To those who have dared to accuse me of not practicing what I preach, my faith reaches out through every single book I write. The proof is in the pudding:

…
“Where are you going?” Rex demanded, following me. I walked to the waterfall, transfixed by it. It was calling to me. Its unearthly beauty was like a siren’s call, urging me to touch it. I did and drew my hand back, wondering how my hand could feel like it was being submerged in ice and fire at the same time. I touched it again and the water-like substance came down over my arm, seeming to glow only brighter. It was beautiful, moving in waves over my skin. But when I realized that it was moving up my arm all of its own volition and heading toward my shoulder, I pulled back. That didn’t stop it, though. I tried to pull it off with my other hand, but more of it pooled onto that hand and moved up that arm. I tore at it, starting to feel panicked, but quickly gave up all hope as it spread all over my whole body, centering over my heart.

I cried out as the waterfall suddenly reached out and enveloped me, seeming to start from where the waters pooled over my heart. I screwed my eyes up, thinking I was going to drown, but the loss of feeling never came. Opening my eyes, I was blinded by light again. But this time it seemed to come from within me. Though I could hear no words, strident murmurings met my ears. Or was it my ears? I seemed to be hearing nothing at all, yet I could perceive the sound of voices; hundreds of them that all seemed to belong to the same source. A warm feeling of love came with them as I tried to understand exactly what was happening. Could this be the place of healing Shitheed spoke of?

“Who are you?”I asked, still able to speak through the light and water. The whispering still continued, but no answer came to me.

“There’s no one here,” Rex said, starting to sound frightened. “What’s the matter with you, Shira?!”

But I couldn’t listen as a strong wave of energy washed over my soul, taking me over. Memories that didn’t seem to belong to me crashed through my mind, spinning into a crescendo that I couldn’t follow. People and places that I had never seen were given to my mind. But after what seemed like an instant of an eternity, I started to recognize certain people. Treyven spun past and Shitheed along with a lot of others whom I didn’t know. Knowledge of what I must do was being given to me, to be made sure I was ready.

“What are you?”I asked again, watching in wonder as I was taught what would be needed in the future. I didn’t get an answer, nor did I need one as a thunderous wave of love and power came to me, feeling like it was wrapping around my entire being.

It was the One from which all Tro came. This was the Presence Brin was always speaking of and praying to. No doubt sat in my mind now. He promised me all of the joy of the future and the hope of the past if only I would trust Him. I held on for a second and then surrendered to Him totally, hoping it was the right thing to do. Unable to comprehend the vast feeling of power around me, I felt tiny in the way of His path. I was nothing without Him and everything to Him. We all were it seemed. He heard my plea for healing and for my memories to return and acted on it, spinning renewed life through my mind. I sighed as the power leant strength to my weak limbs and restored them. But I reached out as it withdrew, leaving my mind. My brain was full of knowledge and powerful promise. I closed my eyes in acceptance as I realized that my recollections and powers had not been given back to me. There was something I would do in the future that would bring them back to me, but the time was not now. With one last hug around my soul, the Presence was gone from me, leaving only my confusion and gratitude. But now opening my eyes, I saw that I never even moved. My foot was still where it had been and Chalorn was still pressed into my side, waiting to see if anything would emerge from the bushes.

Rex was standing beside me, eyes reeling about. I knew what I experienced hadn’t been a hallucination, but it certainly looked that way. My hands were still on the gun and I tapped the ground in front of my foot with the edge of my sneaker. It was solid. There was no underground caverns here or beneath my feet.

Rex was whirling around next to me, utterly nerve stricken. He stopped, looking to me with open fear. “I saw it. I touched your mind and it was real…“ No one was more surprised than me as Rex lost his composure entirely and stumbled to his knees, tripping over his shoes. “It was real,” he said again, eyes not quite focused on me as the truth came over him. “He was real.”

Chalorn whimpered up at me with wide eyes and then moved in front of me, sniffing the ground. Somehow I knew he was looking for the fish we’d seen. He looked at me with a confused sniff and then sat with a thud, throwing his head back into a mournful cry. I shook my head and stowed my gun back into its holster, still weirded out by this whole thing. But as I did, I froze again, seeing that there were silver lines all over my skin. They twisted around my limbs and gleamed as they began to fade.

“Do you have your memories?”Rex asked weakly, getting to his feet. I dragged my sleeves up, looking for the lines, but they were gone. Amazingly on top of that, my clothes were tight to my skin, baggy no longer. The bruises and redness were gone, too.

“I’m healed,” I whispered, seeing how I’d been restored.

(Forgotten Hart)

Do not dare question my dedication to God. Good will always prevail over evil, whether you falsely judge me or not.

I believe.

– @highlight Maggie Lynn