"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." -Marcus Aurelius
"Thea..."
"How does he know my name?..."The powerful presence of fear struck within me once again. I close both of my ice-cold hands, I froze in place, stuck within a paradox of thoughts and pressure. I shut my eyes, the rain dripped down from the strands of my hair unto my face. My chest tightens, I could hardly breathe, imaginations of pure and utter horror came to my mind. I slowly opened my eyes once again, my vision filled with a glistening warm liquid. Tears. Never once did I notice myself crying in that situation. "Maybe this isn't so bad..." I thought to myself. I freed my hands from their tight sweaty grasp, an instinct of a long exhale passed through the trills of my nose. As the slithering drip of water fell from the depths of my chin, my mouth began to smile, a smile filled with warmness and acceptance, my eyes began to rest, not to close my eyes but to see one's world without exerting any effort. Both my booted feet swirled in the other direction as I accept the suffocating embrace of death. The sound of drizzling rainwater stopped. The deafening sound in silenced pierced in my ears, the void slowly sucking down my feet. I smiled in contempt and faced the man.
"Your book." He said. The man's voice so utterly deep it felt like he was a growling beast. He handed the purchase I've recently made. "It says here the book is owned by Thea."
My eyes began to change back to its normal state. The sound of rain continued. I didn't even notice it slip out of my grasp. "Tha- thank you." I stuttered in the overflowing mix of emotions rallying and expunging each other at the same time. I then continued to walk back home, the book resting on my palm. My heart rushed as I see my home. The warm orange lighting, the smell of freshly baked cookies, and the texture of old oak walls that built it. I hurried as I saw it, running up the porch like a child after school. I then stop for a brief moment, contemplating the choices I was about to make. I slowly opened the front door, its creaking sound echoed amongst the whole house, I knew now for sure that I was a dead man.
"Now where did that little tiny feet get ya again?!" A woman in her late 40's. Standing in five feet and ten inches. A dark-skinned beauty wearing her usual bright blue clothing whilst equipping an apron around her waist. She looked at me with fury lunging out her eyes, yet it felt like love for some sort of reason. This woman is my mother. "You better answer me, young lady!"
"At the bookstore," I said with utter confidence in my words. "The line was long so I couldn't get home early." I then walked slowly towards the kitchen, acting as if everything was perfectly normal.
"Uh-Uh Honey you ain't getting away that easily." She spouted behind my back. "Sasha said ya be letting other customers get ahead of you. What did we talk about your personality? You can't just let everyone walked over your fat butt."
I turned around, my mood swung from a happy person to one that is very gloomy. My body felt like it was dead, it felt like I wasn't in control, I loved it. "I'm sorry." I turned back and apologize.
Her raging soul transformed into a very worried face, one that is on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry as well Bunbun." She cried, enveloping me within her arms, warmness surging all over her body. She kissed me on the forehead and hunched down to be on the same level as I am. "I don't want you gone..."
"Same to you, Mom." I thought inside my head, yet remained silent.
She looks at me straight in the eyes, I know knew the words about to be said by her.
"Let's go to bed and pray."
"Let's go to bed and pray." We spouted at the same time.
She smiled with affection. We got up to our room and started. On the white blanketed bed, we held hands together and praised the Lord. A prayer for children and a prayer for peace.
"Lord, I release my children to Your care and protection, and I relinquish my will for them in favor of Your will. I know I can't go everywhere my child goes, but I know You do. Please protect them. Give us wisdom for how to parent well. Give us peace in Your goodness toward our children and your love for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
"Father God, my heart is filled with chaos and confusion. I feel as if I am drowning in my circumstances and my heart is filled with fear and confusion. I really need the strength and peace that only You can give. Right now, I choose to rest in You. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen. "
"Thea we must always praise the Lord for he is thy one who can save us all." She inspiringly quoted while looking up. "Amen!"
Though I may not be as religious as her, the thought of a divine being protecting and loving me was more than enough. The rest was a peaceful night.