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by Lauren Alan
06/07/25
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Weeks went by and Paul's depression got worse and worse. He was barely eating or sleeping. He had difficulty concentrating on his schoolwork, and he began to get an F on every single test and assignment his teachers gave him. It wasn't long before he was in danger of losing his position as the class valedictorian. His track performance also began to suffer tremendously. His coach was threatening to kick him off the track team if he didn't shape up. If Paul was kicked off the track team, he would lose his scholarship. Paul knew what was at stake, but he didn't care. Although he knew that Bridget was manipulative and possessive, she had been the love of his life for two years. He felt like life wasn't worth living without her.

Paul's teachers and coach, Mr. Longwell, grew increasingly concerned about him every day. One evening they called Samuel and Mallory to tell them about their concerns. When Samuel and Mallory finished talking to Paul's teachers and Coach Longwell, they were furious. They stormed upstairs to Paul's bathroom. Paul had just put some mouthwash into his mouth.

"Paul, we need to talk to you," Samuel said angrily. "Your teachers and coach say that your performance in school is really suffering. They say you're getting an F on everything and that you're not performing your best on the track team, either."

Paul was in no mood to hear a lecture. He threw back his head and began to gargle very loudly.

"They say you're in danger of losing your scholarship and your position as valedictorian!" Mallory shouted.

Paul gargled even more loudly.

"We know you're upset about Bridget, but that's no excuse to throw away your future!" Samuel bellowed.

Paul gargled until he couldn't gargle any more loudly. Finally, he spit out the mouthwash. "Listen, Mom and Dad, I'm super exhausted. I don't feel like listening to a lecture, OK? I just want to go to my room and go to sleep!" He stormed into his room and slammed the door.

Now Dina heard all of the shouting, gargling, spitting, and slamming coming from inside her own house. Please, Jesus, I just want a quiet night, Dina silently prayed. She knew her parents were on Paul's case. She felt sorry for him. He didn't need this. Wasn't he going through enough already? She went to Paul's room and knocked on his bedroom door.

Paul thought his parents were knocking on the door. The last thing he wanted was to hear more lectures. He sighed angrily. "WHAT?" he bellowed.

Dina thought that Paul was yelling at her. He had to be yelling at her. He hdf to know she was the one knocking on the door. Her knock didn't sound anything like their parents' knock. As far as Dina knew, Paul could tell the difference between her knock and their parents' knock. Dina's lips quivered. Her brother had never yelled at her before. She started to cry. "Paul, it's Dina," she said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry by bothering you. I'll just go back to my room."

Paul sighed as a strong wave of remorse swept through his body. He would never yell at Dina, but she thought he had yelled at her. Now she was crying. Paul opened the door, bent down, and hugged his little sister. "Dina, honey, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was you. I just had a big fight with Mom and Dad. I would never yell at you," he said quietly. He gently wiped Dina's tears off her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "Do you forgive me?"

Dina nodded. "Of course I do," she said as she wrapped her arms around her brother's neck. "If you don't mind me asking, what were you and Mom and Dad fighting about?"

Paul sighed sadly. "Oh, it's just about problems I've been having at school in my classes and on the track team. It's stuff that doesn't really matter." It doesn't really matter to me, Paul thought to himself. After Bridget and I broke up, none of that stuff really matters anymore. I just want out of this life. Paul closed his eyes and silently prayed. Lord Jesus, please let tonight be the night that You take my soul.

Don't worry, Paul. Your troubles will soon be over, Paul felt Jesus say to his heart. Paul assumed that Jesus was telling him that He was going to take his soul that night, so he silently prayed, Thank You, Jesus.

When Paul opened his eyes, Dina asked, "Are you all right, Paul?"

"I'm feeling a lot better now, sport," Paul said as he picked his sister up and hugged her. "Jesus just told me that He is going to answer my prayers and take away my pain forever."

Dina assumed that Paul meant that Jesus had answered her prayers about helping Paul to be happy again, so she silently prayed, Thank You, Jesus.

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