Beyond the Altar

eaned my head back, closed my eyes, pretending to be overcome, exhaust

g at me in the rearview mirror. He looked ner

doze off, his grip

most a whisper, clearly

Those guys... you shouldn't have

but I kept my breathin

for Miss Thorne. It ain't right. Even before... with her father, all those... 'problems' he

in that too? The vague whispers of financial irregularities at the church, the stre

yes still closed. "Shu

cold, locking onto Kev's in th

to anyone, especially her, and you'll

v whispered, his fac

just a victim anymore. I had to get out. I had to do something. The first person I thought

. As soon as he left for work, I wrote the letter to Aunt Carol. I poured out everything – the overheard conversation

er, Michael ca

ance Construction is a major sponsor, you know. You s

I remembered him telling me to stay home. This was

den with food, a local band played too loudly. Michael, ever the

Outreach. She looked radiant, confident. She began a speech about "community values," about "sup

nd the need for vigilance against those who would harm our community's fabric, I want to share something. Mich

me. In the church. The raw, brutal footage of my assault. An explicit segment, ch

iolated all over again.

ho

her, no

a plastic cup. A woman lunged at

How could this happen? Who would do this?" She put an arm around me, "p

oncern. "Sarah! My God! What's going on?" He pulled me into his embrace, shielding me,