[Click here to read part 1 of Twenty-Three Moments]
‘’Squelch, Squelch, Squelch’’, went my feet as I stumbled through muddy, uneven paths. The flicker of light I had seen earlier became brighter and brighter, this motivated me to run even faster.
‘’BAM’’, my body hit the floor with a thud.
‘’AAAAAHH’’, I screamed. My ankle throbbed in pain. ‘No’ I thought, ‘This cannot be happening’. The light seemed so near yet so far. With sweaty determination I crawled across the dirty path covering my clothes in grime, I was past caring. I continued to drag my body until my triceps burned. I paused for breath gazing at my ankle; it had swollen to double its size and looked misshapen. I experimented with putting weight on it but no prevail.
Seconds, minutes, hours went by until the flicker of light became a great force of brilliant white swallowing the darkness whole. I felt a slight coolness against my skin, and the heaviness in my heart lightened.
I looked beneath me and the floor was a vivid gold. I gazed at my hands and clothes. There was no mark in sight. I was dressed in a dazzling white dress, even my ankle had returned to normal. As my eyes became accustomed to the bright light I saw a long table in the distance. I walked cautiously towards the table across the golden, tiled floor.
The table was a long, rectangular, majestic block of gold, draped in clear, white swathes. It was decorated with silver and gold platter at every seat. Right in the centre was an intricately, ornate horn filled with oil. I stared at it, confused at where I was and why I was here.
‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows’
The words imprinted in my soul. My heart pounded in my chest. Realisation hit me with so much force that it took my breath away.
‘’Psalm 23’’, I whispered. ‘’Psalm 23’’, I said a little louder. ‘’Psalm 23’’, I said more assertively. With a new burst of energy I ran past the table, my feet pounding the golden tiles.
‘’Psalm 23!’’ I shouted with laughter bubbling in my throat, I fell to my knees with tears streaming down my face, my smile pinching my cheeks and my heart filled with peace, I felt overwhelmed with sudden euphoria. I breathed deeply and sat cross legged in silence. I felt so at peace and joy filled my heart.
‘’Happiness?’’ Yes I was happy, I nodded furiously in agreement.
‘’Happiness! Wake up it’s time to go’’. I shot up in my seat whilst groggily wiping the drool from my chin, staring into the face of my best friend.
‘’What’s wrong with your face? Are you wearing make-up?’’, she asked.
‘’No. Why? What’s wrong with it?’’, I questioned rubbing my face hurriedly.
‘’Nothing, it looks glowy, like radiant kinda’’, she replied.
I smiled in response. ‘’You would not believe me if I told you’’, I said picking up my school bag and shrugging on my blazer. We walked to the school gates, with each of my steps lighter than the one before.
‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.’
Were your guesses right about what would happen next in the story?
Why do you think Psalm 23 was so important to Happiness? Why should it be important to us?
We hope you enjoyed this two-part series of Twenty-Three Moments!
