Chapter 19 - ELI’S OWN PRAYER WASN’T ANSWERED THE WAY HE WANTEDEli rarely talked about Nathan.
Grace did.
Small stories.
Nathan burning pancakes.
Nathan singing terribly.
Nathan teaching Eli to fix bicycle chains.
Eli avoided the hospital story.
Until Rosalie asked.
They sat in the chapel room Dante had restored after Isabella’s death.
“I prayed every night,” Eli said.
“For what?”
“That he wouldn’t die.”
Rosalie waited.
“He died anyway.”
“Were you there?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Eli’s eyes filled.
“He couldn’t talk much.”
Rosalie’s expression softened.
“He squeezed my hand.”
One squeeze.
Dante, standing outside the doorway, felt something twist.
Eli continued.
“I thought I did prayer wrong.”
Rosalie whispered:
“You were nine.”
“I know.”
“What did your mom say?”
“That prayer isn’t about making God obey.”
Rosalie smiled sadly.
“That sounds harsh.”
“It helped later.”
“How?”
Eli looked at her.
“Sometimes prayer doesn’t change what happens.”
He paused.
“Sometimes it changes what you’re brave enough to do next.”
Rosalie looked toward her legs.
“What did it make you brave enough to do?”
“Go to your gate.”
She stared.
“You were scared?”
“Very.”
“Dad scared you?”
“Yes.”
Dante almost laughed from the hallway.
Fair.
Rosalie smiled.
“Good.”
Eli laughed.
Then she asked:
“Will you pray with me now?”
“For what?”
Rosalie thought.
“Not walking.”
Eli nodded.
“What then?”
“For me not to quit.”
They prayed.
No miracle.
No movement.
Nothing cinematic.
Rosalie opened her eyes afterward.
Then practiced standing for forty minutes.
May you like
That day she broke her record.
One minute and twelve seconds.
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