Page 217 of Haunt Me

Eden: How hard are you trying not to call me ‘sweetheart’ right now?

JamesP: Pretty hard. But only because you are one.

Eden: Thank you. What a sweet thing to say.

JamesP: Ok, you sounded extremely surprised that I said something sweet right now. Hurt.

Eden: *laughing* Sorry, I’m sorry, it’s true, I was surprised. But wait till you hear what I want to ask you. That will be a surprise.

JamesP: Hit me.

Eden: Could you read the Bible to me? Out loud, I mean?

JamesP:Toyou? Sure. Wait, let me open the app on my phone. Putting you on speaker.

Eden: Aren’t you going to ask me why I can’t read it myself?

JamesP: None of my business.

Eden: I can read, you know.

JamesP: Duly noted. Ok, opened the app. Any preference?

Eden: No. Aren’t you curious why I can’t read it myself and I’m asking you to read it for me?

JamesP: Very.

Eden: You are a little annoying, you know. Isaiah is right.

JamesP: Your little boyfriend is rarely right. But if this is the one occasion, don’t let him know. That’s the last thing we need right now, him thinking he’s right.

Eden: You are also very stressful.

JamesP: Sorry. I’m sorry. I… It was not my intention. Don’t tell Zay.

Eden: Now you sound scared. I was mostly kidding, you’re not that bad, honestly. I trust you. That’s why you were the one I called. I knew you wouldn’t laugh at me or make me feel embarrassed.

JamesP: I would die if I ever made you feel like that, Eden. I am honored by your trust. If you give me another chance, I will try not to… be myself, you know?

Eden: Being yourself is the best thing you can be. Ok, can we get to the reading now? I think that is what is stressing me, and notyou, to be fair. Sorry.

JamesP: Why does it stress you, if you don’t mind saying?

Eden: It’s my… It’s because of Solomon. After he died, I couldn’t have faith in God anymore, because I kept hearing his lies, his voice in my head. He used faith and manipulated it to fit his lies and poison. How can I have faith without the trauma? How can I separate my faith from the abuse that got done to me? All the trauma his so-called religion taught me?

JamesP: Oh, sweetheart.

JamesP: Sorry, sorry, it slipped out. But, I mean, Eden.

Eden: I’m actually starting to like it. Anyway, that was not true religion, was it?

JamesP: It was not.

Eden: It wasn’t love. It wasn’t truth. For him, these words were just another way to lie. To hide. To force his will on others… On me.

JamesP: There is a truth no one can take away from you. It’s your truth. Otherwise known as faith.

Eden: I think so too. The truth is the truth no matter what, and love will persevere. And I keep the faith. Always I keep the faith.

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