Read Online Believe by Sarah Aronson - Free Book Online

he wouldn’t wake up.
    Mrs. Demetrius took my hand and put it back on Abe’s. The priest said in a formal voice, “We were just about to readsome Scripture. If you want to, you could join us.” He handed me a Bible. Mrs. Demetrius said, “We would love to hear you read. After everything you have lived through, it might make us all feel better.”
    Saying no would be wrong.
    Saying no would be selfish.
    I held the book open to the page she wanted to hear. It had been read before, many times. The corner was almost torn. The page was slightly crinkled. “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” Abe’s parents closed their eyes and listened. I kept reading. “Beware of him,” I said, clearing my throat, “and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”
    Abe’s mom squeezed my hand. “We know Abe can hear you. We trust that the Lord will heal Abe’s body.”
    I didn’t agree. The Lord—these prayers—they didn’t work. But there was no way I could stop now.
    â€œBut if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.” There is stuff about an Angel and some people who may or may not believe. The machine beeps. I feel lost. These words make promises, but I don’t understand why anyone thinks they can help. I don’t know who is ye and thy and thine. “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”
    I felt trapped.
    Tricked into saying words I did not understand or buy.
    I gave her back the Bible and grabbed Abe by the shoulders.“Abe. Please wake up. Please. Just open your eyes. I know you’re in there. I know you can hear me.”
    His mother cried. She grabbed me and held me in her arms. Her body shook with fear. “Janine, we know you’re scared. We know you’re suffering, too.”
    â€œThis is not your fault,” Miriam added. “You did not cause the accident. What you’re doing right now … it’s all we can do.”
    That’s what made me mad. There had to be something else to do.
    When Mrs. D. pushed the Bible back into my hands, I gave it back. I couldn’t fake it. I was scarred, broken beyond repair. These words made promises that never come true. I leaned over Abe, gave him a hug, and walked as fast as I could to the elevator. I said to no one, “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. I need to go.”
    The Demetriuses thought that praying helped, but they were wrong. It never did. It didn’t take sickness away. It didn’t save anyone.
    Outside, I walked faster. The air had that after-storm smell—fresh and cold and light—but I couldn’t calm down. They believed that God was going to take care of Abe, but I knew that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, bad things happened. Sometimes, no matter what you wanted, God did nothing. They could keep praying, but they’d never convince me that anyone or anything was listening.
    When I got to Miriam’s car, I called Lo, but no one picked up. Then Miriam called. Probably to tell me I wasn’t going anywhere without her.
    â€œJanine?”
    â€œWhat?”
    She sounded like she’d been crying. “You have to come back. Right now, J. Come back.”
    â€œWhy?”
    It took her a minute to calm down. “After you ran out the door, Abe held up his hand. Then he nodded. And when I said your name, he smiled. Janine, Abe is going to be okay. The doctors are with him. Come back, so you can see for yourself. They are calling it a miracle.”

ELEVEN
    Abe held up two fingers; he wiggled his toes on command. He could blink, too, one for yes and two for no. If he