SHADOW BENEATH THE SANCTUARY

h like a spirit of efficiency: quiet, committed, and always behind a camera. Her world revolved around cables, countdowns, and capturin

Victor-Vicko, as the faithful dared to c

their knees or send a lover of God into fits of holy laughter. With eyes that seemed to pierce marrow, he made obedience feel li

eling. In the chaos, the church offered structure. Boundaries. The kind of clean, ordered

ching, and sang like she was negotiating mercy on behalf of the congregation. Where Betel was reserved, Jenny blazed. They we

larly "delivered" today, and swapped lip gloss between service transitions. They knew

l Le

broad-shouldered, with the calm, calculated manner of someone who never had to explain himself twice. A crisp w

nance department. But whispers moved faster than introductions. Some said he wa

't care. N

old friend. How he spoke in low tones to Pastor Emeka and made the older man laugh. That

ictures," Jenny whispered after their s

aughed.

ore. He lingered. Sat beside them after choir rehearsals. Helped Betel troubleshoot HD

as there-everywhere. Wit

id, eyes warm, voice soft. "It's refreshing. Most peop

one. But it curled itself ar

e prayed-low, deliberate, like he was having a conversation rather than staging a spectacle. The way h

something

erent tension seeped into their frien

d one Friday night as they walked home to

sed. "He

not what

know. He's kind. Helpful

hen, "Sometimes kind people have

argue. But Jen

Wanting his opinion on her camera angles. She hated the flutter it brought. It felt lik

n came

the stage, thunderous and anointed, and declared a fast for the unmarried. "A holy pruning,

he room, landing-for ju

st tighten. Did Vi

n. Jenny had already gone to choir prep, and it

lace would be without the pe

up. "What d

"What if we served God without the th

was dangerous talk. Words that

ctor knows what he's do

elieve that? Or is that just w

tween them cra

p. Jenny's voice echoed in her

onard had come into their lives by chance-or