Echoes Of The Abyss

HAKODESH S

Child... and th

on, a relentless drumbeat against the dimly lit room. The air smelled of antiseptic and sweat, the tension thick enough to choke on. The atmosphe

hing as another wave of pain tore through her. The contractions had been relentless, more violent than anything she ha

es were fixed on her, measuring her every move, but even he couldn't hide the glimmer of unease flickering behind his pr

, one who could fix things with determination and effort. But here, now, as his wife struggled to bring their child into the w

face contorted with pain and something else-fear. "John..

though his own voice wavered, betraying the panic clawing at

g was a monumental effort. "He-he is different," she whispe

ers down the spines of everyone in the room. The beeping of the machines spiked into chaos. The lights fli

de. "Doctor, she's losing too much blood!" she cr

s ears. "Stay with me!" he shouted, but his voice fel

an time allowed. John had never been a religious man-not like Joanna. But in that moment, he felt it. Something was in the room. The shadows stretched unnaturally

h

uman should be able to make, and yet it vibrated th

nimals here. No one else in the room w

d in anticipation, the cry of a newborn pi

to hush. The machines calmed. The light stopped fli

bling hands, lifted the baby gently

opened her eyes slowly. Her gaze se

on holy ground. His heart pounded in his chest. Sweat clung to his

aced the baby

mething moved in his spirit. Tears welled in his eyes, and his voice trembled a

e whispered, "sh

d of the name, a calm smile spread across her face. "God has given

ht above them flickered-not with darkness, b

wasn't just the beginning of life-it was the beginning of a ba

y... and an U

e air smelled faintly of disinfectant-leftover from the late-night cleaning spree Joanna insisted on before they broug

on the edge of the couch, rocking gently in place as she cradled her newborn son. His skin was soft, his breath

smile playing on her lips. "You're

e atmosphere around them sometimes felt charged, like the calm before a storm. But each time he looked into his son's face, all of that melt

forehead. "You're doing great," he said, br

made it, John," she whispered

ncertainty passed through his eyes

oke the moment. It was s

That must be Miriam," she said, and handed the ch

ncing in place with excitement. "Where is he?" Miriam excla

o her with practiced care. "Be gent

to carry a baby, John. I held you

tension in his shoulders ease

few friends, cousins, and the pastor from Joanna's church. The pastor led a short prayer

the scent of jollof rice and fried meat wafting from the kitchen, John ro

oom q

," he began, "something in me changed. I don't know how to explain it. But when I looked

e will be Nathaniel," he said. "Because

val, nods of agreement, and

everyone

ntered, grinning wide. He held up a bottle of wine. "We celebrating or what?" he announced, his vo

and struggle, sat quietly in the corner. His eyes were narrowed, focused on the baby

er to him with the baby. "Papa," she sai

feet. He touched the baby's forehead gently, almos

him," he said quietly. "Som

d. "What do

t mark my words-this child will walk a road few have walke

the evening dulled just slightly, li

to sleep, John found himself once more standing by the window. The moon hung high in t

huffle of footsteps

she said, wrapping her

r dad said. About what I saw in that hospital room. The way the lights

"But Nathaniel is ours. And he's God's. We'll pray. We'll raise

, though his eyes

ut what he felt. But deep down, something told him-this wasn't an or

e house was qu

trees outside, the shadows along the wall seemed to mov

fingers twitching, his brows furrowed, as

Days of

rstood. Sleepless nights became routine. Joanna would often wake up in the middle of the night with

There were moments he would lock eyes with Joanna or John with a depth that didn't make sense for a child who hadn'

one out to buy some groceries, and Nathaniel was ly

The sunlight fell across his face, making his skin glow softly. She humm

nd turned his head sharply toward th

?" she cal

e window. His lips moved slightly, as if whispering-though he couldn't y

and rushed over. "What is it, baby?" s

more seconds before finally turning to look at her-eyes calm again. Th

on the incident to John. But

irst

ing when Nathaniel lau

aching, but he still had the energy to sweep his son into his arms and make sil

r like an airplane, pretending t

said with a dramatic voice. "Flying straight

lifted him back up again, a sudden g

arents

at Joanna. "

over, hands over her mouth,

t another delighted giggle, kicking his t

s welled w

so full of light, it bro

get that sound,

dded. "Me

noint

unusual happened that no one in

or her deep prayer life and prophetic dreams. When she arrived and saw Nathaniel

remained silent, whispering

said, "This o

eat, uncomfortable. "

carries something heavy. Something ancient. There are battles ah

mall bottle of anointing oil. "Anoint his h

d take that small bottle, dab oil on Nathaniel's forehead, and whisper prayers over him. Some nights

y He F

started with a fever-mild at first, but

d over from work. The doctor examined him, frowned,

ing, not vomiting, not even crying much. But this fever is h

ed his fist

hours like clockwork... and then fades again.

to him, pray over him. Around 3 AM, while Joanna dozed off

eathing had sl

whispered. "Don't take him. Take me if you ha

the air grew c

cker-Nathaniel

at John. No tears.

like that...

y were stunned. The baby's temperature was

no expl

. Someone had h

nd the Un

night, as Joanna rocked him to sleep during a thunderstorm, he suddenly stopped crying and stared toward the corner of the room. She

hen it happened again the next night. And the next. Each time, the same calm would come over h

aginary friend" had a name. Nathan

friends, and Nathaniel was a quiet, introspective boy who observed more than h

ne afternoon as she folded clothes. "His eyes shine

of socks in her hand.

eart is a lamp. And I must keep it c

ands froze

o Nathaniel, didn't play with him like a normal child. He came during moments of silence-when Nathaniel was afraid, or lon

birthday, Joanna caught him kne

pered. "Who are

outside. He said I should pray for Daddy

est. Nathaniel turned around and gave a tired smile.

e drew. One drawing showed their family surrounded by light, with one side of the pic

ust a

till ran around the house like other children, but he'd pause suddenly, as if listening to s

, Nathaniel walked in and said quietly, "God

. "What do

. "The man in the movie. He's saying 'I

knelt down. "Nathaniel

aid it smells different when it's fake. Love has

out of fear-but awe. Her son had a gift,

ckyard

ugh the trees and how the world slowed down when you stopped talking. One afternoon, after a sudden

ed gently, "what

oment. Then he turned,

arn to hear God even

over and pi

nt you catc

red, "Something is coming, Mummy. A hard thi

pped mi

ind of

stly. "But Uriel said to pray ev

e Moment

distant. Curious, but quiet. While the others played noisily durin

asked each child to pray aloud. When it came to N

is not forgotten. The baby she lost is with you, and the guilt she carries

ell over

morning, wearing a green dress. She gasped. Her

woman found Joanna n

s he ever bee

rowned.

Not even my pastor. I had a miscarriage three years ago. I

frozen, her h

as only th

ft of

s birth, the family welcom

companied Nathaniel's birth,she came into the world under a sky painted in soft bl

"She carries the light,I'll call her Jessica'' he had whisp

e to each other in ways their parents couldn't always understand-through glances, small sounds, or simple touches. Where Nathaniel was quiet

sitting beside Jessica's crib, humming softly, eyes distant, as if watching some

o walk, Joanna overheard Nathaniel whisper so

r softly. "When I go through

s. Nathaniel couldn't have understood the weight of

nner

ssions, and what he called "whispers." His notebook was filled with small

even when no one is inside. That'

od out more t

he tree will not fall. Because

mbered that

John-her husband-began to cough.

of th

ose quiet moments when the world seemed to pause, and the veil between heaven and earth grew thin. He could be walking home from school

he would

. Now, the presence stood taller-more defined, more urgent. But it wasn't Uriel anymore. Uriel had not

e was A

as if heaven had sent a soldier instead of a guide. His robe was darker-lin

e gates," Azekiel told

hurch steps after choir practice. The evening sun was

aid. "What you do in the coming days will echo i

blinked. "

s scream. Sometimes, it waits-patient, intelligent. You are now see

gaze to the concrete u

ngs," Azekiel said. "And not

thaniel wrote

wounds, through lies, through the hunger for power. I can f

ight o

s friends would joke, play, chase girls. Nathaniel listened more than he spoke. He would sta

was hiding sin. One teacher once confronted him angrily

mbarrass me?" she hi

"I didn't mean to. But there w

l to find out a week later that she

rowing. But so

urgent, others seductive and twisted. The battle had changed form. I

per in t

haniel knelt to pray. The room was silent

Sometimes I wish I didn't see so

ght, but in weight. Azekiel appeared,

soon, you will be offered shortcuts. They

ose wrong?" Na

rd. "Then you will stil

retched be

t have to b

e," Azekiel replied. "And heaven doe

l of th

om dark waters. Sudden temptations-fame, pleasure, shortcuts. Friends w

, even helpful. But slowly, Nathaniel began to change around him. He skipped his nightly pr

Uriel was nowhere to be found. Azekiel stood far of

is another path-easier, faster. You're special,

e up s

realized... he couldn't

ng L

followed, the si

, a flicker of light, a sign that Azekiel was still near. But the hea

el to parties-just once, he'd said. "You don't

But the music was intoxicating, the smiles too inviting, and

kissed a girl

r for the first time, telling her h

was

dream was

dripping black oil. At the altar, a mirror waited-framed in thorns.

a man cloa

hispered, "Heaven is

rned-but no

ence of fear lingered

w, like echoes bouncing off stone walls. His jo

had foun

sc

ired, or busy with exams. But deep down, he

r felt like a weight

noticed t

ou used to," she said o

eplied, forcing a weak

was eve

ed, he heard it again-a so

ing, Nathaniel. Come with me. I'll show

o longer ca

g to him while

s, pressing his p

" he whispered.

n remaine

al

when he felt it-the

swept through, and he felt something brush against his shoulder. He tur

, like a memory diss

choice," the angel

iel replied, tears stinging his ey

me-almost mournful. "We didn't l

"I'm tired of carrying all thi

this isn't the end. When the silence grows u

e angel

athaniel fell to his knees-crying,