't be late. ❤️"
Asia stared at the message until the words blurred through her tears.
Dad's making spaghetti.
The thought broke something inside her.
Her parents had no idea.
No idea that their daughter—the one who always came home before curfew, who made honor roll every semester, who bowed her head before dinner without being asked—was sitting alone behind the football field wondering how to tell them she was pregnant.
"I knew better," she whispered.
She remembered every conversation.
Her mother's gentle warnings.
Her father's quiet trust.
They had raised her to respect herself... to wait... to make wise choices.
So why hadn't she?
Because Ro had smiled at her.
Because the most popular boy in school had noticed the quiet girl no one ever looked at twice.
Because when he told her she was beautiful...
She believed him.
"I was so stupid."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
A cool breeze stirred the leaves above her.
She rested her forehead against her knees.
"I don't know what to do."
It wasn't really a prayer.
It was simply the truth.
——— ✦ ———
Asia wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Mom always said God forgives.
Sunday school teachers said His grace was greater than any sin.
She had believed that.
Until now.
She stared at the ground.
"Does that still include me?"
The words barely escaped her lips.
"Do You still love me?"
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Could You ever forgive me?"
Silence.
Only the wind answered.
Asia lowered her head.
Maybe she already knew the answer.
Or maybe she was simply too ashamed to believe it.
——— ✦ ———
Dinner felt strangely normal.
The smell of Dad's spaghetti filled the kitchen long before Asia reached the table.
"There she is," her father said, smiling. "I was beginning to think I'd have to eat your share."
She forced a smile.
"I'm here."
Her mother studied her for a moment.
"You look tired, sweetheart."
"Long day."
Her mother nodded without pressing the issue.
"Well, eat something. You've hardly touched your food lately."
Asia twirled the spaghetti around her fork.
One bite.
Two.
She couldn't swallow another.
Her father chatted about work.
Her mother mentioned church on Sunday.
The television murmured softly in the family room.
Everything was exactly the way it had always been.
Except her.
Every laugh felt borrowed.
Every smile felt dishonest.
She wondered how long she could pretend nothing had changed.
"Everything okay?" her father asked.
Asia looked up too quickly.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"I'm just tired."
He smiled.
"Get some sleep. Things always look better in the morning."
If only he knew.
Asia excused herself and carried her untouched plate to the sink before anyone noticed the tears forming in her eyes.
——— ✦ ———
Asia closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned against it.
The smile she had worn through dinner disappeared.
She kicked off her shoes, dropped her backpack beside the bed, and collapsed onto the comforter.
For a long moment she simply stared at the ceiling.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Her mother opened the door just enough to peek inside.
"You sure you're okay, sweetheart?"
Asia forced another smile.
"I'm okay."
Her mother walked over and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Get some sleep."
"I will."
"I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."
After the door closed, Asia buried her face in her pillow.
Her phone vibrated.
Amara Calling
She almost ignored it.
Instead, she answered.
"Hey."
"I've been worried about you ever since school."
"I’m fine."
"No, you're not."
Asia didn't argue.
"I'm coming over."
"No."
"Asia..."
"No. If my parents see you, they'll know something's wrong."
A long silence filled the call.
"You need to tell them."
Asia closed her eyes.
"I know."
"You can't carry this by yourself."
"I have to."
"No, you don't."
"My dad looked at me tonight and told me how proud he was."
Her voice broke.
"I couldn't..."
"I just couldn't."
Amara waited.
"You know what scares me the most?" Asia whispered.
"What?"
"What if God doesn't forgive me?"
Amara answered softly.
"Asia... God hasn't stopped loving you."
"I want to believe that."
"You can.”
Asia looked toward the ceiling.
"I hope so."
When the call ended, the room felt even quieter than before.
She switched off the bedside lamp.
Sleep, however, refused to come.
——— ✦ ———
The next morning came too quickly.
Asia had barely slept.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
She looked older.
More tired.
More frightened.
Her mother noticed immediately.
"You don't look well, sweetheart."
"I didn't get much sleep.”
Her father grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter.
"Long week."
He smiled.
"It'll be Friday before you know it."
Asia managed a smile she didn't feel.
The drive to Jefferson High seemed longer than usual.
Every mile brought her closer to the place she dreaded most.
Students crowded the sidewalks.
Lockers slammed.
Laughter echoed through the hallways.
Everything looked normal.
Everything except the knot growing tighter in her stomach.
Amara spotted her almost immediately.
"You okay?"
Asia nodded.
"I will be."
But even as she said the words, the hallway seemed to sway.
She reached for the lockers to steady herself.
"You don't look good," Amara said.
"I..."
Asia stopped.
The voices around her became muffled.
Her vision blurred.
The fluorescent lights above her stretched into long white streaks.
"Asia?"
Amara grabbed her arm.
"Asia!"
The hallway tilted.
Then everything went black.
🔙 Continue to Part 2.
Asia's world has just gone dark. When she opens her eyes, she'll discover she's not as alone as she thought.
Note: The story above is a work of fiction created for inspirational purposes. Any resemblance to actual individuals or events is purely coincidental.
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