by D. J. Holmes
***
“Daniel, the flames are so close to her. How long does she have to stay to complete her life’s mission?” Julia wonders, nearly frantic to help Jehanne.
“I have been wondering why she hasn’t left already,” he says. “She doesn’t have to experience the pain of the fire. She can leave her body at any time.”
Agonizing over the pain their friend is enduring, every second seems like an hour and minutes become an eternity.
As the smoke continues to swirl around Jehanne, Daniel comments, “God waits until the last possible moment, to see who will help the innocent. He waits to see who will jeopardize their own standing with the human race and choose to stand by the side of God, to uphold truth and justice.”
***
Knowing of her innocence and hearing her cry, Isambard de la Pierre, a priest, runs to a nearby church and takes the cross down from the front of the chapel. Quickly running back to Jehanne, he holds it up so that she can see the body of Jesus on the cross.
“Jesus,” she shouts, “Jesus, my Lord and Redeemer.”