Death

Drabble.

            Death was freeing, Chloe decided. The red and orange leaves rustled around her as a light breeze whispered through the trees. A man was talking somewhere to her right, but his words had become indistinguishable from the other sounds, and Chloe found that she no longer cared what he was saying. She was barely even aware of the people around her anymore, their presence fading into the background.

            The sun wasn't very strong, but she was hot. But even if the circumstances had permitted it, Chloe knew that she could not make her body move, to break away from what was going on around her. There was some pain – her chest felt constricted and she was having trouble breathing. She focused on her heartbeat, trying to keep it strong, trying to keep herself from panicking. There was nothing she could do now – it was no longer in her control. Maybe it never had been.

            And then they were leaving. The people around her began to move away, holding quiet conversations as they gave her a wide berth. She made them uncomfortable, and it was easier to just ignore her. She noticed that one person stayed by her side though, completely unwilling to leave her alone, to abandon her like everyone else. Even without looking, she knew the pained expression that lay heavily on his face as he watched her, a questioning look in his eyes. She could feel the worry and anxiety rolling off of him in waves, and it comforted her to know that he was there, that he felt for her, that he cared enough to take on whatever pain she was feeling right then.

            She reached over and slid her hand into his, gripping it tightly as she stood up, pulling him with her. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear before placing a soft kiss on her lips.

            "You ready?" he asked.

            She nodded. "Let's go."

            Without another glance, she and Jack walked away from her father's grave.

Pieces (1)

Title: Pieces (1)
Rating: R
Prompt: Kitchen
Requested by: stefernie2
Written for: 100_situations

            Chloe just barely bit back her curse as she opened her front door and found herself staring at Spencer. His hands were in his pockets and he was giving her a hesitant smile that immediately faded as he was assaulted by her deep scowl. Shuffling his feet nervously, he cleared his throat.

            "Hey Chloe."

            "What the hell do you want?"

            "I, uh…" He saw her eyes narrow at him suspiciously, and he hurried to his point. "My car broke down a little ways back. You're the first person that actually answered their door."

            "What, your car just happened to break down on my street?"

            "Sadly, yes. You don't really think I was looking for you, do you? You're not exactly a part of my life that I'd like to remember." He would have missed the flash of hurt in her eyes if he hadn't been looking for it. "Look…can we just…can I please just use your phone to call AAA?"

            "Don't you have a cell?" she asked, making no move to let him in.

            He held up his phone and smiled ruefully. "Battery died."

            She continued to frown at him, but he could tell that she was mulling over his request. He could see the battle raging in her eyes, and he realized that she wasn't going to slam the door in his face.

            "Fine," she muttered, rolling her eyes and moving to the side so that he could come in.

            Shutting the door after him, she led him through the living room and into the kitchen. She pointed to the phone without looking at him, and then moved over to the opposite wall and turned o face him, her arms crossed. Spencer stared back.

            "You're just going to stand there?"

            "Yes."

            "Don’t you trust me?"

            "Not in the least."

            Shaking his head, he moved to lift the receiver from it's cradle. Before he could dial, a ringing came from upstairs. Chloe stood her ground for a moment before sighing and stomping out of the kitchen. As soon as she was out of sight, Spencer smiled and hung up the phone.

 

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By the time she came back downstairs, Spencer was waiting for her in the living room. He was holding one of her pictures that belonged on the mantel, and he put it back quickly when he saw her enter the room.

            "Well?" Chloe asked without preamble.

            "They're on the way." He paused, waiting for a reaction but getting none. "I should probably head back to my car."

            "Yes. Please."

            She moved toward the door, reaching out to turn the knob. Without a sound he was there, gripping her wrist and pushing the door close. Chloe tried to free herself from his grasp, but he twisted her arm and she cried out in pain.

            "You know, O'Brian," he said quietly. "Your attitude hasn't changed at all, but your appearance…" His eyes raked up and down her body "has definitely improved. What do you say you and I get together sometime? Just for fun?"

            Chloe spat in his face and finally managed to wrench her arm away.

            "Get out."

            Chuckling, he let his eyes run the length of her again. "You weren't really worth the trouble anyway," he murmured as he opened the door and walked out.

 

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            When the door had shut behind him, Chloe struggled to fight back her tears. She had never expected to see Spencer again, and his behavior had really thrown her off. He was just as cocky as ever, but there seemed to be…a certain malice underlying his words and actions. Her wrist still hurt from where he had grabbed her, and she was pretty sure that she was going to have a bruise by morning.

            Torn between wanting a shower and being starving, she finally decided that she would eat before scrubbing her skin until she couldn't feel his hand or eyes anymore. Heading into the kitchen, she walked over to the fridge, opening it and searching for something that resembled a meal.

            Her head was halfway in when a sound caught her attention. Closing the door, she moved to the kitchen window, looking out at her back yard. It took her a minute to find the source of the noise, as her eyes rested a large German Shepherd. She had seen the dog before in the neighborhood, and she wasn't a fan. Especially not now when it was terrorizing her cat. She flew out the back door, striding across the lawn and yelling at the animal to get away. It just stared at her cat, growling until the feline hissed one last time and bounded off across one of the neighbor's yards. When she reached the dog, she carefully took him by the collar and started to drag him off her property.

            The blast was so sudden, that Chloe had barely even registered the sound before she felt an intense heat on her back and she found herself flying through the air towards her shed.

The Lord Will Hear

(Forgot to do this yesterday)

Psalm 4.


Heart. Mind. Strength. We need all three. If we're missing one, we're missing something vastly important. Knowledge without feeling, feeling without knowing, doing without feeling and knowledge - none of that works. At least not for long.

David had learned long ago that he was just a speck, that there was something bigger than him. He knew he could worry or he could trust - and he chose to trust.

"Oh my God." This isn't some collective prayer. My God. You are the only one who can save me. "Righteous" - no matter the outcome, God is still righteous.

And then he tries to appeal to the men who have betrayed him. Even when Saul was trying to kill him, David refused to kill him. He knew that Saul was God's anointed - just as he is now.

God takes sides - He has set apart the righteous and holy. He will hear when they call to him, when the wicked and unrighteous oppress and attack them.

"In your anger do not sing." He turns to his zealous and righteous friends/followers. DOn't try to get ahead of God and take things into your own hand. "Meditate in your heart and be still." Do the good you know and trust. Wait. He will come.

Many were asking "what's the point?" They knew that David was God's anointed and yet he was on the run from his own son. But David asked God to shine His light upon them. There's a fork in the road that we will all have to face and make a choice. David has decided to trust the LORD no matter what. He says that God has given him greater joy in the storm than the other have had in their seasons of abundance.

So David sleeps. Why? Because he knew he was never in control. It was never about him. He knows that God is in control. And that only God could make him dwell in safety. God can't fall short. God is loving. God is powerful. God is merciful. God is perfect. God is righteous. God is.

Imagine: to love and trust God enough to sleep in a storm with joy in your heart.