I opened my eyes slowly, the sight confusing I was lying on a couch with red carpet on the floor, a small wooden coffee table sat in front of another couch, a bright electric light shone bathing everything in a yellow glow. Confused I sat up, too fast, the world started to spin, I waited for it to stop as my memory returned,
“Ah my child I was wondering when you would wake,” A voice said, to me soothingly, I looked around for the speaker, he was sitting on the couch opposite to me, dressed exactly the same as he was the night before. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the sleep I asked groggily,
“How long was I out?”
“About two hours,” he said smiling,
“Oh, sorry father,” I exclaimed,
“Never mind that now, can you survive a few minutes while I make you another tea?” I nodded,
“How do you like your tea child?”
“Black,” he nodded and went off to the kitchen, I got up and went over to my bag, he may be a priest but that doesn’t mean he won’t rummage through my stuff. But it seemed he hadn’t because everything was there, I closed the bag and walked back over to the couch.
“So why did you leave home Aldis?” the priest called out to me, I paused for a moment before answering trying to find the right words.
“Mother, she…she hit April,”
“Why?” he asked,
“She was on the drink.” I stated simply, he walked out with two mugs full of steamy hot tea and set them on the coffee table I took mine eagerly and sipped it feeling the warmth spread down my throat and the rest of my body. I sighed with relief.
“So my child why did you come to see me instead of one of your friends?”
“Because you can help me get rid of my mother so she can’t hurt my brother and sister anymore Father.” I said hopefully making it more of a question than an answer,
“Will you help me?” I asked,
“I will talk to your mother,” he stated.
“Thank you Father,” I whispered, he nodded.
“Finish your tea; you can stay here for the night.” I nodded gratefully,
“Thank you so much Father. You have no i-” he held up a hand,
“Don’t thank me I’m just doing what I should do as a man of God child,” I nodded slowly not sure what he was getting at,
“Pray with me child then I’ll go to bed,” he raised an eyebrow at me, “As you should too,” I nodded then lowered my head to pray. He used the usual Lord’s Prayer, except he said it in Latin which thankfully I knew because of visiting his church every Sunday,
“Pater noster, qui es in cœlis;
Sanctificatur nomen tuum:
Adveniat regnum tuum;
Fiat voluntas tua,
Sicut in cœlo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:
et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
Sed libera nos a malo.
Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et Gloria,
In saecula.
Amen.” I crossed myself and looked up; the priest was smiling at me,
“Not many know that version these days, well done.” I smiled realising that he was testing my faith and picked up the mug taking another big sip, the priest just picked his up and downed it like water,
“Have a good sleep my child,” he said standing slowly his joints creaking, he smiled, “I’m getting old, I think I’ll retire soon.” He said softy almost to himself instead of me,
“See you in the morning Father; you have a good sleep too.” I told him, he looked at me as if remembering I was still there,
“Do you need a blanket?” I shook my head,
“I have one in my bag Father, but thank you all the same.” He nodded and walked off. I sat there for a while looking into the tea as if trying to find something, I couldn’t find anything. I finished the drink, placing it quietly on the table then heading over to the cloth bag. I opened it and rummaged through to find my diary. I pulled it out; it was an old diary small and handmade, in the side was a silver pen completely metal. The ink for it was in a small glass vial which Lucas had remembered to take too. I smiled and took them all over to the table to prepare to write. I thought about what to say for a second then put the pen to the paper and dated it.
Dear Diary,
Mother hit April for the last time, I’m at the church tomorrow morning after Mass the Priest will call social services, all of this will be over an done with I’ll find a job and rent out a house where I will look after my brother and sister. The priest is letting me stay at his church for tonight but tomorrow I’ll have to stay somewhere else, I have a friend from school I can stay with if his mother will let me, she never liked me for some reason. I know God will show me the way, what he wants will happen. I’m tired now so I’m going to sleep, I won’t use the poor priests couch though, because the floor is much more comfortable for me.
Aldis
I put the pen down, and closed the diary. Ignoring the fact that I had a blanket stashed in my bag I lay down on the floor and closed me eyes. Within a few minutes I drifted off into a deep sleep.
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