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Why didn’t my father warn me?

Sister Agatha’s thin lips stretch into a scary smile. “If you have misdeeds to repent for, I strongly suggest you repent now. Repent silently in your hearts! Beg our Lord, our Savior, for forgiveness! Or be Judged for them!”

A couple of girls begin to blubber and sob, begging God for forgiveness out loud.

Stomping her heel hard into the floor, Sister Agatha’s voice cracks like a whip. “I said silently! Unless, that is, you want to burn!”

Silence falls upon us once more, only interrupted by uncomfortable shifting and soft, wet sniffles.

The fist of terror squeezing my heart tighter, I mentally beg God to forgive me for all I’ve done. For being stupid. For not pleasing my mother.

For thinking bad things about her.

I’ll do better.

I promise I’ll be better.

Please, I don’t want to burn in Hell.

Sister Agatha walks up and down the line, her eyes narrowed to slits and her upper lip curling up in a sneer until there’s a commotion beyond the curtain.

The floor vibrates beneath my feet, and it sounds like everyone in the cathedral is rushing to stand at once. The smell of smoky incense fills the air, then the notes of a hymn sung by a single voice in Latin echoes off the walls.

At first, the hymn is as soft as a whisper, like the singer is giving everyone a chance to quiet down and listen.

But it quickly grows louder, demanding to be heard above all others.

The notes are so strong, sung so perfectly, the hymn is like an arrow that pierces my soul and resonates in my bones. Tears prick at my eyes again, but these tears are not from pain.

They’re from the sheer beauty of it.

I don’t know any of the words, but with the song filling me I swear IfeelGod.

It’s like I’m being cocooned by a soft, fluffy cloud. Then it becomes stronger, like I’m being hugged by a phantom pair of arms.

I feel His forgiveness.

I feel His love.

He knows I didn’t mean to commit any sins.

He knows I’m a good girl.

I’ll always be His good girl.

All I have to do, all that is required of me, is love Him in return…

The song ends and the pair of phantom arms hugging me fades away. Leaving me to face Sister Agatha and the Judging alone.

But I’m no longer worried or afraid.

God loves me and He’s on my side.

I will be found worthy.

I am already worthy.

“It is time,” Sister Agatha says with a finality that causes one girl to whimper.