Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(102)

He woke up hurting badly, and people had been talking and shouting all around him. It was too much, and he fell asleep. He woke up again and hurt even worse. It was dark, and he couldn’t see at all. He began to cry and scream because he couldn’t see right, and someone picked up his hand and held it. A baby was crying loudly, and he thought it sounded like his sister.

He thought that his mom would never let her cry like that and reached out to pat her, but she wasn’t next to him anymore.

He fell asleep and woke up, feeling woozy, in a hospital bed. An old lady he’d never seen before sat next to him, holding his hand, and she looked up from her book when he moved. He realized he was all bandaged and it was nighttime. He could see now, but one of his eyes was all covered up. When he moved, his chest and sides ached bad. The old lady got his dad, who thanked her nicely, using her name like he’d known her forever. He leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, and he saw the terrible hurt and pain in his daddy’s eyes. It frightened him to see that. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days and days, and tears spilled from his eyes as though he hadn’t seen Eli in as long.

Daddy said they had a crash and Mom and Sissie were hurt real bad, and so was he. Daddy said he was going to pray and would he like to come along? He went with his dad and that was how he found out that hospitals had little churches inside them. Once he knew it was there, though, he liked coming alone better. When the nurses discovered him missing from his



Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets

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room, they always came there first. He only saw Dad a few times, but each time he looked worse and worse.

He went every time he could to pray for Mom, Dad, and Sissie. He promised God that if he could see them, he would be so sweet to Sissie and kiss her and hug Mom’s neck and kiss her, too. He even promised to not be gross anymore if it would make Mom happy.

He went up where it was brighter from the soft lights and kneeled down on the steps to pray. He cried until the carpet was wet with his tears because Mom wasn’t getting better and he was scared. He prayed to God, asking him to help her feel better so they could go on to Grandma and Grandpa’s.

He woke in a daze as soft hands smoothed his hair and touched his cheek. He looked up into deep blue eyes and knew he was dreaming again.

“You can’t stay here, sweetheart. Come with me so you can rest.”

Gentle arms picked him up, and he was carried back to his room, tears spilling from his eyes. Soft lips touched his cheeks, kissing the tears away.

Hands as soft as butterfly wings swept over his cheeks, soothing him as strong arms laid him on his bed and covered him with his blanket. He looked up at the tall angel with the cool white-feathered wings and smiled, thinking this must be a really cool dream and how he felt a little better now.

The angel smiled down at him and stood watch over him as he fell asleep.

His daddy came in his room and found him alone on his bed. His father had been crying and, holding back sobs, told him that his mom had gone to heaven, and she didn’t hurt anymore. Terrible pain seized his chest, and he began to breathe hard, sobs ripping through his chest as his dad held him.

The next day, his father looked like a ghost when he saw him, but the nurses told him Sissie was doing better. He snuck back to the chapel again even though they told him not to go alone, and he curled up on the steps in front of the pews again and prayed. He thanked Jesus for helping Sissie get better and asked Him to take care of Mom and help him be a good little man and help his dad to not feel so sad. How was he gonna do this? His mom had always been there for him.

Then he sobbed and sobbed until all his tears were gone. He laid his head on the carpet and felt the tears run from his eyes endlessly. Soft, warm arms lifted him from the steps and cuddled him close. He opened his eyes and looked up into the same deep blue eyes again.

“Sweetheart, I’ll watch over you for her.”



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Heather Rainier

He turned his face into soft, silky, dark hair and put his hand over his face and shut out the world, safe in his angel’s arms as she sat with him in the pew and rocked him, comforting him with a soft tune. He woke in his hospital bed as Grandma and Grandpa came through the door, looking tired and much older. They packed his few personal belongings in a small suitcase, and Grandpa carried him gently from the room. He never had a chance to go back and thank the angel for watching out for him and hoped maybe she could come with him now or visit him later.





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Eli felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted from his chest after relaying the story to her. “Sometimes I dream about her holding me while I cried.

Those aren’t bad dreams, though they used to make me sad, but not anymore. You know why?” he asked, tears welled in his eyes.