“Faith”
The crisp wind swept brown leaves in the air as the child looked up at the bulging sable clouds and black sky. He clutched his satchel and started his journey back to his home.
He sang as the wind swept the fragile leaves past his feet and into the stiff air, scraping the dirt road. His stomach groaned from hunger. The boy licked his dry lips at the thought of the beef stew his mother used to make him. He glanced at the long road toward the forest that surrounded his home, as the nagging growls of his stomach continued.
Without hesitation, he ran to the entrance of the forest. Shadows shrouded the distance and covered the ground like a thick blanket. Moans from the swaying dry tree branches echoed into the nothingness. His heart pounded into his ears like a hundred beating tribal drums. Erie mist hugged the trees and swirled around his shaking knees. He tensed his body and trudged onto the beaten path despite his aching fear. The icy wind seeped into his bones and stung his skin. His ears sizzled from pain and snot dribbled down his nose. Wiping his nose on his coat, he continued his unpleasant circuit to his home. Clearing the first mile of walking he leaned on a rotting gnarled tree to catch his breath. He gazed at the Harvest moon hanging like an ornament in the black sky. Other than the crimson moon, the sky was as bare as his stomach. The wind leaked through the trees, brushing back his blonde lanky hair. The forest was devoid of the tiniest noise or relief. Feeling terrified of his surroundings, he pushed himself frantically from the embrace of the tree. His foot got caught by a thick root sticking out of the dusty soil.
His holler of horrible pain echoed in the vacant forest along with his ragged breath. Immediately, he clung to his searing leg with dear life. The protrusion of yellow bone stared him in the face as he breathlessly felt the warm scarlet blood dripping down his pants.
Faint anxious whispers settled into is racing thoughts. Voices hissed like a hundred tea kettles in his pounding ears. They murmured despicable things that made his eyes open wide in terror. He retched from the distressing pain, both physically and mentally. He arched his back from a large spasm and vomited in the cold dirt. All his strength left him like the blood seeping from his leg and he fell to the ground in a heap. Cold sweat dotted his shaking shoulders and palms. His blurred vision darted around the forest floor in helplessness and suddenly became pitch black.
He opened his eyes as fat tears dripped down his cheeks. The freezing air hung around his body, making him quiver frantically.
“I don‘t want to be alone”, the boy sobbed
Gagging, he lifted his shaky head over the ground. No one was there to rescue him for this horrible agony, he was alone and done for. Swelling pain in his leg made him moan, pitifully.
“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.” the boy said faintly as his eyes dimmed
He tried to squint toward the sky and saw long ivory feathers gliding from the heavens like snow. The boy looked up dumbfounded as they danced with the gracefulness of a ballerina, past autumn leaves and swirls of chilled wind. One of the pure white feathers fell in his feeble hand.
“Its as soft as a rabbits fur” mumbled the boy as he felt it weakly.
Mystified, he touched the feather to his face. The same comfort his mother gave him when she held him, settled onto his body like a ghost. He grinned faintly at the raining feathers slowly covering his body like a blanket. His eyelids slid down his sad blue eyes like a weight, as he let out a peaceful sigh. The most pleasurable music filled his ears as he drifted off into a slumber. Other worldly instruments lifted his heart as he fell into the darkness. He kept his eyes closed as this comforting music erased all traces of terrible voices from his mind. With a sudden jerk, he laughed until his lungs felt weak and sore while sweet tears ran down his face. His chest burst with a powerful strength of joy.
“Mom?” the boy said as he opened his eyes.
She stood before him in a white flowing dress. Her face was young and brazen and her skin was soft and smooth. His mother’s lips were plump and pink and her blue eyes were soft and light. Golden curls rested on her shoulders and down her long slim back. With a warm smile she arched her back, making lovely white wings sprout from her back that caressed her son’s weak body.
Tears leaked from his mystified eyes. She kissed his forehead delicately.
“Mommy.” he sobbed into her bosom” Mommy.”
She smiled sadly and clasped his wound with her fingers. The gaping bone retreated into his leg and the skin healed over the bloodied entrance. The burning pain subsided at once.
“You are never alone, my dear.” she said in a beautiful voice.
She clutched his hand in farewell and dried his tears with her slender fingers. A crack spread in the dark night sky with a thunderous sound. Warmth surrounded his limp body as the light from the gaping crack surrounded them. Delightful music and laughter floated from the clouds above, tickling his ears.
Giving him one last tender kiss, she leapt from the ground and floated into the autumn air. He watched his mother ascend gracefully into heaven until she disappeared behind the clouds and blue sky. Slowly, darkness masked the wonderful gateway to a great world. Still gazing in wonder at the blank sky, he whispered his thanks to God as tears trickled down his cheeks.
“I’m not alone.” he said happily, as he picked up his dusty satchel and continued his path home.
