Songs for the Chapter: YOU SAY, by Lauren Daigle; DON'T STOP PRAYING, by Matthew West; and YET, by THE KING Will Come

To be honest, I asked for the song suggestions because I was not sure which to use, and mainly had only "YET" in mind. But I hoped for other suggestions in addition.

And I am surprised by the song suggestions you all gave. Will post the rest right here at the beginning, please.

JoyceFrimpong3 EtornamZ Margaret827 

GOD bless you all richly. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥹🥰

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An author's pen often displays their very truest of emotions, an acquaintance once said.

Hmm... could it be true?

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Violet could not quite categorise what was wrong with her. She would be elated one moment, but her soul would seem to sink into the deep mire of depression next.

And it all seemed to be taking a toll on her life—both spiritually and physically.

She had begun to wonder if it was due to the rollercoaster of a husband she lived with.

For sometimes, she would think she was getting used to the idea of being around him...

~

Violet had gotten used to the idea of sharing a table with the man she called her husband every morning.

"Could you repeat that?"

"Oh... sure! The verse says, "For a day in THY Courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my GOD, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

"Why would he rather wish to be a gatekeeper for his GOD? Surely, the tents in those days would be rather much more comfortable."

Violet perked up at the question. She always enjoyed when her knowledge—though meagre to her—of the Holy Scriptures was tested.

It intrigued her so much, and she loved the thought of having such a challenge. Even if she wasn't conversant with it, it helped her research more and learn more from her HEAVENLY FATHER.

And that day was one of them.

Vincenzo seemed to notice the twinkle in her gentle eyes at his question as he sipped his tea.

Sometimes, it felt as though he asked those questions just to get a glimpse of that innocent twinkle.

"Well," Violet started, smiling. "Have you ever felt so strongly about something or someone that it feels like you would rather die than live without that person or thing?"

In an instant, Vincenzo seemed to snap back to his cold hiding place, the frost creeping in. For yes, he knew that pain—and it had been reopened too harshly and too sharply.

"I guess that is seen in the Psalm..." Violet went on, the lowering of degrees unnoticed by her. "When you love GOD that deeply, you would be willing to give up—"

"Enough!" A clipped voice halted her in her tracks to her shock and surprise.

He quickly dropped his cup on the table and left without saying another word.

Maybe, he has something urgent to see to, she comforted herself with that assurance. She hoped he would show a change when he returned by evening tide.

But, that never happened.

It was past 2 AM when she heard him re-enter their home.

And yes, she had waited all along, praying and dozing off in rotation as she lay on their couch.

He passed her by as though she were invisible. And that cut through like a knife to Violet's heart.

She also thought she had smelt a familiar woman's perfume.

Don't go down that lane, Violet. You are just imagining things.

~

It took a few days of total silence between them—mostly on My Icy's side as he refused to even acknowledge her greetings.

Violet could not deny the pain and ache that his reactions were causing her. She found herself sliding deeper into a state of depression. She felt the pain of the rejection.

LORD, please help me, I'm sinking!

She barely knew how to channel her prayers anymore. Those words were all she could utter, remembering Peter's desperate cry as he was also sinking in the storm.

And in those few days, he was often gone by the time she woke up and returned past midnight. That had caused her to rise earlier and sleep later than usual in order to try to speak to him—but it got her nowhere.

He finally spoke to her when Survivor fell ill and she had mentioned it to him.

"For how long has this been going on?" She was surprised to hear him talk to her—finally.

"For about the past 48 hours?" She recollected herself and responded, trying to stifle the sting that he only chose to talk to her because of his well-beloved pet.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" There was no rancour in his tone, just a sense of desperation for the poor animal.

That seemed to melt her heart.

"I tried to, but..." she trailed off looking elsewhere. "You have been too preoccupied off late, I guess."

And in that moment, the ice seemed to thaw a bit, which paved the way for them to have their usual conversations.

But, that also changed all too soon—after he had attended another meeting with Giuseppe and GOD knew who else.

~~~

Isabella and Alessandro seemed to have formed a whole new bond—as siblings and partners in CHRIST.

They devoured the Scriptures together each day. Finding themselves amazed by the Truth they had both been blind to their entire lives.

Alessandro's new faith had cost him his former friendships, but that did not bother him. He had learnt of the woes of moving with that company since he converted.

"So, what did you think of the verse I texted you?" Isabella asked her older brother.

They were both settled in the triclinium, BIBLES in hand.

"Well, what the Psalmist said did not sound different from how I feel now, to be honest," even his voice seemed to have also undergone a transformation. "I feel like I have been suffering a total ambiguous loss my whole life. HIS Word is indeed sweeter than honey."

Isabella grinned and squealed in her excitement.

"Those two are at it again." A voice caused the silent onlooker—Violet—to jump a tad bit in surprise.

The person who had elicited that jump of surprise was none other than Ginevra. Violet found her gazing at her two younger siblings with a look she could not quite decipher.

Was that a look of longing she glimpsed?

Violet also looked at them and felt a longing in her soul as well.

How I wish I had been invited or asked to join them, she thought quietly to herself. The closeness of the two siblings had meant little time spent with her by Isabella.

In fact, barely any time at all.

She was truly happy for them. The only thing was, she felt... a little neglected.

No, Violet, she found herself chiding her thoughts once again. Do not go down that lane.

~~~

Violet could not stand the silence and absence anymore. The ache was too much, as she felt the loneliness slowly mess with her mind and heart.

She had decided to take a stand and finally confront Vincenzo about his recent actions—or inactions.

"We need to talk." She had stayed up till he returned—past 2 AM.

And despite his lack of interest and the ever-present perfume that lingered whenever he returned home late, she had followed him to his doorway.

"Did I say you are allowed in here?" His back remained turned to her as he tapped in the code to his room on the electric door lock.

"Fine, then we will talk it out here."

Turning to face her, he responded with his familiar icy piercing gaze and a smirk on his face.

"Who said I am in the mood to talk right now?" And with that, he entered his room and shut the door behind him.

"Rejected! You are not needed," a voice seemed to sing into her ears.

And for the first time, she felt she should give in to that voice and finally go down the lane she had been avoiding.

For her SAVIOUR had remained silent all this while.

Is that HIS answer, perhaps? Have I truly been rejected by all? By even... HE HIMSELF?

~~~

Alessandro had never thought he would be found in this situation, or that he could ever experience such a change. It was a blessing indeed.

He had felt a part of him wishing for something more than he had in years past—not riches, for that was not far out of reach. But something... more.

He had never known what freedom felt like, till he got redeemed.

And with that liberation came a series of feelings or experiences totally new to him. And that dawn was one of them.

~~~

Violet had not been able to return to her bedroom after her confrontation with Vincenzo—if she could call it so. She had been feeling weird sensations in her chest over the past few days but resisted the urge to return to bed.

Perhaps, a little work will help liven my mood a bit at least.

And that was how she found herself preparing meals with Clarice and the new maid, Florence.

Clarice seemed to have noticed something odd with Violet and did not argue about her presence in the kitchen as she normally did whenever she asked to help.

Willing to draw her out of her despondency, Clarice called both Violet and Florence to try a new recipe she had come up with.

Florence had looked so eager to try it out, that Violet let her have the first try.

Absentmindedly, with her chest aching more, she decided to taste it quickly after Florence and excuse herself to have a proper rest.

Clarice noticed her gait weaken after tasting the new recipe. She watched her closely as Violet asked for permission to return to her room.

And so did Florence, who had been watching a little too closely all along, unbeknownst to both of them.

Violet found the sharp pain in her chest incongruous with whatever plagued her in her abdomen and tummy at that moment.

Room spinning and whirling, she dropped to the floor in a heap.

And, it was only then that she remembered—she had forgotten to pray before tasting the meal—something she never did.

FATHER, please forgive me for letting the pain get in the way of what YOU expect of me.

She barely noticed the warm, thick, reddish liquid that flowed out of her mouth as her vision turned black.

And it was then she saw something she had never thought she would see so soon...

Eternity beckoning.

Strangely enough, the depression of the past days made her wish she could tell all those she heard crying for help around her to stop doing so.

She then realised she did not have the will to keep fighting anymore. No one really wanted nor needed her anymore.

The pain intensified even as she felt her soul ready to depart from the land of the living.

"Please, give up on me," she managed to gain the strength to whisper—eyelids still shut—though she doubted anyone heard her.

LORD, is it time to let go yet?

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Sad fact: I had thought of having the main character pass away for a long while before going on with the story. That caused me to pause for a while in writing. 🥹🥹🥹

I believe we have seen the winners of the song challenge, though. 🙂

Please let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter too, with all humility.

Shalom,
Phela 🕊️