WEB NOVEL: SET APART

Written by Abby Caymol

Abrielle

Today is my day off, and my only plan is to take Mama Selam to her Doctor’s appointment. I am hoping that the medicine they will prescribe her will be effective. Mama Selam complains about her painful legs whenever we are at work, and I feel so sorry for her. I wish I could do something to help her every time she feels that way. I never stop praying for her. Mama Selam and I are currently waiting in the clinic lobby. Few patients are waiting, but the area is quite cold. I made sure that both of us were wearing our masks. “Are you feeling okay, Mama?” I asked her. “I am okay, but this pain in my legs is starting to give me anxiety. Something must be wrong,” she replied. “Mama, please don’t think negatively today. We are here to find out what’s going on with your legs,” I encouraged her.

The clinic lobby is dull, but a few paintings on the wall lighten up the room. Without them, the place would look dry and colorless, lacking the hope that patients waiting in the lobby need. The nurse called Mama Selam and asked me to accompany her to room number 4, where we waited for the doctor. Finally, the doctor arrived and discussed the new medication Mama Selam should try after reviewing her x-rays from a week ago. “We are hoping for the best results with this medicine,” the doctor said. We thanked her for her efforts to help Mama Selam with her leg pain.

After her appointment, we left the building and walked to the parking lot. “Are you hungry, Mama? Where do you want to eat? This time, it’s my treat,” I said to her with a smile. “You always buy us food and never let me pay for it,” I added. Mama Selam is a very generous person. When she loves someone, she never hesitates to give from her heart. That’s one of the traits I admire most about her. She wanted rice and soup, so I took her to a pho restaurant near her apartment. When we arrived, we ordered our food and began to eat.

Suddenly, Mama cried out in pain, saying, “Ouch! What happened, Mama?” I asked her, concerned. “I felt a sudden sharp pain in my left leg,” she replied. “Did you bring the mint oil I gave you for temporary pain?” I inquired. “No, I didn’t. But, honey, it no longer works anymore. It worked before, but it no longer has any effect on the unbearable pain,” she explained. I reassured her that we would leave immediately after we finished eating so she could go home and rest. She agreed, and soon after, I dropped her off at her apartment. I said goodbye to Mama and watched her walk up the stairs to her home. I waited until she was safely inside before leaving.

It was already past 1 pm, but it was too early to go home. I decided to head to the store to walk around. Once I got there, I started browsing and stumbled upon a cute sap-green sherpa jacket. I couldn’t resist and ended up buying it. Before heading home, I stopped by my favorite Bubble tea place for a drink. As I was leaving, I wondered if Jeremiah would notice we were wearing the same color if I wore the jacket the next day.

I don’t think he would notice; he doesn’t know me. But while I was driving home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mama Selam. I hope her daughter is with her because her mother needs her love and affection. I am so grateful that God brought Mama Selam into my life. She has been my mother, and I feel truly blessed. It would be wonderful if her daughter could experience the same love that her mother has for her. As I thought about this, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart. It’s pouring rain outside, and my heart feels heavy. I usually love rainy days, but it just doesn’t feel right today. So I prayed to the Lord: ‘You are merciful God, please heal Mama Selam. Please have mercy on her and make every day easy for her, Lord. It hurts me to see her suffer in pain. In Your willingness, God, I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus.’ Eventually, I arrived home and spent the rest of my days off relaxing and enjoying some peace.

Jeremiah

It was a slow Saturday at the airport, and I enjoyed the atmosphere at the checkpoint and inside the gate. Despite the rain outside, most people carried hot drinks. Since it wasn’t busy, I asked a lead if I could take my 15-minute break early. When I got my break, I went to the coffee shop. They had various drinks related to the Fall season, so I tried the hot cinnamon mocha coffee. It was delicious and worth trying. While waiting for my order, I saw a post from a girl named Abrielle. I usually see her on the bus in the morning. She made a reel about how much she loves the Autumn season and her new favorite drink, Pumpkin milkshake. In her video, she mentioned that she loves doing Bible study with someone over a cup of autumn drink. When my order was ready, I picked it up and looked for a chair to enjoy my hot cinnamon mocha coffee.

The rain outside is pouring heavily and without any sign of stopping. I watched Abrielle’s reels on social media, and although her encouragement about God has been hitting my wall, I don’t know if it’s just me or my heart is not ready. Lately, God has been around me, but I feel far from Him. As I continued watching the rain through the thick window glass inside the gate, I checked The Fruit app on my phone. I went to Abrielle’s profile to see more, but I noticed that she has another social media account in private mode. However, her stories are posted publicly, and anyone can view them. I viewed one of Abrielle’s story posts, a Bible verse that says, “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” It’s a quote from Proverbs 23:26. Abrielle will only know who viewed her stories if we’re friends.

As I read Abrielle’s story, my heart began to race. Was it a coincidence that I stumbled upon this post, or was it a sign from a higher power? I felt my thoughts and actions were being watched and listened to. Fear washed over me, and I felt goosebumps on my skin. My phone alarm went off, reminding me it was time to return to the checkpoint. My drink, a cinnamon mocha, had gone cold in my cold hands due to my nervousness. I barely drank it. As I walked back to my area, my mind was filled with so many thoughts that it felt like a storm was raging inside it. I had to read between the lines to understand what was happening, and so I did.