Awakened - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After returning home from swimming, and singing around the campfire, Samara took a long hot shower to remove the sand and stickiness from her skin.  She became sweaty after several rounds of volleyball with her friends.  Several missed attempts left her face down in the sand, and with scrapes on both knees.  She was thankful April had called; the distraction had done her good.  

The shower was refreshing, and the warm water gave her tanned skin a radiant glow.  While sitting in the living room she and her roommate Melanie shared, she heard someone knocking.  Samara put the book she was reading on the end table and glanced over at the clock.  "Wonder who could be here at this hour?". 

She peeped out the front window but could see nothing but darkness.  "Who is it?".  No answer.  Holding her breath, Samara opened the door to find Derek standing there with a dozen roses, and a huge grin on his face.  In shock, stunned, paralyzed with excitement, she stood unable to move, or speak.

He laughed at what must have been the most preposterous look he’d ever seen.  “You gonna make me stand here all night, or are ya gonna let me in?”

Samara blinked, thinking she was dreaming, “Yes.”  

“Yes, I can come in, or yes, you’re gonna let me stand here all night?”  His deep chuckle caused something to stir inside her.

“Oh my God, yes… yessss...” Samara leaped towards him, hugging and kissing his sweet face.  “I can’t believe you’re here!  Come in!  COME IN!” 

Derek pulled Samara close with his free arm, and kissed her passionately on her inviting, full lips, “I love you Samara, I couldn't stay away!”

Derek and Samara dated only a few months before she found out she was pregnant with their first child.  Shortly after finding out about her pregnancy, they were married.  They’d had three children in all, built a new home and shared many wonderful memories.  Derek had taken a local job as a supervisor and Samara quit the engineering firm to take a position as a paraprofessional at the local school.  She did everything in her power to be a wonderful mother and wife. She wanted to be accessible to those whom completed her.  Derek became deacon and Samara rededicated her life to Christ, helping out in their church volunteering and offering their time in as many ways as possible.  Their love for God and family showed in everything they did.  They knew that even though things didn't start out the way they probably should have, they did everything in their power to ensure God was the focus of their life.

The November before the accident had been their ten year wedding anniversary.  As always, instead of taking time to spend that special day together, they spent it doing something as a family.  They worked really hard to ensure their children knew how much they were loved, and to maintain a wonderful, happy, fulfilling life together.

Now it seemed, all that hard work was no longer needed, and she was lost with not knowing what to do.  Her her heart felt empty and her life felt meaningless.   Here she sat, on the edge of the bed, a year after that dreadful accident stole her family, her life, and hollowed her heart.  Everything she did, and lived for was gone.  Emptiness consumed her life without having those she loved to fill it.  Words could not describe the tightness in her chest and how breathlessness suffocated any emotions she had.  A lump formed in her throat, and Samara swallowed hard to keep from crying; screaming.

She beat her fists against the edge of the bed.  "Why God, why did you take my family from me?".  Guilt washed over Samara as she remembered the Biblical story of Job and how he had remained faithful to God after losing everything.  At the same time, anger washed over her and she wanted to curse Him.  She just wanted to understand why God let this happen.  What wrong doing had cause such a curse to befall her?