Page 6 of Broken

The day you were taken, I found a dying boy on the streets.

I called an ambulance.

I sat in the hospital waiting room like I was his family.

And he died anyway.

I’m not sure why God put him in my path if I wasn’t supposed to save him.

Father Gonzalez says that God works in mysterious ways…

Maybe it was so that I’d meet you.

The TV in the hospital waiting room was playing the news and that was how I learned you’d been taken captive.

When the boy died, I did something bad. Something I shouldn’t have done and something I won’t confess toeither you or my priest. So, like the good Catholic I am, it ate me up inside and you were pushed to the back of my mind.

I’m sorry for that.

Then our priest mentioned you during Sunday service and he encouraged us to pray for you—I thought I’d do one better.

Write you my prayer because I find that God doesn’t always listen.

So, here it is:

I pray they’re feeding you.

I pray they’re not hurting you.

I pray you don’t die.

I may only be a child in the eyes of the world, but I’m noticing that life is unfair.

Why would they kidnap you?

You’re a priest! You should be safe.

Please, don’t die.

Sending you the strength you’ll need to overcome their captivity, to survive their treatment, to endure until you prevail.

Don’t let them break you.

Andrea Jura

CHAPTER 3

The cell of Father Savio Martin

ORAN, ALGERIA

Dead Man - David Kushner

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been one hundred and seven weeks since my last confession to anyone but You.

These are my sins.

I-I killed a man, Father.

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