Chapter 14
A Lesson Learned
Angela watches Aggie, a profound sense of relief washing over her. She understands the weight of her actions, the power of faith, and the true meaning of compassion, no matter the consequence.
Angela sat by Aggie’s bedside, her small hands clasped tight. The fever had broken, leaving Aggie pale and quiet, but breathing steadily. A profound sense of relief, so strong it made her knees tremble, washed over Angela. She looked at her sister, so small and vulnerable, and a warmth bloomed in her chest, a different kind of warmth than the one she had imagined for the Infant Jesus. This was the warmth of love, of fear, and of a lesson learned, etched deep into her heart.
The wind still howled outside, a mournful song against the rattling windowpanes, but its fury seemed to have lessened. The driving rain had softened to a steady patter, a gentle rhythm that lulled the world outside back to sleep. It was as if the sky itself, having wept its fill, was now sighing with exhaustion. Angela remembered the wild, angry gusts that had threatened to tear the roof from their little cottage, the way the wind had screamed like a banshee, and a shiver traced its way down her spine. Had her actions, her secret theft, truly brought such a storm upon them? The thought was a heavy stone in her stomach.
She remembered the precious moment, just hours ago, when she had tiptoed back into Saint Joseph’s, the Infant Jesus clutched tight against her chest. The church had been dark and silent, the only sound the frantic thumping of her own heart. The stained-glass windows, usually so bright with saints and stories, were now dark, shadowy shapes against the stormy sky. She had hurried to the altar, her boots making soft scuffs on the cold stone floor, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Placing the small wooden figure back in its rightful place, nestled amongst the soft straw, had felt like completing a circle. A silent prayer had escaped her lips, a plea for forgiveness, for Aggie’s health, for the storm to end. And then, she had fled, back into the wild night, her secret now returned to its rightful home.
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