Part II: Chapter 3
"It feels a lot warmer today." Mei glanced over at her mother. They were on their way to go grocery shopping together like they did every Saturday. She was almost sure the Wang family survived on routine now. Today was different though, somehow. Her mother didn't seem as worn and tired as before. She'd even sprayed on a little perfume on her wrists before they left. "It'll be spring soon."
"Yeah."
"Do you want to pick up a shake or something before we go?"
"Did something good happen today, Mama?"
Her mother smiled and it wasn't strained or forced. It was the first real smile she'd seen in months. "Not in particular. I just feel better."
She leaned forward and turned up the music a little. It was one of those CD's that should've felt old by now, but didn't.
"When your heart breaks, He'll hurt for you
Dreams are out of reach, He'll pull you through
When you lose hope all you gotta do
Is get on your knees again…"
Mei felt something click and Kiku's words whispered through her mind. "It is not me who you are looking for." She turned away to look out the window.
"Let's pick up a treat on the way home. Looks like there's still a bit of traffic right now."
Mei only nodded in response, her throat burning.
Later that night, she lay awake in bed, unable to calm her thoughts. She rolled on her side with a frustrated sigh. Without really thinking about it, she reached over and turned on the lamp on her nightstand and picked up her Bible buried under a pile of other books, papers, and miscellaneously placed items. The pastor at church had always jokingly warned against flipping to a random page, but she really wasn't sure where to start. Up until her father had passed away, she'd dutifully read a chapter every day, but she hadn't touched the book since- even to take it with her to church.
She found herself in the Old Testament. She'd always found this part of the Bible odd. Everyone seemed to be dying or sacrificing and God seemed to be striking down just about everything living. It was much easier to read the New Testament. And yet as she was about to flip the pages again, something caught her eye.
"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29
She closed her eyes. She felt something press down on her, tugging at her persistently, and she understood.
"Okay." She whispered. Little by little, she reopened her heart.
A/N: This chapter still feels a bit awkward to me, but I felt like it was really important to show Mei's growth.
Oh and the song she was listening to "On Your Knees" by the Newsboys~