THE LIGHT THE VEIL and THE SWORD

A hot, fiery service on a cool February night. Nestled in between stores, in a small storefront church, I could feel my hands nervously grip a stranger's sleeves (the pastor's). I felt the cool hands of the usher as she unclutched my nervous grip that ruffled the pastor's sleeves. A pastor, built, tall, handsome, single, with money. They say Valentine's Day is supposed to be the love day, love month. But how could I have known what walking through those doors that night would cost me? The light, the veil, and the sword. A sea of dreams. The prophecy.

-- Waynette Thomas