"What happened, child?" Mother Aveline asked, her hands hovering protectively over Elara's injured body.
Elara couldn't find her voice. All she could do was cry, shaking her head. The warmth of Mother Aveline's presence made the tears flow harder.
"Come inside," the priestess next to Mother Aveline said softly, guiding Elara up. "The light shall comfort you."
As they entered the temple, the warmth of the sacred space enveloped Elara. She found herself seated at a small bench near an altar, where a golden statue of the Divine Lord stood, its arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture.
The light from the setting sun filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting hues of red, blue and gold across the temple floor. Mother Aveline knelt before Elara and gently held her hands, her voice was soothing.
"The world is often unkind, my dear," she whispered. "But here, you are loved. The Light of the Divine Order will never abandon you."
Elara nodded weakly, sniffling as her breathing steadied. The pain in her body was fading, but the emotional wound, the loneliness and rejection she felt, lingered deep within her heart.
"Why does everyone hate me?" Elara's voice was soft, her words fragile, as if afraid they might shatter if spoken too loud. "What have I done wrong?"
Aveline's eyes softened further, and she smiled kindly. "You've done nothing wrong, Elara. Those who are consumed by jealousy often lash out at the brightest light, fearing they will be left in the shadows."
"Then why do I feel so…. Alone?" Elara's voice wavered, her eyes filled with yearning for something she could not fully understand. "I don't want to be alone anymore."
Aveline stood up, motioning toward the statue. "You are not alone, Elara. The Divine sees your heart. In time, you will find your place, as we all do. Trust in the Light."
The words soothed her slightly, but deep down, Elara felt a growing doubt. She wanted to believe that everything would change, that the world outside the temple would no longer hurt her. But how long could she hide here, away from the cruelty that awaited her beyond these sacred walls?
~~~
The light of the temple, though warm and inviting, began to feel cold in the depths of her heart.
As the evening prayers began, Elara knelt alongside the worshippers, eyes closed, whispering a silent prayer to the Divine Lord. In her mind, she prayed not just for herself, but for a life where she wouldn't have to endure the hatred of others.
She prayed for strength, for purpose, for something to fill the emptiness within her. But as her tears fell silently onto the temple floor, another thought crept into her heart– one she hadn't yet voiced out.
If the Light could not protect her from this suffering, what else could?