X Vin sat in silence, his darkness absolute. Suddenly, his name pierced the stillness. "Xavian!" He jerked upright, his heart racing. "Who's there?" he exclaimed, twisting in his chair, desperately trying to locate the speaker. But his blindness made it impossible.
The voice came again, calm and soothing. "Xavian!" X Vin's fear spiked. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.
The voice called out once more. "Xavian!" X Vin's frustration boiled over. "Just speak! Tell me who you are. I'm blind, I can't see you!" He threw up his hands, helpless and terrified.
Suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped X Vin, making him recoil. "Ahh!" he screamed, shielding his eyes with his hands. But as he did, a spark of hope ignited within him. "Am I...can I see?" he wondered, his mind racing.
A gentle voice pierced the light. "Xavian, remove your hands from your eyes." X Vin hesitated, then lowered his hands. But instead of darkness, he was met with an intense, blinding radiance.
"You are still physically blind," the voice explained, "but your spiritual eyes have been opened."
X Vin's confusion deepened. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaking. "What do you mean?"
The voice responded, its tone filled with a deep sadness. "I am the Lord, the one you have forsaken."
"I knew there was a God, but I never believed in you," X Vin said, his voice shaking.
"Today, our paths have crossed, and you will serve me," the Lord declared.
"Serve you?" X Vin repeated, his eyes widening in anguish. "You're the one who took away my family. Why would I serve you?"
The Lord's response was stern. "Your actions led to the loss of your family, Xavian. Your choices had consequences. Now, you will be my servant."
X Vin's face crumpled, tears streamed down his face as he wept uncontrollably.
Xavian fell to his knees, overcome with remorse. "Lord, I am deeply sorry. Forgive me for my transgressions against you and humanity. I recognize the gravity of my sins, and I am willing to make amends, to honor the memory of my loved ones, though I can never bring them back."
The Lord's voice was filled with compassion. "Your sins are forgiven, Xavian. From this day forward, you will bear the cross of Christ and serve as a witness for me in all nations. You will reclaim your birth name, Xavian, and embark on a new journey."
Xavian's eyes remained downcast, his voice filled with sorrow. "I am ready to serve you, Lord."
"Remember, Xavian, the path ahead will be fraught with challenges. You will face persecution for my name, and you will suffer for my sake, just as others have suffered at your hands. But I will be your comforter, your source of strength in times of need," the Lord said.
Xavian's gaze lifted, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "Lord, I am blind. How can I possibly witness for you?"
The Lord's response was reassuring. "Fear not, Xavian. I will send a servant to heal your blindness. He will guide you on your journey and instruct you on what to do."
Just as Xavian was about to respond, the radiant light began to dissipate, gradually fading into darkness. The Lord's gentle voice lingered, "Remember, I am always with you."
As the light vanished, Xavian's eyes snapped open, but he was met with an inky blackness. He couldn't see a thing.
Breathlessly, he whispered, "It was a vision... I just encountered the Lord."
Xavian slowly touched his cheek, feeling the wetness of his tears. In that instant, he knew that the vision was more than just a product of his imagination. He had truly encountered the Lord, and the experience had left an indelible mark on his soul.
The sound of the door opening broke the silence. "Who's there?" Xavian asked, his ears perked up.
Footsteps echoed through the room, growing louder as they approached. "Hello, Xavian. I'm Nurse Rose. I've come to tidy up and take care of you," a warm, feminine voice replied.
Xavian's expression softened with gratitude. "Thank you so much."
Nurse Rose continued, "I have someone with me. We met at the door. Sir, would you like to introduce yourself?"
A low, gentle voice spoke up, "Xavian, the Lord has sent me to you. I'm here to heal your blindness."
Xavian's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice, but he hesitated to jump to conclusions.
"It's true, then... the vision," Xavian whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
He took a deep breath and composed himself. "Thank you for coming."
Nurse Rose bustled off, saying, "Let me tidy up and see what I can whip up with the groceries I brought."
Xavian called out his thanks once more. The sound of a chair scraping against the floor filled the air, and then he sensed someone sitting in front of him.
"I know you had a divine encounter with the Lord," the man began. "I'd like you to repeat after me, a prayer of surrender and commitment."
Xavian nodded, his heart open. The man's voice guided him:
"Lord, I thank you for forgiving me. I believe in you, and I acknowledge that Jesus died to save us. From this day forward, I vow to serve you with all my heart, soul, might, and strength. I will take up your cross and follow you until my dying breath, and nothing will come between us. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me your son. Amen."
Xavian repeated the words, his voice filled with conviction. As he finished, the man spoke again:
"Welcome, brother, to the body of Christ."
Xavian nodded, a sense of peace and belonging washing over him.
The man held up two fingers in front of Xavian. "How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked.
Xavian shook his head. "I'm blind. I couldn't see."
The man gently placed his hands over Xavian's eyes. He began to speak in a low, mysterious tone, uttering words that Xavian couldn't understand. The strange language flowed from the man's lips for nearly two minutes.
Finally, the man removed his hands. "Blink," he instructed.
Xavian obeyed, and as he did, he felt a strange sensation, like scales falling from his eyes. He blinked again, and suddenly, his surroundings began to take shape.
At first, he saw only blurry lights and colors. But as his eyes adjusted, the man's features began to emerge. Xavian's vision slowly cleared, and he raised a hand to shield his eyes from the brightness.
After a few moments, he lowered his hand, and his gaze locked onto the man sitting in front of him. Xavian's eyes widened in shock.
"Reynoil Miller," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of emotions.