Chapters (48)
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT
- CONTENTS
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abner ignored her and started pressing on her covered mound, which only made her cry harder. People moved around Abner despite her protests. They pushed on her body like they’d pushed on everyone’s body, but her body was so small. How were they not crushing her?
“You’re hurting me! You’re hurting me! Please!” her tortured screams rang out.
Sol and I jerked our hands back. Abner shook his head and pointed to her covered body. “Keep going. You must keep going. Don’t stop now.” He grabbed my hand and shoved it back on her, pressing his hand down on mine. Her small body writhed underneath our hands. He let go and grabbed Sol next.
“I can’t breathe. Please, I can’t breathe.”
It took everything in me to keep my hands in place.
“Fight for the light! Fight for the light!” we chanted. We were well versed in the routine. Transition was the hardest part, just like real labor. “Prove your worthiness to the Lord!”
“Help!” Her scream was so raw I felt it in my guts.
“Get away from her!” I screamed, pushing Daniel off her. He grabbed me and slammed me to the ground, pinning my arms behind my back. “They’re hurting her. She wants them to stop. I’ve got to help her,” I cried. “Please, I’ve got to help her.”
“This is all part of her journey. She’s looking into her awakening right now,” Abner called.
Nobody stopped. I fought against Daniel, but he kept me pinned, forcing me to watch the scene in front of me with my face smashed to the floor. Willow’s body thrashed around while everyone waited for her to break free. Her cries were silent. Just whimpers. This time, there was no hand. Time dragged. Everyone kept looking at Abner with hesitations in their movements, but he yelled at them to continue pushing. It kept going on and on.
She should’ve come out. Too much time had passed. Why wasn’t she out?
“You must break free if you want to be free. Leave the darkness behind you.” The determination in his voice was unwavering. Daniel slowly let me up. I stood with the others encircling her, hands at my sides. Her body stopped moving underneath the sheets. She wasn’t making any more sounds. I clasped my hand over my mouth.
“You can step back,” Abner said.
Relief washed over me so hard it made my knees buckle. It was finally over. Thank God.