After the Rain : A heartbreaking and gripping emotional page-turner by Laila Ibrahim

Author:Laila Ibrahim [Ibrahim, Laila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2004

Josh

Josh woke to the smell of Nana’s pancakes. Mom only made them on special occasions: birthdays, Christmas, Easter. He rolled over in bed. Apparently going to be cured made the cut. Nervous and touched, his heart rode his ribs like a roller coaster. He’d been praying to be healed for so long that he wasn’t as hopeful as Mom, but he kept his doubts to himself. Maybe his parents’ faith would carry him.

They didn’t talk about the camp while they ate, but all five of them were at the table. That didn’t happen on Saturday mornings—another sign of how important this day was for their family. They were all counting on Josh to get better.

After breakfast Sara followed him upstairs when he went to get his bag. She closed the door to his room behind her.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He shrugged.

“I’m a little scared for you, but excited, too. If it works, you’ll be happier, right?” She stared at him. “You want it to work, for you, yeah? Not just for Mom and Dad?”

He nodded. “More than anything.”

“Well, then I want it for you, too.”

Josh teared up.

“Joshy, you know that no matter what, I love you?”

He nodded.

“I have met some good people who are gay and proud of it.”

Josh looked at her, and nodded, hoping she would go on.

She said, “Listen for God in your own heart, more than anyone else. Okay?”

“You don’t think I can be cured?” he asked.

“I didn’t say that,” Sara said. “I’m just saying, God’s will might be more complicated than Mom and Dad think it is.”

“Ready?” Mom called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Coming,” Josh yelled down.

Sara gave him a big hug. She felt solid and warm, and he let himself relax into it for a moment. When they separated she pretended to spray him.

“Just in case,” she said. “To keep the monsters away.”

Josh laughed. Maybe the spray would work on his insides.

Rachel, Mom, and Dad were in the entryway when he came downstairs. The family formed a circle around him. Mom and Dad prayed for his full recovery through the love of Christ, and Sara and Rachel asked that Josh know the love of Christ. He prayed for both.

Alone in the back seat, Josh stared out the window as they traveled east on the 580. His right leg kept shaking—and his left joined in every once in a while. He didn’t try to stop them. Soon he’d be surrounded by strangers and have to hide his nerves.

The cinder-block church looked like a Home Depot or Costco. The parking lot was already filled with cars and SUVs. He didn’t realize that so many people would be here. Guess he wasn’t alone in this struggle.

“You ready, Josh?” Dad asked after he pulled into a spot.

“I am!” Josh pumped his fist like he was getting amped for a game—putting it on, hoping it would turn his nerves into excitement.

A woman with long brown hair greeted them with a wide smile as they walked into the building.

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