Page 56 of In This Moment
“What?” Now it was Alicia’s turn to be shocked. She ran her fingers through her pretty dark hair and walked slowly to Dwayne’s locker. “I had... no idea.” She sat down and stared at the boy’s name.
Wendell came and took the spot beside her on the bench. “God is faithful.” His words were only a whisper. “Now you don’t have to wonder.”
She was quiet. Clearly processing. “Still... why would God...?” Her voice trailed off. The new, more confident Alicia still had doubts. The way most people did in times like this.
An aching desperation came over Wendell. He wanted so badly to help her understand. Help them both. “God heard your prayer, Alicia. He heard mine.” Wendell chose each word with care. “The Lord worked a miracle with Dwayne. He’s in heaven. With Jesus now.” The truth was hitting Wendell even as he spoke. “He found salvation at the Raise the Bar club. And now... now we will see him again.”
The reality seemed to take a long while to fully sink in. Finally Alicia looked at him. “I like that.”
He felt his shoulders relax some. “Me, too.”
She looked at him, deep in his eyes. “I owe you an apology. I didn’t say it the other day on the phone, but I wanted to.”
Wendell waited, his eyes locked on hers.
“I never should’ve asked for a transfer. I could’ve worked through my anxiety in the background. And still been here to see...” She looked at Dwayne’s locker, then back to Wendell. “Everything I missed. The victories. Like Dwayne.”
“Alicia.” Wendell reached for her hand. “What if God wanted you at Jackson High School? To pray with your students after those kids died?”
She hesitated, like she hadn’t thought of that before. “Maybe.” Two tears fell onto her face. “Still... I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Wendell.”
“It’s okay.” He allowed a quiet between them. It was still hard to believe she was here, beside him. “Those days... they’re gone.”
Another hesitation. “I’m so sad.” She shook her head. “For Dwayne and his mama. For us. For what might’ve been if I’d stayed.”
Wendell wanted to cry, too. A boy’s life had been taken. The school would be in shock. He had to focus on caring for his student body. They had a memorial to plan. He looked out the locker room window. The sun was starting to break through the darkness. Pinks and blues streaked the sky. Like the night sky, they needed to find the light again after Dwayne’s death.
They stayed that way for a minute or so. Then Alicia stood. “I have to go.”
Wendell sighed. If only he could stop time. This was the first time they’d been together in nearly a year. And now she was leaving. He stood and closed the distance between them. Again he put his hands on her shoulders. “Thank you for coming.”
There were so many things he wanted to say. “Remember how you prayed about Dwayne? That God would do something special in his life?”
“Yes.” Alicia hadn’t moved any closer to the door. She was so beautiful, but so hurt at the same time. “I’ll always remember.”
Wendell looked deep into her eyes. “Why don’t you pray that way for us?” He gently took hold of her hands. “That God will do something special. A miracle like He did for Dwayne. So we’ll know what’s next for us. Friendship or... something more.” He paused and his voice grew quieter. “Whatever it is, I don’t want to lose you again, Alicia.”
Uncertainty and love mixed in her expression. “I will. I’ll pray.” She stepped away and mouthed just one more word as she left. “Goodbye.”
That was it. She reached the door and she was gone.
Wendell wanted to run after her, take her in his arms and ask her to never leave. He wanted to tell her that he felt dizzy and whole and wonderful just being around her. But all he could do was let her go and face the tragedy of Dwayne’s death. That and do the same thing he’d told her to do.
Pray for God to give them a miracle.
•••
THE STUDENTS TOOKthe news hard, the way Wendell had figured they would. He canceled classes and allowed them to gather in either the cafeteria or the auditorium. Wherever they felt most able to process. The school district sent in three grief counselors.
But most of all help came from the kids in the Raise the Bar program. Across campus they talked with their peers and prayed with them. They spoke words of peace and love and healing, and they assured the kids who were most afraid that Dwayne was okay.
He was in heaven now.
Still, Dwayne’s death struck the students particularly hard. Several students from Raise the Bar came up to Wendell before he left for court. “Will the media talk about this?” a freshman girl asked. “Will people think things are the same around here? Like nothing good really happened.”
Much as they were devastated at the loss of their classmate, the students were nervous that this could mar the proof that the group was making a difference. Wendell wasn’t worried about it. He ran into Jordy on the way to his car.
His son hugged him. Wendell studied the boy. “How you holding up?”
