Chapter Twenty-eight

Melanie rocked back and forth on the bed, humming, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!” She hadn’t thought of this song in years. It was one of her mother’s favorites. Mary Stowe would sing or hum the song in the morning or at night. When her mother was alive, they went to church almost every Sunday. Her daddy went on occasion, usually on a holiday like Easter. Most of the time, it was just her and Mom.

Her mom could have sung in the choir, but she preferred to sit on the pew. Melanie could remember hearing her mother’s soulful and smooth singing along with the choir. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oftentimes people would turn around and look at her mother, smiling. Her mother would smile back and keep on singing. It was the joy on her face that had always struck Melanie. She never looked that peaceful when they were home, especially when Daddy was around.

Melanie stopped rocking and looked over at the table. She’d rationed what the man had brought her to eat. It seemed it took him longer and longer to come. Was this a part of his game? Why did she have to be his game piece? She still hadn’t touched the candy bar he’d left. It was tucked away. Her mind still spun with questions about how he knew.

Does it matter? Melanie rocked again. She was almost sure she would go crazy from being cooped up in this place. Today, for the first time in a long while, she could vividly see her mother’s face. Not the face that was thin from the cancer that tore at her body, but a fuller version, smiling and singing.

Melanie started to hum again. She hummed along as she heard her mother’s voice and then opened her mouth. In her mind, she sang alongside her mother. O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

As she rocked, she prayed. “God, if you save me, I will sing for you. I will sing for you.”