Single post in Shifting Fates

Sunday school and service pretty much progressed like normal. However, Rondrio could only half-focus on what was being taught. He had noticed Mom return soon after the beginning of service but didn’t see Kaname. His hands felt clammy. Avoiding a shark was simple. Don’t go in the water. An out-of-control truck risked endangering not only him but anyone else around him at the time. What was the best way to avoid this? Kaname hadn’t even told him the time it would happen. Where was she anyway? Before he knew it, his pastor had called for the benediction. Service had never flown by so fast before. As he stood with everyone else and bowed his head for the last prayer, he silently hoped it really wasn’t his last. Rondrio chatted briefly with friends as people gradually left. Dad was always the last to leave because he made sure all the lights were turned off and all the offices were locked before checking the main entrances. The delay gave Rondrio enough time to take a seat on one of the back pews and silently contemplate going home. He hunched over, tightly clutching his Bible to his chest. This couldn’t be his last day! He choked, trying to hold back tears and ignore his sweaty palms. Harshly wiping his hands on his jeans, he muttered, “What am I gonna do?!” Hearing footsteps approach across the carpeted floor, Rondrio quickly wiped his eyes clear before looking up at his dad who asked, “You ready?” With a forced smile, Rondrio nodded. “Yeah.” As ready as he could be anyway. Inhaling deeply, Rondrio stood and headed for the vestibule while Dad turned off the last lights in the sanctuary. When Rondrio stepped from the russet carpeting to the hardwood paneling in the vestibule, his eyes fixated on a figure standing beyond the double security doors and at the bottom of a dozen, granite steps that led to the parking lot. He pushed open one of the security doors, prompting her to turn around at the sound of its creaking hinges. Traffic zoomed past on a highway nearby, filling the silence between them. A light wind blew through, assaulting her hair as well as attempting to wreak havoc with the knee-length, white dress she wore. A cropped, stonewash denim jacket that barely draped below her chest partially concealed the upper portion of the dress. However, the tail of the fluttering dress displayed a black flower pattern that nearly matched the color of her hair. She almost looked like a different person with it on. “Where were you?” Rondrio asked while descending the steps. The question came out more gruff than intended. He had to keep his tone in check this time. Kaname acted like she hadn’t noticed and instead focused on controlling her hair so she could look him in the eye. “I couldn’t go in there… Thought lightning might strike me down or something.” The small smirk she wore while saying that last part disappeared almost as quickly as it came. The door slammed shut behind him. Rondrio stopped on the bottom step and glanced back at his dad locking the security doors. He didn’t really want to have this conversation with Dad around. “Dad, could you go on without us? I wanna talk to Kaname for a little first, and then we can walk home.” Kaname inhaled sharply. His dad paused at the top of the steps. His gaze drifted to Kaname before returning to him. Rondrio couldn’t begin to guess what he was thinking. Since they hadn’t told his parents about last night’s dream, he hoped his dad would just go along with it. As his dad approached him, Rondrio felt his heartbeat quicken. “You have thirty minutes. Not a second longer.” His dad’s firm hand rested on his shoulder. “If you’re not home before then, I’m coming back to get you.”