“Sara, I can’t leave my brother here. I just can’t. Mom and Dad would never forgive me.” He ran a hand over his face. “I’d never forgive myself.”
I lifted my hand as if to touch him. To comfort him in some way. But then I thought better of it.
“Sara, it’s time to go.” Pastor Carter’s voice broke whatever spell I had been under and I dropped my hand back to my side.
Pastor pushed a button on the remote and the gates began to shut.
Closing Bastian Scott out.
They closed with a loud bang. Pastor didn’t spare another glance to the lone man on the other side.
Pastor took my hand. “Let’s go, Sara. You did well.”
I frowned. I did well? I hadn’t done anything. I looked back over my shoulder. Bastian hadn’t moved. It felt wrong leaving him there.
“What about David’s brother?” I asked.
Pastor’s hand squeezed mine. “Our concern isn’t for thoseoutthere. Our interest is with the ones who make the right choice for their souls. Forget about him.”
I nodded. Pastor was right.
But…
“Wait!”
The strangled plea stopped me in my tracks.
I tugged my hand free from Pastor’s grip and turned around. Bastian had his hand curled around the metal bars and was shaking it vigorously. “Please, wait!”
“Let’s go, Sara.”
“He obviously wants something,” I pointed out. “Shouldn’t we see what it is?”
Pastor frowned, clearly annoyed with me. “As I said, he is notourconcern—”
“Please, open the gate. I…I want to be one of you! I want to—what is it you do?”
I tried to cover my laugh because Pastor Carter didn’t seem the slightest bit amused.
“Young man, The Gathering of the Sun isn’t a whim. It’s not some spur of the moment impulse. It’s our life. It’s our eternity. Do you understand?” Pastor Carter barked. I had never heard him so irritated. His normal calm demeanor was gone. “Don’t waste my time. Don’t waste your brother’s. Goodbye.”
Pastor took ahold of my arm, a little rougher than he had ever done before and started leading the both of us towards the truck.
“Please, Pastor Carter, I want to find a way to be closer to God! I want to be a better person! I want what you have. I truly do!” Bastian’s voice had pitched higher, tinged with panic.
“Pastor Carter, shouldn’t we let him in? It sounds as if he’s on the path.”
I don’t know why I spoke up for Bastian Scott. I didn’t believe a single word that came from his mouth. He wasn’t a man that wanted anything to do with God. He wasn’t asking to search for the truth.
Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on his face as he watched his brother walk away. I understood that kind of heartbreaking sadness. The kind you thought you’d never recover from. I felt it all those years ago as a child.
Maybe I never got over it.
Looking at Bastian I didn’t think he would either.
Pastor Carter hesitated. “He doesn’t have the heart of a believer.”
“Maybe not, but perhaps he will with time,” I argued gently. I had never gone against Pastor about anything. I had never spoken up. I had never voiced an opinion that differed from his. I wasn’t sure where this fight came from. This need to make my voice heard.
