Verse at the End
From the day of his birth and throughout his childhood, Riley had always been an introvert. He preferred solitude, avoided the outdoors, and spoke only when necessary. He had a personal tutor instead of attending school, and as a result, he never made any friends. Even now, at sixteen, not much had changed. The only things that truly brought him joy were his parents and the words of God.
Riley's love for solitude wasn't something that happened overnight. As a child, he had tried to make friends, but every attempt had only left him feeling more isolated. His quiet nature made it difficult for him to fit in, and he often found himself on the sidelines of playground games and classroom discussions.
One incident, in particular, had solidified his preference for being alone. When he was ten, he had mustered the courage to approach a group of boys playing soccer. He had always admired the sport from afar and thought, for once, he might join in. But as he nervously asked if he could play, one of the boys sneered, "You? You don't even talk! Go read a book or something."
The laughter that followed rang in his ears for days. That moment, that rejection, made him realize that maybe he wasn't meant to fit in with others. Maybe he was better off alone.
From then on, he found solace in his books, his Bible, and the quiet comfort of his own thoughts. He didn't have to worry about being judged or left out. Solitude became his safe place, where he could be himself without fear of ridicule.
Even now, years later, the idea of stepping into unfamiliar social situations made his stomach churn. Making friends and sharing the Gospel were noble goals, but Riley wasn't sure he was ready to face the world again.
But when he told his parents he wanted to step out of his comfort zone—to make friends and share the Gospel—he never expected them to take it so literally. He certainly didn't mean traveling alone to another country! Yet here he was, on a plane bound for America, with a ticket that had conveniently already been purchased for him.
Now, mid-flight, he regretted everything.
"How can a sixteen-year-old introverted and shy boy like me make friends and spread the Gospel?" he thought, staring out the window. "Okay, maybe making friends isn't totally impossible... but spreading the Gospel? That seems impossible."
Doubt crept in, but then he reminded himself of a verse he had always held close to his heart:
'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' —Philippians 4:13
With that thought, exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted off to sleep as the plane carried him toward an unfamiliar future.
By the time the plane landed, Riley's nerves had only worsened. He stepped off into the bustling airport, feeling small in the sea of travelers. He barely had time to take in his surroundings before a tall man in his thirties approached him.
"You must be Riley," the man greeted him with a friendly grin. "I'm Carl. Your dad's friend."
Riley blinked. His parents hadn't mentioned this part. At least he wouldn't be entirely alone.
The drive to his new home was quiet. Riley spent most of it staring out the window, absorbing the foreign scenery. When they arrived, he hesitated before stepping inside the apartment. It was small but cozy—a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom, and a single bedroom just for him.
He didn't bother unpacking. Instead, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into another deep sleep.
At 3 a.m., Riley woke up. Jet lag or not, this was a familiar routine. He reached for his Bible, flipping to Matthew. This was his sixth time reading through it, yet the words always felt new. After finishing the first chapter, he put on his favorite worship song, "One Name" by Naomi Raine, letting the melody calm his nerves.
Once he had eaten breakfast and prepared himself for the day, a sudden knock at the door made him freeze.
"Who could that be?" he wondered, heart pounding as he approached the door.
When he opened it, Carl stood there, his towering six-foot frame nearly filling the doorway. Riley, standing at barely 4'10", had to tilt his head up just to meet his eyes.
"Morning, kid," Carl greeted cheerfully. "Time to visit your new home."
The word "visit" sent a shiver down Riley's spine. He knew what it meant: going outside.
And that was the last thing he wanted to do.