The Sunday Service is over and Mark heads over to the car where his father is. As he is walking, he feels a hand on his shoulder. Mark turns around to see whose hand is it and sees that it is Pastor John.

“Hello, Mark.”

“Oh. Hello, Pastor.”

“Did you enjoy the service today?”

“Yeah, Pastor. It was awesome. The worship is filled by the Presence of God and your sermon is filled with truths from the Spirit.”

“Praise be to God. All glory to him,” Pastor John says then he focuses his gaze past Mark to George. “How’s your father?”

“He’s fine, Pastor.”

“I noticed that he hasn’t attended church for months.”

“Yeah, he hasn’t been attending.”

“Tell me the truth, Mark. What has been happening throughout this time?”

Mark sighs, “He has been drinking, Pastor.”

“Alcohol, I see. Does he hurt you? Does he become abusive?”

Mark waves his hands by the hip and chuckles, “No. He doesn’t do that, Pastor. But… he sometimes gets angry if I confront him with his alcoholism; although he doesn’t hurt me, he just walks away.” Mark pauses, “It just feels that he’s no longer with me, Pastor. It feels like he’s absent when he’s drinking alcohol, he just retreats to his room after I arrive.”

Pastor John sighs, “God willing, Mark, he will return to the first love he’s ever had. He will return to the arms of Jesus in repentance. Just don’t worry and God will take care of the rest.” He smiles at Mark as he puts his hand on his shoulder, playfully and lightly shaking him.

“Thanks, Pastor.” Mark smiles along with him.

Pastor John puts his hand to his side and looks at George at a distance, “Can I talk to your dad for a moment?”

“Sure thing, Pastor.”

“Good lad. I’ll wait here.”

Mark departs from him and heads over to his dad. When he is near enough, George lowers the window.

“Let’s go, kiddo.”

“Uhm, dad… Pastor John wants to talk to you.”

George sighs, “Tell him I don’t want to.”

“But dad, he wants to talk to you.”

“Kid, I’m embarrassed with what I’ve become. I don’t want him to lecture me to bring me down some more. If you don’t want to tell him, get in the car.”

“Alright, dad. I’ll tell him.”

Mark goes over to Pastor John, “Sorry, Pastor. He doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I’ll just go over and talk to him.”

“I don’t think he wants to talk to you, Pastor. I think he’ll get annoyed.”

Pastor John chuckles, “I’ve encountered worse than annoyance in my fifteen years of ministry, it would take more than that to dissuade me.”

Mark smiles, “Thank you, Pastor.”

The both of them go over to the car where George is.

“Hello, George. How’s it going?” Pastor John says to him.

George forces a smile, “I’m fine, Pastor.”

“Uhm, you haven’t attended church lately. I just want to tell you tha-“

“No, thank you, Pastor. I don’t want to go to church anymore. “

“I just want to tell you that Jesus loves you, brother.”

George strays his eyes through the windshield and sighs, “I know that kind of stuff, Pastor. But he didn’t love my wife enough to let her live.”

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“I know it’s been hard for you losing your wife and it’s hard for Mark too, but you have to let go of your grudges and grievances and trust in the Lord.”

“For years, Pastor. For years, we prayed that she would be well, you even prayed for her. But God is not among us, he is far from us. He doesn’t care about you and me.”

“I can’t explain every single thing, George. But all I know is that he is still good and his mercies endure forever. Even though Gemma is not here with us, she is now in the loving embrace of God. She is made whole and well. She is happy forever without worries, trials, and disappointments.” George looks up as he reclines back. “George, we may not have the explanation we always wanted, but we have the choice to trust God in his goodness.”

George looks at him, “Are you done?”

“Yes, I am, brother.”

“Good.” He looks at Mark, “Get in, kid.”

“Yes, dad.” Mark gets in the car, “Thank you, Pastor.”

“All glory to God, Mark.”

“We’re gonna go, Pastor. I may not agree with you, but thank you.”

“All glory to God. Remember, brother, Jesus loves you always.”

George smiles, “I know you mean well.”

George starts the car and drives off the parking lot.

No one said anything to each other while they were on the ride. Mark looked at his dad and saw a stern face.

‘Should I talk to him? I should. It’s kinda quiet here.’

“So, dad.”

“Yeah, kiddo?”

“Uhm, where are we gonna eat?”

The air around them lightens up when George begins to smile.

“Well, we’re gonna go to J&J.”

“J&J? Ain’t that an expensive restaurant?”

“We need a new air to breathe when we’re gonna eat. We’d only eat there once in a while, so a change would be better.”

“Noice. Let’s go there.”

After Mark finishes his sentence, silence again fills the car. Mark just looks to the side to see the scenery as it passes by. They pass by some trees and some buildings. Then they pass some bridges with scarce water below. Eventually, they arrive at the restaurant.

“We have now arrived, kiddo.”

“Let’s go, dad,” Mark says excitedly as he is about to get out of the car.

“Wait, kiddo.”

Mark stops dead in his tracks and glances at his father.

“I’m sorry for being a bad father to you…” George then shifts his gaze low. “I’m not doing fine lately, kid. I’m struggling with God, that’s why I turn to alcohol. I’m sorry if I hurt you with my actions.”

“Dad… You are a great father to me, but when you turn to alcohol for solution you change to something you are not. I miss the old you, dad. Please, dad. Don’t drink alcohol anymore.”

George looks up, “I wish it would be that easy, kiddo.”

“You could try giving up, dad.”

“Kiddo…” George sighs. “It’s not that easy.” George pauses once again. “It’s not like I can turn off the switch, it’s now a part of me. Without it would make me crave more. It’s not that easy, kiddo. Only a miracle from God could do such a thing if there is a God.”

Silence fills the car again, Mark doesn’t want to speak.

‘He’s absolutely wrong. There is a God. Should I tell him?’

Mark hesitates but before he can speak, he is interrupted.

“Ahh, let’s just eat,” says George. “I’m very hungry.”

Mark chuckles, “Yeah, dad. Me too.”

‘Soften his heart, Lord Jesus.’

They get out of the car and enter the restaurant. They sit down at an unoccupied table when a waiter hands them the menu. The waiter also serves them free tea. After some deliberations, Mark chooses Chicken Burger and George chooses Carbonara. The waiter leaves after taking their order while the father and son wait.

“So, school starts in a matter of weeks. Are you ready?” says George.

Mark smiles, “Yeah, I’m ready. I’m excited.”

“That’s good. Love the enthusiasm.” George pauses for a bit. “About your dream about Samantha, do you believe it?”

“I believe it, dad. A hundred percent.”

“Good. But don’t be surprised, kiddo, that you’ll… you know… get disappointed.”

Mark looks at him in interest, “Why would I get disappointed, dad?”

“Your Ma got an encounter that we are destined to be together, which happened. But we hear often, kiddo, that ‘God’ showed them something about such person that they are their destined spouse and it didn’t happen. Don’t be surprised that you two will not be together because chances are that it probably is your imagination.”

Mark is silent and fiddles with his hands, “Yes, dad.”

“But hey, just be positive. Maybe you two will be together.”

Mark smiles at him, “I’ll try to be positive, dad.”

‘Positive that I maybe would get disappointed lol. Nah. God would never lie, does he?’

The two of them talk some more when their food arrives.

“Mmm, my delicious Chicken Burger. Come to me, baby,” says Mark.

“My tasty scrumptious Carbonara,” says George.

They look at each other and smiles grow on their face turning into laughs.

“Let’s just eat our food, kiddo, before it gets cold.”

“Sure thing, dad. Let’s eat.”

“Don’t you want drinks?” says the waiter.

“Oh, what drinks do you want, kiddo?”

Mark turns to the waiter and says, “I’ll just drink this tea you served us. Do you have sugar for this?”

“That there, sir, is liquid sugar.”

“Oh, it’s a liquid sugar. Never mind. Haha.”

“Yeah, my drink would be tea too,” says George.

“Ok, just ask me if you need anything.”

The waiter leaves while they prepare to eat. Just about when George is about to take a bite, Mark interrupts him.

“Don’t we need to pray first?”

“Oh, pray yourself. I’ll just start digging into it, I’m starving.”

George takes the first bite and Mark just looks on. Eventually, Mark closes his eyes and prays.

“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the food you’ve given us today. Nourish our bodies with your blessings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Mark opens his eyes and he sees his father still digging into his food.

‘Dad, when will you go back to who you were? I miss you.’

And Mark starts to dig in with his meal. They eat their meals with joy, bulging their eyes out sometimes when taking a bite. The two of them would sometimes share their food. They then drink the tea which they mix with liquid sugar after they consume their meals. After some time, they finally get into their car after George pays the bill.

In the car, Mark ponders ahead.

“That was nice,” says George. “I hope we could eat here again— if my budget would be enough. Haha.”

“Yeah, dad. We should eat here sometimes.”

“I enjoyed it. But all good things must come to an end. Let’s go home.”

George starts the engine and drives off.

Mark gazes at the scenery from afar and ponders, ‘I wish you would be here with us, Ma. I wish you would eat with us, talk to us, and laugh with us. I miss you, Ma. I hope you’re happy there in Heaven, Ma. I hope… I could be there with you soon.'