Web Novel: SET APART

Abrielle

I woke up early because Charity asked me to pick her up from her house. She wanted to stay away from Uriah until she dared to confess to him. “Charity, I’m outside your house,” I called her on the phone. When Charity got into the car, I gave her a tight hug. “Abrielle, tonight, I will tell Uriah everything. It will break his heart, but I must be honest. I have to gather myself so I can explain why I did it. I know it’s not right to respond to infidelity in this way, no matter what I say.” Charity bowed her head as she explained. I told her that I would keep praying for her and Uriah.

As Charity and I arrived at the employee parking area, we took a moment to connect with the Lord by offering our heartfelt prayers. In that sacred moment, I prayed for Charity’s well-being, asking her to find peace and contentment in her relationship with Uriah. Additionally, we prayed for Uriah, asking for his heart to find acceptance and for him to forgive Charity. We acknowledged that these matters are beyond our control and entrusted them to God, recognizing that people can only find acceptance and forgiveness for the most challenging circumstances through His grace. If it aligns with God’s will, I firmly believe He can impart deep understanding and the ability to forgive, allowing love to flourish again. Our prayers were offered with sincerity, and we have placed our trust in God’s plans for Charity and Uriah, knowing that His divine will shall prevail.

 After our prayers, we headed to the shelter for the employee bus. Once we arrived at the airport, we followed our daily routines. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Mama Selam’s daughter. “Hi, Abrielle, this is Liya, Selam’s daughter,” she introduced herself. “Oh, hi Liya! I remember you. I also have your number saved in my contacts,” I responded. “I just want to let you know…” She stopped talking, and I heard sobbing in the background. The conversation took an unexpected turn. My heart started pounding so fast, like never before. I felt my legs go numb as she continued speaking. “My mom passed away this morning, Abrielle. I want you to know that my mom loved you deeply, like her daughter. She always tells me that she appreciates and loves you with all her heart. Thank you for loving my mom, Abrielle.” Liya genuinely opened up her heart to me.

I felt myself quickly pulled away by the wall I was leaning on. A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t know what to say, so I just sobbed in anguish. Liya and I sat in complete silence on the phone. When she finally spoke, we ended the call. I prayed to God with all my heart, and He gave me a comforting message, which I also shared with Liya. John 16:20 and 22 says, “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

Jesus promised us one thing: that mourning doesn’t last forever. God assures us that there is healing in comfort and joy in peace. There is a time for every step we take, whether it’s in the season of grieving or the season of joy. Jesus is always present in every season of our lives. When He gives, no one can ever take it away from you. You can count on God; He never disappoints. There may be mourning at night, symbolizing our darkest moments, but joy in the morning represents the hope and renewal that comes with a new day.

Jeremiah

Mr. Jose Ferrer invited me to lunch at a restaurant in Downtown Seattle. This is the perfect time to enjoy downtown since fall is the ideal weather to stroll around, wear my coat and scarf, and bring my favorite cup of fall season drink. Who can relate to me? I love Seattle vibes. I have learned to love the state and the city aside from my hometown in Seaside, Florida. I have a bit of everything with these two cities I love—my warm summer days in Seaside, Florida, and my cozy autumn season in Seattle, Washington. If someday I need to leave Seattle, I’ll miss the rainy season here. There is something special in gloomy weather that gives me peace, joy, and inner contentment.

I’ve fallen in love with the people, the city, and everything Seattle offers. I’m embracing all these new experiences in my life. However, I’m struggling to decide whether to approach Mr. Jose Ferrer about his daughter’s identity or to ask Abrielle about her dad. I feel frustrated about making a move. If I choose to avoid Mr. Jose Ferrer, it means I’m not ready to face the truth. I don’t want to act cowardly, so I must gather my thoughts and decide on the best action. Is it okay to take my time? I’m still determining. I know that staying silent could lead to missed opportunities or further complications.

I raised both hands to my head, a sign of confusion. These thoughts overwhelm me, and I haven’t responded to Mr. Jose Ferrer’s text. Then, another message appeared, this time from my mom. It read, “Jeremy, call Mom asap.” I wondered why my mom was suddenly calling me like this. I had a feeling something was wrong. My heart began to race. I looked around to see if it was busy. There was no crowd. I asked my colleague to cover for me and went to a quieter spot. I called my mom.

“Hi, Mom. Is everything okay?” I asked my mom, feeling worried. “Jeremy, your dad and I want you to come back to Seaside City until we settle things back home,” she explained. I felt my heart racing, anticipating her following words. “We are going back to Korea, and I want you to come back here to take care of our business and stay at our house.” My heart skipped a beat. “But Mom…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. “I’m sorry, honey. I couldn’t find anyone else to care for our business in the meantime, so we need you. We will leave the US in three weeks and need to settle the land that we will sell to someone else,” she added. “Mom, how long will you and Dad be gone?” I asked, feeling worried. “For an indefinite period, honey,” she explained.

I told her I was currently at work and would call her back. I felt a pang in my heart. As I was starting to embrace new opportunities and possibilities here in Seattle, circumstances pulled me back. I had many plans for things I wanted to do here in Seattle, but everything has vanished. My mom’s “indefinite period” suggests that I should quit this job. I also need to consider the possibility of being friends with Abrielle. I must let go of the new adventures Mr. Jose Ferrer had planned for us. I need to let go of my friends who have become like family to me, and most importantly, I need to let go of whatever desires my heart longs for. Seattle is where I felt God touched my heart. How can I possibly convince myself to let go?