When the Angel Sings Again

through the silent sanctuary. "Pastor Hughes, you ar

nt. "Gabrielle Johns, you have brought shame upon this house o

ed acceptance. He did nothing. He said not

e patriarch declared. "You will be confined to the old north wing for a perio

anctuary. The congregation stared, some with pity, most with scorn. They were leading

Maria appeared, blocking our path. S

clear for all to hear. "I need her

storm of fury and grief, could take no more. She lung

y, one of them grabbed Debra and threw her. She tumbled backward, her head hitting the edge of th

hrough the crowd. But no

ed. Debra. My on

er face impassive. She shoved the divorce

wn my face, mixing with the dust on the floor. I looked at Debra's

he skin. I dipped my finger in my own blood and signed my name on the line.

a. There was nothing left. No ho

stunned faces, past the altar, toward the bell tower. I climbed the w

at my hair. Below, the courtyard looked so small, so far away. I heard a f

. I closed my e