3 Preface.

THE ENCOUNTER.

His life must've felt like a half-eaten sandwich as the clock ticked, patiently awaiting the last bell of the school day.

It was Friday again and that meant Tyson and Evince would come after him with their fists and weapons. What was he thinking trying to make a move on Tyson's girl? Must've been insane.

Through the last class of the day, he brewed up a plan to escape them; all he could come up with was something as simple as sneaking out with the crowd. The thought "maybe once the bell rings, he would escape; hiding himself in the crowd."

Tyrone was halfway through the door when Evince and Tyson pulled him by his bag pack into the classroom. His master plan would've worked if he hadn't lurked at the back of the crowed instead of inside the crowed.

As he stumbled backwards into the classroom, there was snickering and laughter from the students who stayed behind. They went ahead to insult him calling him "the smartest fool that had ever lived."

"Where do you think you are off to boy?"

Tyson spat at him like he was the fine dust on the ground.

"Yeah, where do you think y'er off to, boy?"

And as always, like a broken record, Evince echoed.

Since elementary school this is how things had been. Every Friday, during the last period, Evince and Tyson would keep Tyrone behind and beat him up senselessly. Tyrone believed that he must've done something very wrong to them while they were kids, for them to hate him so much. But with time, their constant bounding and kicking became so unreasonable that Tyrone came to the conclusion of there being humans in this world whose main aim in life was to be catalytic and beat down or eventually destroy knowledge seekers like him.

It was their last year together and according to his scholarship in South Africa, that would be the last time that Tyrone would get beaten up or even see the faces of these twins. In the heat of his thoughts,he tried to run away, but Tyson's attention was fixated on him.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

Tyrone spoke in such a high pitched voice the twins thought that he'd actually piss himself this time.

"Just look at you boy,"

Tyson started

"Your scrawny self-can't even fight to save its life."

The kids that stayed behind were all; watching, snickering and laughing at that statement.

It was almost ridiculous that he hadn't grown much since his sixth grade. His weak appearance made him afraid that Tyson would someday kill him someday. He had so much to live for that he couldn't afford to die so soon.

As the kicking and pounding continued, a small smile crept to his face.

"You don't really care about her,"

He said,

"You are just using her."

"Boy, you've got some nerve speaking up after pulling a stunt like that,"

Tyson retorted

"First you struggle to be the first in class every time, dragging with here Evince."

Evince smirked and winked at Tyrone right before Tyson continued,

"Then your stupid self trys to make a move on my girl. And now you claim that I'm using her?"

He spat at Tyrone

"You in the wrong spot to talk trash don't you think?"

Tyson made a hand motion to Evince which made Evince to hurry to his bag searching for something. When Evince returned, he was holding three packs of fire poppers.

"Now I'll show you not to piss me off, Ty."

Evince rushed over to Tyrone to hold him down as Tyson brought out a lighter from his pocket and checked if it was working properly. While he was at it, Jerome and Joseph came over to hold Tyrone down as Evince struggled to wrap the poppers around his wiggling frame.

"Ty, look, we practically bare the same name. Please you don't have to do this."

Tyrone tried to beg but by then Evince had already rapped him with the poppers and Tyson, reaching out to light them, was at the verge of euphoria with his anger and madness.

Just as he lit the edge of the poppers and they started to pop, there was a disturbance in the earth. The earth began to shake vigorously; the afternoon sun went dim and the tremor from the earth intensified like something unearthly was rising up underneath the school. Everyone still present in the class stood in absolute shock. Some of the students shook in fear, while others crouched at their positions awaiting the impending doom. But Tyrone, although he was aware of the event, his skin tinged and stung as the fire poppers cracked in the chaotic laughter Tyson ignited for them.

In that small corner, Tyrone thought about all the things that he wanted to do before dying. He thought about how he planned on surviving the poppers and fixing himself up for the journey in his new environment. College was a big deal for him because in there, more of his thirst for knowledge would be satisfied.

But as the odds would have it, the earth was suffering a laborious pain and his body was about to tear apart, starting with his soul.

The thought of his soul tearing apart was a cause for alarm. This obviously didn't make any sense to him seeing as the poppers were on his flesh and not his soul.

Amidst his confusion, he raised his head to see if anyone had died before him; that's when he saw Tyson and Evince shrieking in agony. The sun, which had now gone blood red, was giving off a radiation that stung from within. In a moment the whole earth was trembling and in a moment, everywhere was a still and sunny as the second day of spring. There was peace on the earth and confusion marked in the class.

Tyrone touched his body to see if he was still alive or had he become a ghost from the burst of that inconceivable pain?

One more look at his class mates and he could smell the fear that was sipping off their skin.

They all packed their bags and ran for the exit. The event ignited another thirst for knowledge which just hit it's maximum. Instead of pain, he was excited. Never before had he wanted to live like that day.

He touched his body again and felt no pain, even the poppers were gone; so was Tyson and Evince. Tyrone thought,

"Well it just means that I'm going to live, it means I am alive and need to find out what in the hell just happened."

Although his fear tried to faze him, he kept his calm and moved to rise to his feet.

"Hi there,"

He heard a voice in his head, like an echo.

Freezing in another wave of shock-- his heart beating like an angry marching band-- he waited to hear it again.

"I saved you."

"Who are you?" Tyrone asked in his most quiet whisper.

"Forgive my manners. A formal introduction is needed right?"

The voice asked.

Not giving Tyrone a chance to answer the, voice continued.

"Hi, I am Lust and I saved you. I AM YOUR SAVIOUR."

********************

My worst nightmare displayed right in front of me. I stood there watching my body disintegrate. Every understanding was beyond my reach now; why did I feel no pain? and why could I see myself?

I was being thorn limb from limb, molecule from molecule. That peace that used to overwhelm me had been obliviated, and I felt nothing but void and pain. Yes I could feel pain but this one was different; my soul was aching. I was in total anguish, complete despair. I couldn't find tears to cry, to scream "stop it, I'm worth saving!" but the voice, I could not find to shout.

What was going on? Where had I gone wrong? Had I not held my own in the life I lived? I had fought off every evil with everything I saw fit. So why was I being accused? Why was I being cursed? Why was I damned for such a fate?

Everything was dark and beyond my comprehension.

The flames in the furnace was unbearable. Did I need to feel it? I mean, what does a broken heart feel?

The wailing of their souls was driving me insane, I tried to go on my knees and beg for forgiveness but this time the emptiness was real. I was sure he was no longer with me.

Like acid streaming down the river Nile, so did the tears I finally found, burn down the face of my lifeless form. My soul pleaded but no reply. I was completely alone; was I forever gone?

"Silvia, Beloved,"

my name, it never sounded so enticing; resonating in the air, sending a thousand bolts down my spine. Like shivers during the rain. I looked around desperately trying to find who had called my name and caused this surge of hope in me. I listened Keenly to hear the name again.

"Beloved, let me hold you now."

There it was again. Is my name Beloved? Questions I kept asking myself where almost impossible to answer. why did it feel like I meant the world when He called me Beloved?

"to my arms, come. I see your pain, I hear your cries and it breaks my heart every single time. Come to me and let me heal you." Why would you say that to me? I couldn't believe my ears. Could this be real? He was here to take away my sorrows, requesting for nothing just a shattered me, why? I fell to me knees weeping, utterly broken.

Just like shards of glass, my heart sat in my hands begging to be mended.

The life I lived like a movie before my very eyes. The one I trusted had left my soul and left me for dead. And there I was, begging for redemption.

"it's too late" I whispered to no one in particular. "My time is best," I said a little louder "that's what you said!" in pure rage I screamed at the serene voice that spoke to me with such gentleness. "well take a look at me now; if your time is now, then it's too late."

I fell back, weeping and full of anger. But nothing. Everything was still. He said nothing. I felt numb, the excruciating pain turned to numbness. What does a broken heart feel? Really.

"The need to be unbroken."

The furnace that fueled my pain, anger and distress was gone. My molecules and limbs back in place. It was like a time warp, everything going in reverse and making the universe reform to one whole from a big bang. What was this feeling? Such strength. Such wonderful assurance.

"why won't you leave?" I asked, "I am so unworthy of the love you give. So why won't you leave?" my heart questioned silently and slowly but surely giving itself up to the presence while I begged it to hold back for a little longer.

Poem.

The ages are stirring at me soul

I cannot change the times and seasons

They have carried me for so long

The aching desires

I prayed to be relieved

From these deadly sins.

"The one with the times and seasons

Relieve me from these deadly sins."