Father Kane's Final Act

As he walked into the church, Father Kane breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of the candles at the front of the room. He looked around him at the as-yet empty rows of pews and the beautiful stain glass windows glowing, as light streamed through them into the room. He sat in a chair just off the aisle in the front row and closed his eyes to take in the monk's chanting his trainee clergyman had started. He'd heard the same music countless times before, but it never once failed to calm him and bring with it an overwhelming rush of peace.

As he'd expected, his trainee emerged from the side curtain just as he opened his eyes. 

"Hello Father," said Reverend Sanders in greeting as he approached. "Ready for the service?"
Father Kane looked at him as he rose slowly to his feet. He was a young man, yet it seemed to him that he was still just a boy. He was well past his prime. He'd served and led this church for many, many years and he'd done it all alone. But he knew now that the Father above could come for him at any time now and so he had taken on Reverand Sanders in order to train him up to take care of his beloved congregation when he was gone. 

Little was Father Kane aware, the longer the Reverend served alongside him, the more the power that came with being a leader of the Church began to go to his head. Having come from a poor family, Reverand Sanders had never before had as much influence as he had now. Never before had he seen so much money in the collection plate. All for the good of the church though, of course. The money, the influence, the power, it was all music to his ears. There was only one problem. One block. One thing standing in the way of him having it all for himself. Father Kane.

As soon as the Reverand realised the existence and identity of this obstacle, it would seem he was out to get Father Kane at all costs. The Reverend was sneaky though, and it was only ever the two of  them around when Reverand Sanders would 'accidentally' push him or complain about how people could be 'too' good. The marks that followed, Reverend Sanders knew, could easily be explained away as part of the perils of getting older. Father Kane was helpless. It was this fact that the Reverend was counting on, because he knew the old man, couldn't... Wouldn't admit to anyone that he had anything to do with it.

"Curious," said Father Kane thoughtfully, his voice quiet as he circled his trainee clergyman.
"Very curious..."
"What?" Asked Reverand Sanders, blinking.
"You haven't really been feeling quite yourself, have you, Reverend?"
"What do you mean?"
Father Kane didn't bother rephrasing the question in order to get a proper answer. He didn't need to. He knew the answer answer already. "Because you haven't been yourself at all, have you?" The reverend's mouth fell open. "Not since you started here. I met the real you once. Just once, at your interview. That version of you, that unconrupted, uninhabited version of you, has potential. Serious potential, to lead the Parish of St. Vincent's into the next generation. But for that to happen, the evil spirit within you must leave."
With that, a bright red ghostly figure appeared, leaving the now unpossessed Reverend Sanders gasping for breath.
Father Kane looked in turn at the spirit, then his terrified clergyman. He wanted to comfort him, to reassure him, but how could he, when he was so unsure himself? But, just as he was starting to think that he'd unleashed an unnecessary evil in this world, a bright light shone through the stain glass window at the head of the Church building, mysteriously bringing with it the answer Father Kane had been silently praying for.
Moving quickly and wordlessly, Father Kane stepped to his side and grabbed the evil spirit, ignoring the reverend's now gaping mouth as he turned his attention momentarily back to the light streaming in through the stain glass window ahead of them.
"Fear not Reverend," he said, turning to look at the man. "The Lord shall guide you in the path He desires you to follow."
"But Father, what will I do without you?" Asked the Reverend as he realised what would shortly happen.
"You have great knowledge already. Allow the Lord and your Bible to aid you along in your path." At the young man's expression, Father Kane continued. "Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame. My time is here now. It has been coming awhile. What better way then one final act to serve our Holy Father?"
The reverend nodded, trying his hardest to don a brave face. "Thank you, Father Kane. Lord, our Father, please take Father Kane to live with you in Heaven. Lord, please bless him and be with those here who mourn him," said Reverend Sanders as he watched them go.

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In memory of Sir John Hurt, who brought to life Ollivalander in Harry Potter and The War Doctor in Doctor Who, among many other amazing characters. RIP. 

The Sound of Your Beating Heart

Lying here with you, off in our own little world, the sound of your beating heart is comforting. It grounds me, and it tells me you're still here, alive, with me. It reassures me that I'm not alone. The warmth of your skin against mine, your cute little smile, I love it all, but nothing more than the sound of your beating heart.

I remember long ago, some other world, some other life, when I lay with someone else like this. We were friends too, and we had our own little bubble, our own little world, just like you and I. She let me cry on her shoulder, she let me hold her close whenever I was scared and afraid. Just like you, I loved the feeling of her warm skin, her smile, the sound of her beating heart. Though it was long ago, I remember, clear as day when I lost her. Sudden, unexpected, no chance for goodbyes. I lay with her as I always used to, but it wasn't the same. The warmth had left her, and she wasn't smiling anymore. Her heart was still. The tears that were shed that day could have formed an ocean around us.

That was then, and this is now. Now, I have you. A new friend, a new life. A different world. I'll always have the memories of her, but you and I aren't finished. We're still writing our story. We're still making memories. I fear the same thing that happened to her happening to you. I know one day, it will. It happens to everyone one day, but I hope that with you it will be different. That I'll at least get to say one last goodbye. But for now, you're right here, by my side. The sound of your beating heart reminds me that you're still here. It reassures me, and it helps me not to be so scared anymore.

When the world becomes mad and chaotic, I listen for the sound of your beating heart and retreat into the sanctuary of you and I. The noise, the madness, the chaos, all disappears and I'm left with you. Just you and me, set free from it all in our own little world. The sound of your beating heart is comforting, and it helps me to take a pause and just be, even if it's only for a moment.

As unfortunate as it is, the sad reality is that you can't hide, you can't escape. At least, not forever. At some point, we'll have to emerge from this little bubble of ours. And when we return, to the madness and the chaos of the world beyond, I know your heart will help. The sound of your beating heart will ground me when I may otherwise have quickly become lost among it all. The steadiness of it's rhythm will help me believe that everything will be calm again, sometime soon. Until then, I have you and the sound of your beating heart to help me through.

The Reset Button

It seemed that from about 6 o'clock on the 31st December, the world began counting down. Many just got caught up in the general excitement and hype that surrounded the evening.Some could hardly wait to leave the old year behind and step into the new.

Rosslyn was one of those people. The year she was looking back upon had not exactly been the best year ever. There had been losses, challenges and hard times she hadn't thought she'd make it through. On more than one occasion, Rosslyn felt like she'd recreated that iconic Bridget Jones scene, on the couch in her PJs with a block of chocolate and a glass of wine, that sad old redone Eric Carmen song playing loudly from her player as she half sang, half sobbed along, at least a thousand times. Certainly so many that she had long ago lost count. In any case, she was anxious for the new year. She couldn't wait to stand, looking back at it, waving it goodbye, confident in the knowledge that she could leave it behind in the past. Like someone desperately wanting a webpage to reload, Rosslyn was pressing so hard on the refresh button, staring so intently at the clock on the wall as the seconds took minutes to go by, that the pressure could have broken the computer mouse, or the clock hands, or both, quite easily. Rosslyn longed for the new year. Rosslyn longed for the opportunity to hit 'refresh'.

Rochelle on the other hand sat on her balcony, half-full champagne glass in hand and a big smile on her face as she reflected on the year that had been. The downs and the ups, the lows and the highs, the bad times and the good. This year, all things considered, had been pretty darn good. Nothing majorly bad had happened, she'd finally landed the job of her dreams and had gotten a brand new car and her very own place. Just to top it all off. Many a moment this year had made her want to echo Liesel's ecstatic squeal at the end of 'Sixteen Going On Seventeen' in the Sound Of Music. As she laid back in her chair and took a casual sip of her sparkly bubbles, Rochelle had to admit, her year had been pretty great.

Though the rides had been different and for different reasons, both Rosslyn and Rochelle could agree that that year had been a roller coaster. Both were eager for that fateful strike of 12 that would wash the year anew.

Suddenly, Rosslyn stopped flicking channels. The words of one of the TV New Years celebrations coverage host's had caught her attention. "Wherever you are, right now, whatever you're doing. However this year has gone, take this opportunity to reflect, right now, on what's happened this year..."

Rochelle's ears pricked up as the sound of the New Year's TV coverage sailed through the open door and into her ear, tickling it with it's whisper.
"Take this opportunity now, on the verge of that stroke of midnight to make a wish for the year ahead. Think about your hopes and your dreams for this new year. Take a breath and get ready to step into it."

As the TV host had recommended, Rosslyn breathed in deeply, proceeding to hold her breath as the host on TV continued. "Remember, from that stroke of midnight, the reset button has been hit. You have a fresh start, a whole brand new year to do with it what you will." So make the most of it." The host on TV took a deep breath as a big, bright smile spread across her lips. "And, without further ado, let the countdown begin!"
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.

Five!
Four!
Three!
Two!
One!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

Race Against Time

To some, it seemed that Felicity must be crazy. To others, she seemed lonely. But Felicity knew the truth. Felicity knew that Nilli existed. Felicity knew that Nilli was real. Nilli was Felicity's best friend. Had been since she was a tiny baby. Had been for as long as she could remember. But, Nilli was also a little magical. He was invisible to everyone but Felicity, and to everyone else, Nilli was just her imaginary friend.

The problem was that Felicity was growing up and the two friends didn't know what would happen when she did. Would Nilli still be around when she grew up? Would he loose his magic and become just a lifeless children's toy once again? Would he become invisible to Felicity? Or, would everything stay just as it was now? Just the same, like nothing at all had changed? 

The answers to these questions Nilli nor Felicity knew. That was why they were in a race. A race against time. They had until Felicity's birthday. That much they knew. After that, they didn't have any idea what would happen. The two friends knew of a single potion. A 'cure' of sorts that would, like the Blue Fairy had done in Pinnochio, turn Nilli into a real boy. And they had until Felicity's birthday to find it.

The friends worked round the clock, day and night in search of the magical cure to their predicment. The 'real' potion was legend to Nilli's kind, and he'd heard of it only in whispers. Not once had he spied it with his own eyes.
"What do you think?" Felicity asked, turning to face him, another glass full of brightly coloured liquid in her hand. Nilli studied it, turning his head one way then the other as if this might give him a better view.
"I don't know," he said uncertainly at last, meeting her eyes. Felicity's face fell. "Legend has it that the real thing, the real 'real' cure is rainbow, and sparkly."
Felicity wanted to laugh, and she did. "Seriously?" she asked. "It's rainbow, and it sparkles? It's like something out of a kid's story."
Nilli shrugged. "You have to admit, Felicity," he said in his high pitched voice, "you and I, we're like something out of a kid's story."
A smile formed on her face. "You're right, Nilli. You're a dream come true. Everything I ever could have wanted. Everything any kid could have possibly wanted, I've got with you." She paused, taking a deep breath. "That's why we have to win this race. That's why we have to make you real."

So the friends worked without stopping until they miraculously produced the sparkly rainbow potion required to turn Nilli into a real boy one sunny afternoon a mere week before their time was due to run out.

Right after Felicity blew out her birthday candles, making her wish, Nilli drank the rainbow coloured liquid. Felicity's family gasped as Nilli materialised right before their very eyes. Sccared by his sudden appearence, by the unknown, some of them screamed. Others recoiled or ran away. So Nilli went into hiding, resuming his invisible form so as not to frighten anybody else.

Little did Felicity's family realise when she brought home her boyfriend Neal to meet them years later that they were meeting the very same person who had frightened them that day of Felicity's birthday when he'd suddenly materialised before their very eyes.

Now, on their wedding day, you could not wipe the smiles off the face of anyone in the room. As she recited her vows, Felicity could not have meant anything more in her life. Everything she said as she gazed into his bright blue eyes was truer than anything she'd ever said before. "Today, I;'m getting everything I ever could have wanted. Today, all my dreams are coming true. Because today's the first day of the rest of our lives. Today is the day I get to marry my very best friend, and I couldn't wish for anything more in all the world."
Her smile grew wider still as she leaned in to whisper into his ear. "I love you," she said, "Nilli." 

By The Light of The Moon

The nighttime, without the moon's bright light, is dark and gloomy. Shadows lurk, easily hidden. People wander around blindly, no light to guide their way. Others are lost, consumed by the blackness, feeling like they are alone in the world. In the darkness, it seems all hope is gone. That was my world before you came into it. The moon had been there once, but it disappeared suddenly and I'd been lost in the darkness ever since. Until you came along.

When you arrived, you brought the moon back with you. You brought the light back into the night, so that the world is not plunged into pitch black darkness. You returned the light to the world.It's almost like the moonlight is different to what it was before, but it's still there, brightening the otherwise darkness of the night. Returning light to the world.

By the light of the moon I'm guided once again. By the light of the moon I'm reminded that I'm not the only one here in the world. By the light of the moon, where once I'd been lost, I'm found again. By the light of the moon, the darkness is starting to disappear. By the light of the moon, the world seems bright once again.

You are my moon in the night sky, that lights up the world when it's dark, finds, me, guides me, keeps me company and restores my hope in the world. Where once the moon was stolen away, you've brought it back to remind me what I had once and what I can and will have again.