I wrote this many months ago, and I don't think I'll be continuing it. I merely wanted to post it here to keep track of all my stories and whatnot. :3

Carter sighed. It was the end of a long, boring day, and the sun was streaming through the stained glass windows of the church, playing with the floating dust motes. He gazed around the empty church, and sighed again. The only person who ever came regularly was a young man named Cliff, but he was always silent, wallowing in his depression. Carter kept trying to talk to Cliff, but he couldn't get much of a response.

There was also two other people who stopped by on Sundays. They were the owner and clerk of the Supermarket, Jeff; and the young girl who lived and worked at the Poultry Farm, who went by the name of Popuri. Carter was glad that at least these three people stopped by, but he longed to see the entire village packed into his small church, just to listen to him preach the gospel. But, there was no need for him to do so. They all lived by the few rules of the village. They never stole, they never fought, they never even swore! Carter was just as redundant as Harris, the constable of the town.

For a third time, Carter sighed. His head began to throb from being inside for so long, and his feet ached from standing up. He stepped down from the pulpit, and went into the small confessional, where he pulled off his robes. He sat down in the small cramped area, and leaned back. He closed his eyes for a minute, when he suddenly heard someone entering the church. Carter jumped up, quite surprised, and hit his head on the low ceiling. Mumbling a little, he came out of the confessional, and realized that he forgot his robes. He was just wearing his clerical, waist-length cassock, and dress pants. Panicking slightly, he turned around to go back in the confessional, and get his robes, when a soft voice called out.

"C-Carter?"

Carter froze, and swallowed. He knew that voice only too well. It was gentle as a spring breeze, and ever so calming. He turned around, slowly, smiling nervously.

"H-hello, Elli."

Elli giggled, "Oh, where are your robes?" Her smile suddenly vanished, and was replaced by a light blush. She pressed the back of her slender hand over her lips, "Oh, I'm sorry, what a silly question!" She giggled.

Carter chuckled, "It's fine... What brings you here?"

The young woman stepped quickly over to Carter, her long, many-layered dress making it hard for her to walk properly. Her short, brown hair bounced as she waddled awkwardly over to him. Carter couldn't help but smile at this. She was just so cute. He lightly pinched himself for thinking these thoughts, though, and concentrated on what Elli was trying to say.

"I wanted thank you!" She exclaimed, stopping short of him, and clasping her hands together. She smiled widely up at him, "When you helped me pray for my grandmama, last week. She almost stood up, today!"

Carter gave a huge grin. His eyes were wide with wonderment, and he laughed, "Prayer is a very powerful thing, Elli! I'm so glad that your grandmother is feeling much better! But, you also have Doctor Trent to thank. He was the one who helped the most."

Elli shook her head, closing her chocolate brown eyes, looking gravely serious, "No, Carter... If it wasn't for you to help me and Trent when we were little, I wouldn't be standing here, today."

"Ah..." Carter blushed a little more deeply, "We weren't that young..."

Elli tipped her head to the side, smiling playfully, "Mm, maybe not, but if you think about it... Fifteen years ago sounds like quite some time."

"Heh, I suppose..." Carter shook with silent laughter.

"Oh!" Elli perked up, smiling broadly, "Tomorrow's your birthday, right?"

"Eh?" Carter looked thoughtful for a second. He often forgot about the dates, and time what with every hour melting into the next during these boring days, but she was right. He laughed aloud, "Ah! I had forgotten!"

"Twenty-nine, right?" Elli asked, making sure she got his age right.

"Uh, y-yeah..." Crater scratched the back of his head, feeling rather old, "Wow, almost thirty... People soon can't call me young, anymore!"

Elli gave a light giggle, "Oh, I dunno... You'll always seem young to me!" She glanced around, and noticed that the sun no longer came through the church windows, giving a gasp of shock, she turned to Carter, and bobbed a curtsy, "Ah, I really should go. It's getting late!" She started for the door, giving Carter a friendly wave.

Thinking fast, Carter blurted out, "Want that I should walk you home?" He stepped closer to her, preparing to follow.

Elli simply shook her head, "No need. The dogs won't come out for another hour, and my home is just a block away..." She turned around and placed her hand on the doorknob, "I appreciate the offer, though..." She then left.

Carter clicked his tongue in disappointment, and shook his head as he made his way to the door, anyways. He pulled out a key, and locked the double doors, then went back over to the pulpit, running his hand over to pews as he passed them by. Once he got to the stand, he bent down behind it, and lifted a latch located there. He tugged at it, until the trapdoor opened, revealing a small futon, a pillow, and two blankets; one thin, the other thick. There were pictures, as well, hidden underneath the beddings.

Carter disregarded the photos, and pulled out his bed. He laid everything out, and took off his shoes. He prayed, silently, and laid down, staring up at the ceiling of the church. He had memorized the place of every beam, smudge, and cobweb above him. After a few minuted of simple staring, his eyelids finally close, and he was succumbed to sleep...