LIGHT IN DARKNESS

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Alice looked at the young couple, watching over their baby, with bitterness in her heart. Unseen she saw the small chest rise and fall and become still. The woman looked bleak and far away. She was in a wheelchair, weak from loss of blood. She would survive, she could have another child. Alice could not. Her respected ex-husband had seen to that, forcing her to terminate her pregnancy. He threatened her every time she wanted to conceive a child, until, when she finally grew strong enough to resist him and move away, it was too late for her. There would be no children she could ever love and hold.     With surprise, she noticed the husband was weeping terrible tears of loss. Alice knew their names - Lois and Pierce Harding. Their child would have been Amy Louise Harding.     Suddenly, she realised she felt compassion. She would request a transfer to another ward, avoiding Obstetrics / Gynaecology as she always had. Sh...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Pierce groaned and abruptly ended the call. Somehow he made it home, gulped a large glass of water and headed upstairs. He gathered a huge armload of soiled bedding, managing to pile in the washing machine and set the cycle to soak, then wash.     The numbers and the settings seemed to blur before him. He sat on the long dark green couch, and slumped back asleep in seconds. On the way into the house, he had noticed a small tree that had crashed onto the shed in the yard. There seemed to be myriads of plants and scattered branches, rubbish everywhere. He just needed a nap. The storm, the emergency, the fear and tension, desperation and panic had totally drained the young man.     Pierce knew he should have stayed at the hospital, waited for news of his wife and child. Like a wounded animal, he had instead crawled away to shelter. At the back of his mind, he had realised it must be worse for Lois than for him, but he c...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey   THE STORM The next day, after her husband David left for work at his surgery a few kilometres away, Lacey set off with her daughter Hope to visit the hospital. Lacey was anxious to see how her adoptive mother was progressing. Bill had told her vaguely she was a little concussed, and had then retreated into a silence, unusual for him. No cheery quips or imaginative plays on word meanings...     Hope was skipping, and watching her filled Lacey with love and gratitude for her continued good health. Silently she thanked God and prayed for Gladys, Bill and the rest of the family. Her sister, Simone was away camping for a week with one of her friends. She had taken her little dog, Jack. The puppy had grown into a beautiful dog with floppy ears and tan, black and caramel colourings. He was affectionate , a faithful friend to them all.     "When will Jack come home?" asked the child suddenly, returning after splashing needlessly thro...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM When   had his mum's hair turned from glowing brown? Why wasn't she smiling, lovingly at him as always, despite his moods.     What scared him most was the lost look in her blue eyes, normally alive with love and laughter.     Leaving his shocked father, he turned and fled the room, somehow finding a way down and through the labyrinthian corridors and echoing, enclosed concrete steps, brushing unseeing past the occasional doctor or hospital worker.     He felt alone and strangely afraid. Lacking confidence, he headed to the familiar world of the fast food outlet, where he often worked, saving for his own car, another source of antipathy towards his parents. Some of his friends had cars bought for them from across the mainland.     For once, he welcomed the noisy, greasy workspace and worked, automatically, silently, his own mind a blank.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Phil stared at his mother. The angry words about why she had crashed and what had happened to the car died on his lips. For months now, he had been sullen and defiant, resentful of his more elderly parents. His friends' parents all seemed fun and cool to him, going with the flow, allowing their young teens Tik Tok, unlimited Facebook time, their own personal up-to-date IPads.     The youth felt badly done by. He was only allowed strictly limited Facebook time and a barely useful tablet or phone for emergencies.     Worst of all, he was expected home at a stupidly early hour in the evening, even at weekends - how dumb was that!     But the woman staring at him was surely not his familiar mother. She looked more like his deceased grandmother, the hair around the bandage dishevelled and gray.  

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey  THE STORM Once again, Phil had to scurry like a small child to catch up with his dad. His resentment grew and he glanced around, embarrassed - but no one was looking, most intent on their own pursuits.     The thought crossed the boy's mind that anyone could walk in with a bomb hidden. With that sombre thought, he entered a women's ward. Bill had already located his wife. He looked alarmed at the blood staining the bandage round his spouse's head. "No one said you were hurt!" he sounded angry.     A passing nurse apologised. "It wasn't noticeable at first," she explained. "I will go and find her doctor."      "Why?" wondered Bill aloud, but the nurse had speedily departed, relieved to be absolved of any blame.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Phil, her youngest child hurried towards the hospital with his dad. He glanced around the parking lot, hoping to see their familiar blue Camry. He sighed! Nothing.     How could he get his licence if he couldn't practise? Resentfully, he caught up to his dad who was hurrying on ahead, moving surprisingly quickly for one of his bulk and his years.     The hospital receptionist directed them to the lifts and various levels and wards, but Bill already knew. He worked here after all! But the receptionist was new, a softly-spoken young man.     Nursing staff and doctors seemed to be hurrying everywhere as they cleared the entrance vestibule. Among them were mingled relatives and friends, some looking bewildered and lost, others more purposeful in their movements. Many carried brightly coloured bunches of gay flowers, or awkwardly wrapped packages. Phil paused, out of his depth, but Bill strode resolutely forward. ...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Lights blurred across the wet road. Gladys slammed on the brakes, realising as she did so that it was the wrong thing to do. Her car hit a steep rocky embankment, sliding out of control and coming to a shattering stop.     She was very shaken but unhurt. The poor woman put her head on the steering wheel and wept. The airbag had not deployed, but she was unaware of anything except a rising tide of despair and fear, anger and shock.     Gladys was aware of police. Someone managed to open the buckled door. A voice deep and soothing said "My lady, you sure are lucky," but it barely registered. The elderly woman felt numb and drained. What else could go wrong?     Inconsequentially, she thought "Why am I called Glad? It's wrong, I'm sad."     A young woman was helping Glad out of the car with the aid of a police officer and a few others. They were careful with her, but she wondered why they were there,...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  By Tessa Harvey THE STORM Eloise (Lacey) had almost died at the hands of people who had trafficked in drugs and young girls. It seemed ludicrously far-fetched given that their other daughter, Simone had also almost died because of the same people. Despite being a nurse, this daughter had become a victim also.     The perpetrators were all in jail, convicted by the testimonies of other young women and by carelessly mislaid documents, records of their despicable work, which has increased worldwide with the COVID virus.     Gladys peered through the windscreen. Perhaps the storm was passing. The lightning had faded and great sounds of thunder were rarely heard. Only the drenching rainstorm continued.     The wipers moved rhythmically, annoyingly. Now Lois could die, and her baby.... It was just too much for one family. Why God? Why us, why? Her faith had been slowly eroded. Each day had become more of a struggle. Gladys was just too ti...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS THE STORM      Gladys drove slowly towards the hospital. The weather was terrible, rain pouring down in torrents. She was forced to pull over at a nearby space and put on her warning lights. She waited until the deluge eased slightly, then eased back onto the black tarmac of the highway, hoping wearily that other motorists would be able to see her.      The older lady was worn down. Her husband, Bill was due to retire shortly. He helped her with the dishes and with preparing the evening meal, but mostly she was coping with the garden work and household chores with endurance and fortitude.     Some of her feelings were due to tiredness, even exhaustion, though she chided herself for self-pity. It was true, there were blessings. Their adopted daughter, Lacey had amazingly survived surgery on a bullet wound near her right lung. Hope was healing beautifully from a long diagnosed heart murmur.     Lacey had fallen in love w...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  THE STORM Lois   was   drifting far beyond anyone's reach. She thought she heard a siren somewhere but it had stopped...     There was a wedding! Now everything was sharp and clear. Yes, she wore a lovely dress, purest sky blue with white blossoms in her hair. Whose wedding?     Then she remembered. It was four years ago. Little Hope was the flower girl. The doctor who had helped save her was marrying Lacey. The past meant little to him. David truly loved his bride for the woman she had become. A new person belonging to God. It was not Lois' scene. Still they looked so happy - bride and groom uniting with God. A threefold cord, the minister was saying, not easily broken. Lois had thought the minister would be pompous and posing. He was neither, refreshingly passionate and engaging with everyone as he spoke.     She stood there in the beautiful, welcoming church, watching the dust motes dancing in the light, streaming throu...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS   THE STORM The pitiless storm raged on, its fury unabated, causing numerous traffic problems, even accidents, some severe, others less so.     Consequently, those ambulances deployed were continually being diverted elsewhere or found themselves held hostage by fallen power lines, sparking fitfully, slashing the dangerous air. Fallen trees also proved a hindrance to more than one stressed paramedic. Still the best possible speed was achieved and only fifteen minutes had elapsed before the familiar dire wail was heard in the drive outside.     That fifteen minutes, though, had cost the woman dearly. Despite Pierce's best frantic efforts with bedding and a fruitless search for towels, Lois was still bleeding badly.     The paramedics rushed in, well trained, checking the blood flow, another checking vital signs.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS  THE STORM Feeling slightly resentful, Pierce moved to the bedroom. It was a colourful, warm room flooded by afternoon sunshine, but right now it was chilly and cold. Sheet lightning was flaring wildly on the horizon.     A sliding window had been left open and the blind was banging hard against the soft blue painted wall. Impatiently, he slammed the window, wincing as the thunder rumbled directly overhead. The window had been shut just in time. Heavy rain slammed against it, and torrents of hail and water bounced from the neighbouring roofs.     Pierce was looking at his bride of three years. Soon after he had married her, there had been a similar storm. He recalled how cute and childlike she had seemed, curled under the covers. Now, heavily pregnant, Lois looked like a small beached whale. Trying to hide his irritation, he sought to draw her out, speakingly coaxingly.  "Come on, Lou dear," Pierce tried, patting her blanket. "It's okay."...

LIGHT IN DARKNESS THE STORM   Pierce glanced at the approaching storm. Thick, black, shapeless clouds were building, massing, threateningly, slowly extinguishing the warm sunlight, encroaching on the entire visible world.     Not a very sensitive man, Pierce liked storms. He revelled in their awesome power. It felt like a catharsis, a release from the habitual boredom and the dreariness that usually marred his uneventful life.     Almost, he thought only to himself worth being on the wrong side of the law. Naively, he thought that young women were merely being offered an alternative lifestyle. So why the fuss?     A low moan came from nearby, as the lightning seared jaggedly across the sky followed soon after by a cannonade of terrible thunder. It was massive. Pierce felt as though the house itself trembled. The low moan became a terrible scream. He had forgotten Lois.

LIGHT IN DARKNESS Part Two THE STORM HOPE My mum is not well. Nan said a bull-it hurt her and she gets sick. I am four now. GLAD We are relieved Lacey pulled through the most recent surgery, but the bullet damaged her lungs. Hope is a lovely child and calls us Nan and Poppa. A young doctor, David Cresswell is very interested in Lacey and loves Hope also. We are hopeful. HOPE Now I am seven and mum is very better also. She is going to marry Doctor David. I will be flower girl and I am so excited. Aunt Si is bridesmaid and so is Aunt Lou.     Some children in my class have no dad, but I have always wanted a daddy. Of course, I love Jesus, but my heart's desire is to have a dad and I am very very happy! Thank you God! BILL Time we found a bigger house, I think! Our Simone is doing well and dating a young man called Caleb. He seems hard working and reliable, and shares Simone's faith which is a blessing. Lou likes that man, Pierce. She used to visit him in prison and now he is ou...