Chapter 13: Prayers and Pawns, Part 1

This is wonderful Troxley.

Perfect illustration to a moving piece. Excellent work.

BTW, I notice you ommitted the link to the collection in the description and don't think these are added to that collection?

That is just so emotional and sad. You know Troxley it brought a tear to my eye. I had to read it twice. Thank you mate.

“Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me, Lord,” Sr. Helena sobbed.

Author's Note: Lines in Italics from The Ballad of the White Horse by G. K. Chesterton, Book I, lines 231-234, 254-261

The men of the East may spell the stars/, And times and triumphs mark/, But the men signed of the cross of Christ/ Go gaily in the dark. . .

..I tell you naught for your comfort,/ Yea, naught for your desire,/ Save that the sky grows darker yet/ And the sea rises higher.

Night shall be thrice night over you,/ And heaven an iron cope./ Do you have joy without a cause,/ Yea, faith without a hope?

Sister Helena wished that Sister Marie Evangeline could be with her here, but she knew she had a mission to undertake. And Sister Marie Evangeline reminded Sister Helena that they would always be together. She reminded her dear friend of the words of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity who had told her close friend Francoise de Sourden: to keep a spiritual rendezvous in their heart and they would be together in spirit. But it was not the same seeing without seeing Sister Marie Evangeline in person. She had come to love her as a mother.

Tears fell down her face; her body shook with silent sobs. She buried her hands in her face trying to stifle her crying. “I beg of you, Lord, to heal the wounds I have inflicted. Give me wisdom to navigate this path and the courage to forgive those I have hurt. What have I done to deserve Colonel Larkin's anger and coldness?”

She laid down her bed in the fetal position, her body shook as she cried. “Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me, Lord.” She repeated the words like a mantra. She tried to find solace in the lines of Chesterton's epic poem but all she found in her memory was:

“Oh, Lord, I come before you, my heart burdened with pain. I'm sorry for the pain I've caused, especially upon Colonel Larkin, whom I've just met. Grant me the strength to atone for my sins, and to seek the forgiveness of those I have wronged. Lord, is Colonel Larkin remain related to the Major Larkin I killed when I was with the Rogue NID? Tell me Lord, that I might make amends.”

Sister Helena choked back a sob, gripping her hands tightly. She wished she had the stone with her, but she had surrendered it to General Carter. “I know I can't erase my past, but I pray for the opportunity to make amends. Guide me on the right path and to be a beacon of Your love despite my shortcomings.”