I've been living with my parents for over a year. I guess I'm sane now. I've never felt crazy, but obviously, I was. They were now comfortable with me living alone, so I moved into a modest home near the city. I have new friends, and Missy and I are together almost daily. I still do interior design. My gift sustains me.The church my parents used to visit is my new church. Now, my parents are active members with me. However, I refuse to teach and only fellowship. The less responsibility I have, the better my chances of staying sane. There are approximately 4,500 members here—a very diverse crowd. Although we're familiar with one another, it's hard to know everyone present. It's interesting since you can always meet someone new. Although I don't teach, I sing in the choir. "Praise and worship" is incredibly moving this Sunday, so we sing a little longer. We sang for about forty-five minutes. Then I saw Tristan enter the sanctuary. Instantly, I block him out. I know my mind is playi

She goes to tell me how, but I block my ears and run out of the building. June and my parents call out behind me, but I refuse to stop running. If I stay with my parents, they'll be killed, so I run inside an office building and stay hidden until I know they're gone.A top-floor office was left unlocked. There, I hid underneath a desk. Afterward, I took out my cellphone and watched it receive call and text after call. Eventually, I cried myself to sleep.In the middle of the night, I awaken. Although I'm nowhere Tristan will think to look, I'm terrified. My phone has over a hundred calls and texts. As I scroll through, I'm dreading anything from Tristan. I see a few miscellaneous numbers, and then I see Captain Brunson called. He didn't leave a message. I guess he's responding to my texts from last night.Feeling nauseated, I realize I haven't eaten all day. Now, searching this dark floor, I find the vending machine. Peanut butter crackers soothe my stomach, but I still feel queasy. A

Slowly, I walk towards him, but he doesn't approach me. Motionless, he stands, waiting for me to reach him. The closer I get, the more he starts turning his neck as if tired and stretching with his eyes closed. Once he opens them, they glow bright. Immediately, I run back towards the elevators because I know he's about to change. Captain Brunson yells, "NOW!"One soldier snatches me into the elevator. As we head down, all I hear are bullets. I begin to scream, "NOOOO!"We enter the lobby, and the crowd is being escorted out. The soldier puts me and Christina into a truck and then sends us away. They take us to the military base. I'm there until morning, waiting to hear from Captain Brunson. I'm lying on a cot asleep when I hear cheering. As soon as I sat up, I saw Captain Brunson. Now weeping, he comes and pulls a chair next to my cot, asking, "How are you?" Tears stream as I shake my head. He continues, "You have someone else to live for now. Christina's going to need you strong."

"Uh, yes, praise God! ...Did they catch the killer, do you know?""No! The police believe it's more than one person! So these maniacs are still loose!""Thanks, Mrs. Cloverly, but I have to call my family. Goodbye."Immediately, I called Missy, but I got no answer. I call her back to back to back—still nothing. I call my brother, he answers."Tim! Have you talked to Missy!" "No. What's wrong?""Tristan--I mean, someone massacred my neighborhood!""What?""Yes! Please find Missy and have her call me at once!"I'm heading back to Maine, but my flight doesn't leave until tomorrow afternoon. Now, at an airport hotel restaurant, the world news is playing this gruesome massacre nonstop. As I sit traumatized because Missy still hasn't called, someone taps me."May I join you?" He asks.Startled, I nod yes. Chucking, he greets, "Hi, I'm David, and you are?""Jade.""Nice to meet you."I allow him to join me, but my eyes are fixed on the television. "Horrible, what happened there, huh?" he as

Maybe Annie got what she deserved. Call me insane, crazy, a lunatic if they like, but I'm at peace. Whatever the outcome, miraculously, I could see every event before it happened. There were no secrets withheld from me from the moment our eyes met. I saw Tristan before I saw Tristan. We met in my dreams, as he so eloquently put it. And I knew he represented evil before I knew he was evil. Still, I chose him.Many saw me going through these tragic moments and questioned why a loving God allowed me to go through something so atrocious. Then I, the so-called believer, never had an answer as if this wicked relationship or thing was forced upon me. Toni, Annie, Alexandria, Samantha, and I are guilty of the same charge. Like them, I knew Tristan wasn't right, but I wanted to make him right. But most of all, I wanted God to make him right. With all my loyalty and commitment to God, the least He could do was grant me the love I wanted. Right?This is a voluntary army. Soldiers aren't rewar