The Waiting Game

upposed to

sted him. E

g words together about grace, holiness, and honor. How the whole congregation clapped when he

n, she b

prayers before bed. She was the girl who stayed behind after youth meetings to help pack c

ore the shad

h compliments-subt

into such a beau

rit... it

hand on you,

slip of the tongue. She had laughed nervously and looked aw

the same faith she'd always held onto. After all,

ng her

n like a father. S

compliments b

after service turne

eath hitched in fear

teen the first t

ned like acid

hter echoing down the hallway. He'd asked her to help him move some things in th

sed th

rything

recognized. It didn't belong in the house

ice had curled into the walls like a

had whispered.

it was between them and God. That he was te

n crawling, her faith bleeding out some

ur. Her mother knocked twi

had

y good at lyi

*

or. The music pulsed from outside, bass vibrating through the walls. Her makeup was perfect,

ls clicking. "You're

d a smirk

stomach

the memories wer

utted out. The door shut behind her like pu

to the mirror. "You're not that girl anymore," she mut

he

lashed or how much attention she got. Somewhere deep down, she still felt

her wild, broken, a los

lt lik

*

buse for her to leave the church.

believed h

erything he built his faith on would collapse. He had stared at her, mo

had whispered. "Ma

he'd said flatly. "You were

had been the last nail

't praye

*

buzzed. A message fro

're okay. Salmon's in town

scof

rfect white teeth and a perfect life. The boy who used to tease her with scrip

e was

e want-her

er heels clicked across the floor as she made he

*

died her like medicine. Applause rose as she moved. She

deep

iolin pretending t

her. Hands clapping. Mo

anted. That she was in control. That she didn't care. That

e knew

llowed every night once the light

t silence, his

n, May. Obedi

e a ghost, twisting every

*

ent, May sat on the edge of her

t cried i

e-but because she didn't know if

lves wear collars and ca

the good ones suffer

her fists. He

en up askin

simply