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I ain't ever been in a church.

Mama didn't ever let me leave the house to begin with, but a church would have definitely been off-limits. She thought all that religion would mess with my head and I thought she was wrong. She was still wrong, but this place left me uneasy. It weren't that it wasn't pretty lookin' inside; it was a work of art all its own.

The inside was bathed in light, like a picture of righteousness. The pews were lined with gray stone statues of saints and angels, columns shooting up towards the sky every few rows behind them. The columns themselves were decorated with marble leaves and flowers carved so neatly they could have been real. I thought a breeze might come right on through and rustle 'em with how real they looked to me. They stretched up the columns 'til they hit the ceiling. And even there, art had been placed. Domed window-like structures let more light filter in, touching the ground in a radiant ray of light. Decorative patterns were carved at the base of each dome and stretched out until they reached the next set.

All the grand toppings of the church made me feel awfully small. And out of place. I tugged at the long skirt Rivka had lent me, toeing my way down the pews. People stopped to look at me. Some were surprised with their brows shot up to their hairlines. Whether it was a pleasant kind of surprise was a whole other matter. I saw ladies turn to their partner or friends with gloved hands covering their mouths as they whispered something to them. I had a feelin' they weren't sayin' nothin' nice.

Bein' gawked at was new to me. Sure, some of it had been done when I was with Rivka, but I was sure most of that was directed at the witch and not me. Now, I was on my own. I was the only strange thing they could think of to look at. I tugged at my hair and moved on, tryin' not to stare at anyone. I offered up nice smile and got some in return, but for the most part, they just kept on staring.

My skin tingled and tightened with each step I took. I thought I was gon' pass out right then and there. I wouldn't be surprised neither. The air around me was sweltering with the heat of everyone's gaze and my own nervousness. My heart pounded in my ears, an angry drum that threatened to swallow me up. I blinked back that thought, cuttin' it at the root.

Maybe I shoulda given myself a pep talk before walkin' in here. Most of the people would have known me as the girl that walked with the witch. They woulda heard if they hadn't seem me, and my clothes likely gave me away. I weren't no Christian girl they had ever known.

The old folks cleared and I was released into the seating for the younger generation. They took up the whole front of the church, minus the space at the altar for the choir and the altar boys. Majority of them were girls and kids too old to sit with their parents anymore. They turned their head in what was most similar to unison or a wave, a mismatched coordination of movement.

I stopped dead in my tracks. They eyed me until they seemed satisfied, and even then they were still lookin'. My gaze scanned the crowd for some place I could sit, because now I just needed to get out of the limelight. Ironically enough, I was standing right in the middle of one of the light rays. The light, too bright for where I was, forced me to squint. I heard a giggle from one end of the church as I scrunched up my eyes and took another step forward.

I must have been making a right funny face because there was more laughter. Or maybe it was just my approach. Or maybe it was something I just didn't get. I weren't too sure on the proper etiquette for church, 'sides not acting up and being on my best behavior. A weak smile slid over my lips as I raised my hand in a wave. A few people responded in kind and I didn't feel so bad anymore.

One face caught my attention. It lit up at the sight of me, just like I did at the sight of him. The coiling of my insides stopped for just a moment as he stood up. He looked like he was about to excuse himself to greet me, but the girl beside him was having none of it. I couldn't make out the words, but her voice sounded like it was coming from her nose. She whined and complained for a moment before he sat down again. But that didn't stop him from gesturing for me to come over to him.

I did just that, sliding through the rows until I reached him. There wasn't a seat beside him available and the girl wasn't givin' up her seat so easy.

"Mind if I sit here," I'd asked.

"Just don't touch me," she'd said, and that was the end of it.

I scrunched myself up on the end of the pew, tryin' be real small so I wouldn't touch her like she said. It was hard enough even cross my leg. The pews were cushioned, thankfully. I sank into the pale green thing gratefully. It felt like it could just suck me right up and take me to a whole other place. I woulda liked that.

Max's finger on my shoulder had me turning my head, only to get an eyeful of the girl's blonde hair. I could smell the many layers of hairspray she'd used, though it weren't too bad. Her hair was up in a real nice do, and I wanted to compliment her. But then I remembered she wasn't too big on being friendly with me. I tilted my head to the side, just missing Max's eyes. He'd leaned forward and I leaned back, and we played this game for another minute or so. We caught up to one another, fit to burst with laughter.

The girl between us didn't seem too pleased by the little game we'd played around her, shooting me a glare. Her small eyes had seemed larger with her artificially long lashes and exaggerated eyeliner. Her pretty pink lips had pressed into a thin line when she directed her steely look over at me, but turned into a simpering pout when she glanced over at Max. He shut down right quick, cheeks reddening and gaze dropping as he smiled sheepishly.

It was like the kid had never seen a girl before. Though, I weren't in no position to be criticizing him. The space left beside me was filled by a small boy and I couldn't help my fascination. I could count on my fingers how many times I'd seen small children before coming to Gavlier. This would be the second time seein' once since coming here—other than when they ran up real fast, then ran away because they got too close to the witch. The parent that had set him there gave me a hard once over before moving back to their seat.

With big wide eyes and a thumb stuck in his mouth, the little 'ne turned his gaze right on over to me. His cheeks were big and pinch-able, rosy with his youth. He had pretty lashes that curled up nicely and great brown eyes that reminded me of the bayou. His little pink lips spread out in a smile around his thumb, his free hand searching for mine. I'd always heard that kids were nice and kind, but also that they were too honest and just plain mean. I wondered how people had come to both those conclusions.

His hair was soft and fluffy, little black curls brushing against my skin when he rested his head on my arm. I thought about running my hand through his hair, but the vibration of sound that coursed through me had me freezing.

The piano rift filled the whole church and people ushered on over to their seats in the pews. It was like assigned seating, I noticed. They'd have a designated spot in the back or closer to the front. The last minute people raced to their seats like lightning. I stifled a laugh at one man gallopin' on over to his spot, hair flopping as he went like the ears of a dog.

The melody went on, a voice joining in. It sounded like heaven had touched down on earth for a moment, taking my attention with it. The girl that stood before the gilded white railing that separated the congregation from the altar was the picture of delight. Her hair was shorn short, close to her head. Her skin was like bronze, shining in the ray of light she stood under. It was like a spotlight, drawing our attention to her.

From where I sat, she looked rather tall. But that wasn't what I was too focused on; I was put in a trance by her voice. I'd hardly noticed the reverend walking up to his spot on the altar, eyes closed and hands raised as the girl sang on. She let out that final note like a roar out of a lion's mouth and the church erupted. Stamping feet and shouting voices raised in the air until Reverend Marsellas stood up again. His hands were still raised, eyes still shut.

He took a deep breath, a smile on his lips. He wiped away a tear and exhaled before opening his eyes again. "Thank you, Jesus!"

His voice filled the church just as the girl's had, but with a weakness to it that I doubted people noticed.

"Thank you, Mabel, for that beautiful, beautiful praise. God will surely bless you, li'l girl. Now, let us bow our heads and thank the Lord for letting us see today so that we could praise him."

Something told me I'd be here for a while.

// apologies for the late update. I know I missed two updates in a row ( >.< ) please forgive me! things have gotten fairly busy on my end, especially with all the new stories I have popping up to suit a wider audience. please remember to show the story some love by voting, commenting, and sharing with others! cheers, rem.

QUESTION TIME: What's the longest thing you've ever had to sit through? I know a few church services that could have been a little shorter...