Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: She Smiles By Kay Brown 07/16/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
No one knows about the suffering. No one hears the roars of panic racing continuously through her secret mind. No one sees the fears she battles or the tears she cries. No one.
Occasionally, she flashes a weak smile, but most of the time, her face is expressionless. Her sad eyes seem to be searching for something. Or Someone.
Relentless self-doubts, terrors of the night, and all the torture chambers of her frightened imagination continue despite her simple prayers. She lives each day unsure, insecure and without hope.
Except for Him.
She hears Him speak gently, through the white-haired man who works in his garden down the street. She recognizes His soft, gentle eyes in that big, black lady at the Post Office. When Teacher smoothes her hair and holds her in a warm-as-toast hug for a long, long time, she knows it is Him again. He is there, in all of them. He said He would never leave.
He said He was coming back. He said she could be with Him forever and ever, if she wanted. She wanted.
But waiting for Him is taking a long, long time. The darkness is lonely. She does not understand the pain.
She waits. She waits and looks for Him in all the people she sees, just in case. Sometimes she sees Him. Sometimes she hears Him. Sometimes she feels Him. It is His good, strong love.
That is when she smiles.