Read Online Necessary Heartbreak by Michael J. Sullivan - Free Book Online

a time, when the E train moved into the tunnel from Queens to Manhattan, affording him a break between stops.
    He sank gratefully against the back of the pew, then jumped forward, startled, when he caught himself snoring as he began to doze. But there was no one around. Slowly his body began to relax. Peace . . .
    Thump! Wham!
The noise startled Michael awake. He lifted his head up, banging it against the back of the pew. “What the . . . ?”
    â€œChurch is not for sleeping,” an old lady sternly lectured Michael. She walked back toward the candles, lighting them, and placed some coins into a box. Michael stood up and glared at her but she didn’t notice. He staggered out of the pew and made a direct line toward her. Too late. The lady walked out the front door and down the steps.
    A light rain had begun, wetting Michael’s head. He sat down on one of the steps and buried his face in his hands.
Mom, I need your help. Oh, why, God? Oh, why? I don’t have anywhere to go. Oh, God, why . . . why . . . is there anyone out there who can help me?
    Michael let the rain hit his unwashed hair.
No better way to get it clean, right?
he thought sarcastically. Drips of water fell from his hair, gently removing the crust that had built up in his eyes. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his soiled jacket, forcing him to spit out some grains of dirt from his lips.
    He put his head down again, allowing the big drops to slide down the back of his neck. He shivered.
I’ve got nowhere to go. Nowhere
.

    The woman in the black veil easily navigated the bustling, congested streets, and Elizabeth followed closely behind. The roads were unlike any she had seen back in Northport. They were paved entirely of stone yet still dusty, and already her legs were aching from walking on the uneven surface. People were milling about, chatting and laughing with marketplace owners. Despite the strangeness of her surroundings, it felt like a carnival to Elizabeth, as if she were back in Northport at the Firemen’s Fair in the Pit. There were no midway games or rides, but a variety of foods and items were being sold on both sides of the street.
    The scene was so chaotic and absorbing, especially under the veil, that Elizabeth almost forgot that she was holding the hand of a complete stranger. Her thoughts flew to her father and she stopped abruptly. Leah, a few steps ahead, unintentionally yanked her hand. “Please,” Leah begged, “we must get you back. There’s no time. You have to show me exactly where you came from.”
    Elizabeth looked all around, her eyes now focusing on not just movement but the myriad of buildings surrounding them. She quickly pulled her hand away from the woman. “It’s over there,” she said, pointing to a fruit and vegetable stand about thirty yards away.
    â€œBy that marketplace?”
    Elizabeth nodded. The woman walked a few paces ahead, but when Elizabeth stopped, the woman turned around.
    â€œWhy are you stopping? We’re almost there. We can get you home now. Hurry. You’re in danger.”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “My father is in more danger.”
    â€œBut the soldier, he’ll come for you if you don’t leave now.”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t know anything about any soldier. I’m not going home until my father is with me.”
    Leah walked back to Elizabeth and spoke urgently. “You are obviously from another place. There isn’t much a woman can do to help. The Roman soldiers are brutal and vicious. They know you helped a murderer who killed one of their own. Every step you take and every day you spend here will only bring you more risk.”
    â€œI don’t care about what you think or what they think of women in this town. I’m not going without my father!”
    They stood in silence and looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds. Then Elizabeth relented, her eyes glistening with a