Page 4 of His Elder

Instead, I'd felt tired. And then angry. And then nothing at all.

"Excuse me." I offered a card to a young woman pushing a bike. "Do you have a moment to—"

"No, gracias."

"Of course. Have a good day."

She walked away. I pocketed the card and looked up to find Elder Price watching me from across the plaza, his expression unreadable.

Sixteen months, I reminded myself.Just sixteen more months, and then you're free.

But standing there, with Elder Price's blue eyes cutting through the space between us and the cathedral looming overhead like a beautiful, impossible promise, freedom felt very far away.

2

ELIAS

The alarm screamed at six-thirty, ripping me from a dream I couldn't remember. I slapped at my radio alarm clock until it shut up, then lay there staring at the ceiling, counting cracks in the plaster.

Elder Price's bed was already empty, covers pulled military-tight.

I could hear him in the bathroom—the rush of water, the quiet murmur of what might've been prayer. Of course he was praying. Probably thanking God for the opportunity to serve another glorious day, asking for strength to deal with his slacker companion, requesting divine intervention to make me less of a complete disaster.

I dragged myself up, pulled on my last clean white shirt, and stumbled to the kitchen.

Elder Price was already dressed, hair combed, scripture bag packed. He stood at the counter eating muesli from a bowl, histriple combination open beside him, sticky notes bristling from the pages like neon quills.

"Good morning, Elder Vance."

"Morning."

I grabbed the instant coffee I'd hidden behind the cereal boxes, then remembered. Right. Mormon apartment. Mormon companion. No coffee.

"We have Postum," Elder Price offered, not looking up from Alma chapter thirty-two.

"I'm good."

I poured myself water instead, leaned against the counter, and watched him read. His lips moved slightly, forming words. His index finger traced the lines of text like he was absorbing them through his skin.

"Companion study starts at seven," he said.

"I'm aware."

"I thought we could focus onPreach My Gospelchapter three today. 'What Do I Study and Teach?'"

"Sounds thrilling."

Finally, he looked up. "You have a better suggestion?"

"I was planning to actually study."

"That's what I just—"

"My own stuff. Not the manual."

His jaw tightened. "Personal study is at six. Companion study is meant to be done together."

"Right. Together." I drained my water glass. "I'll get my scriptures."