by La Jill Hunt
“That’s my phone!” Paisley took it from him. “The one I thought I lost!”
“Wait, there’s something else,” Landon said. He pulled out a larger wrapped item, which turned out to be Paisley’s laptop.
“Oh, my God,” Paisley gasped.
Landon continued as he pulled out another envelope holding something else. He opened it and poured out Paisley’s missing keys.
“This is crazy.” Seymone stood and watched in amazement. “Is that everything?” Paisley asked. “I think so,” Landon told her. He flipped the box over and the remaining Styrofoam fell out, along with a small envelope with Paisley’s name on it. “Wait, there’s a note or a letter or something,” Seymone said, picking it up off the table and passing it to Paisley.
Paisley took it from her and hesitated as she opened it, afraid of what it may say. She blinked as she read handwritten words on the paper:
Ms. Lawrence,
Let me begin by apologizing for everything that you’ve been through these past few weeks. The harrowing, traumatic chain of events that you’ve endured is unimaginable, but your strength and versatility prevailed and one can’t help but admire the class with which you have handled the situation. You are truly a lady, if nothing else, and I am humbled by your grace. Those who doubt you obviously do not know you. I was one of those doubters. And for that, I also apologize.
Enclosed, you will find the personal effects that were stolen from you. Let me assure you that those responsible have been dealt with accordingly. The blatant disrespect that was shown to you, the mental anguish they caused, and the attack on your reputation will not go unpunished. I personally have dealt with them and no court system anywhere can inflict any greater punishment on the guilty parties than I can. It’s over, Ms. Lawrence. You are free to continue the successful journey that you were travelling on before the accident.
We all know that everything happens for a reason, and there is a lesson in everything. This experience has enlightened me to the fact that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. So many times, we run from the mistakes that we’ve made and the judgments that come along with them. You, my dear, have embraced all that you are and what becomes you. I will continue to pray for you as I hope you will do the same for me. Blessings,
J. A.
Paisley folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. “Who is it from?” Seymone asked. “It doesn’t matter.” Paisley sighed, reflecting on everything she had just read. She knew that it had come from the bishop, but there was no need to tell that to anyone. It was finally over and she was ready to move on. “Go tell Emma Jean the Siren we gotta go before we’re late.”
Urban Books, LLC
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Say It Ain’t So Copyright © 2009 La Jill Hunt
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ISBN: 978-1-6228-6119-4
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living, or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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