The Rumor of Heaven

This historical novel tells the timeless story of one woman's journey through life, marked by those moments she promises herself to remember and by her most guarded secrets.

I lay there, sucking air into my body again and again, and in spite of my compromised situation, was strangely aware of what a beautiful night laid before us. With only the stars and moon to give their light, it was incredulous how bright everything looked through my tears. I could see everything there in the dark, and for a few seconds, crickets and locusts sang deafeningly in my ears. I was surprised that I hadn't noticed them before. It seemed oddly as if they were warning us that we were in their land now, not in our own home, and that we should beware of them, for they were strong in number and mighty. I heeded their warning and was afraid of them. This awareness was stifled by the sounds of Father's footsteps growing thunderously loud and I knew he was upon me. Without raising my head or attempting to stand, I turned around on my knees and put my arms up in the air, as if to shelter myself and begged with a shaking voice, "Oh, please, Father, please. Forgive me."

A short silence ensued as I waited for him to pounce on me and beat the life out of me for making him run so far. I could hear his labored breathing pouring from his nose and mouth and knew surely that I would have to pay for it all.