Page 150 of Share with Me

“I thought your life is in Christ.”

She talks like Grandma now.“Of course.”

“Then why are you looking to yourself to solve your own problems? With God’s help, we can go through this difficult time. Together.”

“There’s notogether, Brin. Please go on with your life and let me be.”

I can’t believe I’m breaking up with her.For a moment, Ivan was no longer sure this was what he should do.

He prayed again. And again, God was silent. One thing he knew, though. He and Brin were never meant to be.

And yet…

Brinley seemed to sense what Ivan was struggling with because she reacted. She reached for Ivan again, her hands on his arms. The fragrance of that light perfume invoked the song he had started writing for her back in December.

She came closer, and lifted her chin toward his face.

Ivan turned his lips out of reach.

Just out of reach.

He stepped back. From now on their lives would bifurcate. “We live in two different circles, Brin. Circles that don’t intersect. They collide.”

“Then our circles are too small.”

Our circles.

It was like her to be inclusive, Ivan thought. She’d always been kind, generous, considerate. And he’d played her like a fiddle. Now he was casting her aside.

Dear Lord, forgive me for sinning against this woman.

But he knew he had to let her go. Free her to live her new life.

I have to protect her from me.

“I wish it could be different,” Brinley said. “I wish that we didn’t have barriers between us.”

“Barriers we were born with, Brin. Nothing we can do about that.”

“I disagree.”

“See? We can’t even agree on basic things.”

“This is not basic, Ivan. This is your misconception about our relationship, and possibly about God.”

“You got saved, what, a month ago, and now you’re all spiritual and know all things?”

“Not what I’m saying.”

“What could you possibly know about God? You’re such a new Christian.”

“I am still learning about Him, but I do know one thing.” Brinley pointed to Ivan’s wrist. “I know that nothing is impossible with God. He can heal you in so many different ways.”

Sounds like something Grandma would say.

And yet…

“He can choose not to heal me.”

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