"I just don't think I can take it anymore." Maggie sighed, running her hands through her hair.

Her friend, Emelia, watched Maggie quietly, her gaze darting to the door of the tiny café. "Uh..." She fidgeted with the silverware beside her plate and half-finished muffin. "Well..." Her hands moved to crumbling the remaining muffin onto the plate. "I don't know, Maggie. Pick up a hobby or something to distract yourself? I don't understand why you can't just get over it. The doctors give you medicine and help. You're taking the meds, right?"

Maggie wasn't, but she nodded anyway. She never gets it, Maggie thought. "Sure..." She couldn't quite meet her friend's eyes. "Of course. Why wouldn't I, Em?"

Emelia raised a brow. "Because you've tried to stop taking them before. Look, maybe you should go see a friend of mine. She specializes in this kind of thing..." She lowered her voice, sifting through her purse for a card.

Maggie took the offered card and examined it. There was a crystal ball in the background and woman's warm, smiling face beside the contact information. Maggie raised a brow, scrunching her nose at Emelia.

"She uses meditation to help." She picked up her purse and stood. "And before you object, it's not somehow against your religion to meditate. Doesn't your Bible use that word somewhere anyway?"

Maggie had to admit that it did, but she wasn't sure it meant what her friend thought it did. "I don't know..." She set the card down on the table. "I think I'm good with what I have..." Maggie tried a weak smile.

"Then stop whining." Emelia stood. "Look, I have to go..." She rifled through her purse and pulled out her cell. "I'll text you tomorrow. Think about the meditation idea. This lady is one of the best. She can connect you to the spiritual realm like you wouldn't believe. So let me know if you change your mind."

Maggie's heart sunk as she watched her friend leave. I wish she would stop trying to fix me... Maggie ran a hand through her hair. Am I the problem? Maybe I'm not good enough for her anymore.

"Um... Excuse me. It's Maggie, right?"

Maggie started, looking up quickly. One of the guys from her American Government class was standing next to the table, waiting for a response. "Uh... Yeah, I'm Maggie... You're in my American Government class, right?"

There was a long, awkward pause. He stared vacantly out the window, eyes glassy for a few moments as he appeared to ponder her question. "Uh, yeah... I'm Seth."

Maggie already knew. He was the mousy kid who always sat in the back. Seth participated when they did activities together as a class, but he generally didn't take the spotlight. He did his work well, occasionally offered good suggestions, and stayed out of the way. She also knew that was one of the things she liked best about him. His shy behavior was endearing.

Mostly though, Maggie remembered him as the religious boy who was kind to everyone around him. That came up in his words and actions in class all over. He didn't need to specifically state that he was a Christian. It was just obvious. Uncomfortably obvious sometimes. Seth was always talking about Jesus and sharing his beliefs with anyone who would listen. Granted, not many people did, but that didn't deter him. Maggie figured it was socially acceptable to have beliefs like he did so long as you didn't bring it up in any kind of a public setting outside of religious events. Everyone knew that. Everyone except Seth, anyway. But sometimes Maggie thought she'd like that kind of faith. One that was obviously genuine and practical.

"Err... Can I sit down?" Seth waved to the other side of the booth.

She'd been thinking about his past behavior for too long. "Oh, sure! Sorry..." She toyed with the hem of the tablecloth. "I didn't mean to space out on you..."

He laughed, sitting down. His laugh was warm, but something about it seemed odd, though not in a bad way. "It's okay. I do it too..."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Maggie looked away, fiddling with the string of her teabag and then sipping the hot tea.

"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation."

Maggie stiffened.

"I was sitting just one booth over..." He stared at his hands. "I just wondered if maybe..." Seth coughed lightly. "I'm... That is to say... If you want someone to listen, I'd be willing to."

Maggie glanced around the shop, looking for ways out of this. Still only one door, and he had his back to it. Didn't he know this was awkward? "Umm... Thanks?"

For some reason, though she had been thinking about leaving, something about Seth got to her. She stayed seated, tugging on the string of her tea bag and biting her lip.

"I've been there, you know," Seth blurted out, adjusting his glasses on his freckled nose.

Maggie blinked. Wait... What?

"I saw a counselor and a shrink... I even tried one of those people your friend suggested. Don't go..." He leaned forward across the table, his voice lowering. "Those people get into the occult. They connect you to the spiritual realm 'like you wouldn't believe' all right. But that's because they worship demons. They seem nice on the surface, but once you're in too far to back out..." Seth shuddered, shaking his head.

The action reminded Maggie of a puppy shaking water out of its fur. "So... Are you better?" she asked.

"Sometimes... It's a constant battle." Seth sunk down on the bench. "But God gives grace and strength to make it through victoriously. I don't take meds for it anymore..." He smiled, sitting straighter again. "And it's getting better as my relationship with God matures."

Seth seemed nice, but all this God business was so strange. He had some nerve to talk about that here and now. It was nothing like the quiet, unassuming Christianity her parents had. Well, maybe I don't want that... It seems powerless to help me.

Seth smiled. "Maggie, have you been saved?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Of course, I have... I'm a pretty good person, and I grew up in a Christian home."

His smile faded, and his eyes went serious. He shook his head. "That isn't what saves you! Haven't you ever heard the Gospel?"

Maggie shrugged. She had. But she didn't think it had much validity. After all, her church had chosen to stand with the understanding that your salvation was up to you. Oh, they wouldn't phrase it that way, but it was no secret that her church was becoming more liberal as the years passed. Her parents didn't seem to mind, and Maggie didn't see a problem with it. She felt better about herself when she attended church, as if somehow it atoned for the messes and sins she dealt with all week. Given that, why would the Gospel matter that much? Jesus had made the way, but it was her responsibility to respond and do all the right things to get to heaven.

"I guess... It's not that big of a deal in my church. It's up to the individual to do all the right things to get to heaven. I mean, obviously He died for us, but... He just made the way. He can't do anything more because it's our decision now."

Seth blinked quickly a few times. "Not a big deal..." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Not— Up to us?"

"Yeah, not a big deal..." She played with her cup's label. "And yes, it's up to us. Are you okay? You look upset." Maggie shifted, glancing at the nearly empty restaurant. It was long past dinner rush, and most people had already gone home.

Seth swallowed, shaking his head. "Maggie, if you don't understand the Gospel you really don't understand the Bible at all. What does your church teach on the Gospel?"

"Well..." Maggie paused, unsure if she knew that and wondering where Seth was taking this. Her brow furrowed as she considered it. "They say it's that Jesus died to atone for the world's sins. They say He made it possible for every person to be saved anytime and anywhere. But it's up to us. We have all the information, and now God has stepped out of the picture to let us decide what we'll do with it..."

Seth ran a hand through his hair and readjusted his glasses. "That's only partially right. Maggie, have you ever truly stopped to think about what the Bible teaches?"

Maggie glared at him. "Of course! What part of 'I was raised in a Christian home' didn't you get?" Who does he think he is? She flushed, clenching her fists.

Seth shook his head. "Maggie, I got that. But it doesn't mean you understand or have critically thought about any of it."

He did have a point, but she wasn't going to admit that to him. "I understand what I'm reading and why I believe what I do. I think we're done here." She shoved back her chair and stood.

Seth got up too, confusion swirling in his dark eyes. "But... Why?"

"Why?" Maggie huffed, slamming her hands on the table and leaning toward him. "I'm not going to listen to some arrogant jerk tell me my upbringing and belief system are flawed. Don't bring it up ever again, got it?" She shoved past him, heading for the door.

"Maggie... Maggie, wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way!"

"You implied it. Clearly, I'm an unevangelized heathen in your eyes!" She rushed out of the coffee shop before Seth could retort.

***

A warm Wind spun around the Son as He watched Maggie storm into her house, the interaction with Seth still rankling her.

Speaking to the Wind, He said, "It is time. She's ready for more work now. Go and touch her heart. She won't be able to get Seth's words out of her head. You know what to do."

The Wind seemed to murmur consent. Then the breeze was gone. The warmth and sense of companionship lingered on as the Son smiled down on Maggie. "Oh, Maggie... Soon enough, my Spirit will bring you. And then you will find the peace you yearn for..."