Page 167 of Please Save Me

I closed my eyes as I exhaled. “Is now really the time to lecture me about lying to you?”

Surely, he had more important things to do. I wasn’t sure what exactly someone with as much free time as Dale seemed to have could do, but there had to be something.

“Son, you got it all wrong.” A velvety chuckle wove through his words. “You are not the abomination.” Dale slowly extended his arm toward the general direction of the hospital parking lot. “They are the abomination. Your brother is the abomination.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “How is Lucian an abomination?”

A degenerate, sure. But the abomination felt a bitextreme.

“He is the one leading you down the path of destruction.” Dale’s gaze bore into mine. “If it weren’t forhim, you and Mason would be married. And if she was your wife, none of this would have happened.”

No part of me wanted to listen to Dale, but I was desperate for anything that would help me not feel like this. Plus, he did make a little sense. Cameron had admitted to me that he was trying to get time for Mason and me to be together so she’d reconsider marrying my brother. But, if she hadn’t been secretly married this whole time, she might have accepted my proposal.

“... You really think this is all Lucian’s fault?”

Dale slowly shook his head. “I think he fell off of God’s righteous path a long time ago, and because of that, God punished him in ways unfair to you.”

I swallowed hard as I nodded. Dale was right; this was unfair to me. Not only had I lost Mason, but I’d also lost any chance I’d ever have of being happy. I knew it was wrong to be greedy, but for the first time, it genuinely felt like I had people who loved me, and this tragic event had changedallof them.

Dale leaned in even closer, his voice just above a whisper as he spoke. “You deserve a chance at redemption, Sebastian.”

“Redemption doesn’t exist for me. Not without her.”

Dale’s expression softened. “Have you prayed for her?”

Considering our current situation, his suggestion was down right offensive. And, if I'd been more able bodied, I would have strangled him.

“She's as good as dead. It's too late for prayer,” I snapped. "It's not like it would have worked anyway."

“I understand why you feel that way.” Dale placed a hand on my shoulder. “But, prayer can move mountains. What’s the harm intrying?”

Religion was for dumb people, and those who believed in the power of prayer were worse than the rest. But Dale’s words had a certain way to them. Maybe it was because of my desperation, but I was willing to do anything just as long as Mason opened her eyes once more.

“What do I have to do?” I breathed, bowing my head.

“Normally, I’d make you go up to the altar… but you don’t look like you’re in any shape for that. So, fold your hands and close your eyes.

My hands trembled as I clasped them together and sealed my eyes shut.

“Now, listen and repeat after me,” Dale instructed. “Heavenly Father, I come to you bathed in desperation and sorrow.”

“Heavenly Father, I come to you bathed in desperation and sorrow.” My voice cracked as I echoed his words.

“I ask for your divine light to touch Mason, healing her from all that ails her.”

“I ask for your divine light to touch Mason, healing her from all that ails her.”

“Restore her health and strength so that she may come back to those who love her.”

I choked on a breath and cleared my throat before continuing. “Restore her health and strength so that she may come back to those who love her.”

“As I pray, I open my heart and soul to you.”

“As I pray, I open my heart and soul to you.”

“Guide me, and grant me the strength to walk your path.” Dale’s voice dripped with conviction, and I did my best to mirror his tone.

“Guide me, and grant me the strength to walk your path.”

---