Dry mouthed and somewhat out of breath Maria was making her way up the church main stair case to the front entrance. She could hear the soothing sounds of the bells chiming from the tall towers of the church even though there was no mass to be expected. The church had two large wooden doors when Maria got to them she roughly pushed the right door open so she could get inside. She pushed with all her might but the door wouldn't budge. Laughing at her self she had forgotten that this was the door that was constantly stuck so she slid to the left door and pushed it open with ease. The aroma of the church, her faith, made her feel comforted as she walked down the hall and then made her way to the pews.
She could hear some ruffling coming from Father Andrew's office but besides that the church was silent and she was all alone. She preferred it this way. It was quiet and no one around to interrupt her thoughts and prayers to God. She sat her self in one of the middle pews facing forward towards the alter and stared at the Jesus and Mary articles all around her along with the paintings of angels and saints. The article that stood out the most to Maria was the large wood carving of Jesus on the cross that hung above the alter and looked down towards the pews where the people sat at. The Jesus usually frightened Maria because his eyes seemed to follow her no matter where she was inside the church. But, today she found it oddly welcoming.
Maria removed her over coat, wadded it up and threw it behind her on the bench. She knelt down did the sign of the crass and then clasped her hands together and began to prey silently to her self. "Dear Father, I need you strength and power. I hardly know what to do. I hold a lot of love in my heart and it's all for him. But, all my love is to go to you my Lord. I'm so confused… I can't runaway anymore. I love him, but why am I so confused, Father. Tell me!"
Maria unfolded her hands to find her knuckles white. She leaned back into the pew and looked up at the Jesus hanging above her. She laid her in her coat and a few tears rolled down her cheeks but they stopped once she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Maria lay asleep for only a few minutes before she was woken up by the door of the church entrance opening and shutting. Everything seemed to echo in the large church, making the smallest things seem louder then what they really ought to be. Maria's make-up, even though she was naturally beautiful and wore very little, was smudged all over her face. To keep her face hidden she simply covered it up with her coat.
She peaked out of a fold and could see a young girl walking up to the alter. Maria only got a glance of her face as the girl walked by and slightly turned her head to look at Maria lying on the bench with her head covered by her jacket. Maria figured the girl thought her to be homeless or a nutcase, but either way she wasn't bothered. The girl looked familiar, she could almost pass for an older Gretl Maria thought. Her hair was blonde and in a French braid, she wore a pale pink dress that stopped at the knee with white flats. If it were Gretl she had grown about two feet since the last time Maria had seen her. She continued to watch the girl as she kneeled in front of the alter to pray. Maria listened in on her prayer, but the girl was whispering so softly that Maria could only catch a few words. However, Maria was able to make out that the girl was praying for her father.
The girl was getting up now and walking back to exist the church. This time Maria got a good look at her face. Maria knew right away who the girl was. It was her Gretl. Maria removed her jacket from her face and sat up straight and stared at her.
Gretl stared back at the Maria who was now looking her square in the eye. Maria gave her a warm smile and Gretl gave her one back. She then started to say something but then thought about what she was doing and closed her mouth. Building up enough nerve she began to speak.
"Do I know you?" she said unsure of herself.
"It's definitely a possibility," Maria answered.
"Your make-up is smudged," Gretl told her as she cocked her head scanning Maria over. "You look so familiar."
"Who do you think I look like?" Maria asked testing the girl.
"You'll just think I'm silly if I tell you," Gretl said as she sat down in the pew in front of Maria and was turned to face her.
"I won't, I promise," Maria said attempting to wipe the make-up off her face with her hands but she was actually making it worse.
"You look a lot like my old governess, Fraulein Maria," said Gretl as she began to giggle at Maria's attempt to wipe away her make-up.
"What's so funny?" asked Maria.
"It's your make-up, you're just making it worse," she covered her mouth to hide her beg grin.
"Am I?" Maria laughed. "I guess I should go to the restroom where I at least have a mirror to fix up."
"No, let me do it," Gretl said as she came around and sat beside Maria to help her out. "I have four older sisters, I should know how to do this." She giggled again.
Maria trusted her to fix her up and handed her a handkerchief to wipe it away. Gretl was gentle and memories of hold Gretl when she was a little girl were flooding back to her.
"You have four sisters? That makes five of you!" Maria exclaimed.
"Oh, no, they're seven of us," Gretl answered, "I have two older brothers as well."
"Seven of you?" Maria tried her best to sound surprised.
"Yeah, seven of us. There, finished!" The girl exclaimed.
"Do I look better now?" Maria inquired as Gretl sat back looking over her handy work.
"Yeah, much!" She grinned and gave the handkerchief back to Maria.
"Thank you, Gretl, I owe you one," Maria smiled, as she put her handkerchief back in her pocket.
The girl back up and then began to stand. She had a frightened look in her eye as she gazed at Maria. Gretl backed up and tripped over the kneeling pad and landed hard on her bottom.
"Are you okay darling?" Maria asked holding back her laughter.
"How did you know my name? I'm pretty sure that I never told it to you," Gretl questioned as she began to stand back up. Maria's face turned pale then it began to warm up a little with a smile.
"If I told you my name would it make you more comfortable?" Maria asked looking the girl in the eye again.
"Maybe," the girls said sitting back down,"What is it?"
"My name is…" Maria paused, this was harder then she thought and it was just her name. "I'm Maria."
The girl's eyes got really big then they rolled into the back of her head. Maria had no idea what to do as she watched the girl fall back on the bench and lay out.
"Oh dear," Maria breathed out as she quickly got up and went to the girls side. She lightly slapped the girl's cheeks trying to get her up. Gretl came into in a minute or two and looked at Maria confused.
"I knew it was you!" She said as she dived in for a hug and Maria more then willingly gave the girl a hug back.
"Why don't you come with me, we'll get you a drink and we can talk," Maria gave her another hug. "My Goodness I've missed you."
Maria took the girl's hand and she pulled her up and they head out of the church and back to the busy streets. They managed to stay connected all the way to Maria's apartment. It was now almost sun down and Maria didn't like being out after dark. She had her reasons. So, she dragged Gretl faster.