never forget that day, a defining moment in her life.
She wasn’t sure when their relationship had started exactly, but she’d been sure when it ended, at least for her. Isaiah began giving her rides home after search and rescues. After work at the Avalanche Center they’d hang out together. Get dinner, or a soda, or catch a movie. Just friends, all along. Neither of them ever crossed that invisible line. But over time, they shared a few looks. Three years of that and Heidi’s heart grew attached to Isaiah in ways she could never explain. His friendship meant the world to her, and his presence wrapped around her, protecting her and making her feel cherished.
Should a girl feel that way about a guy who was nothing more than a friend? They never talked about it, but she had a feeling he understood what she was thinking. She felt the attraction and suspected Isaiah did, too, but stepping over that line, becoming more than friends, would mean they’d risk losing what they had.
Maybe having more with Isaiah was worth the risk. And that’s why that one evening while they waited on Cade and Leah to return from Seattle, she’d found herself looking into Isaiah’s eyes and letting herself wish for more. Found herself wanting to trust him completely. She’d seen something similar in his eyes. Her heart had leaped at the possibility of freely loving him.
And her head had spun when the longing behind his gaze had shuttered closed, hiding his feelings from her. Everything about Isaiah had changed that day. His smiles weren’t personal and special and just for her anymore. She could have been a stranger off the street, the way he treated her, though he was never unkind.
But he’d been scared that day. Apparently something more with Heidi hadn’t been worth the risk to Isaiah, and yet his fear had shut down the friendship they shared anyway. He changed his work schedule so he no longer worked the same shift.
Nothing had been the same between them. After the hiking trip that ended with the loss of her friend, Heidi had needed Isaiah and he’d failed to be there for her. His choice. After that everything had spiraled downward and sent her into a darker place.
She couldn’t stand to let Isaiah know that he’d held enough of a place in her heart to hurt her. But if he knew anything about her, he’d know she had lied. Still, her words had cut him all the same. She could see it in his eyes.
Her pain.
His pain.
But none of what she’d gone through compared to this nightmare. Oh, Lord, please give us hope. Help us out of this somehow. Use us to show these people Your love and grace. Just...show up.
The prayer lifted from her heart, but she’d never felt so alone. God was there. She knew He was, but why couldn’t she feel Him? Get a sense of His presence?
What about all those verses in Psalm 139? She’d meditated on them, used them to help her get through her most painful moments, and yet here she was hiking through the wilderness and slipping back into the darkness.
She whispered to herself, “‘If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’”
Where are You, God?
No answer.
But Heidi knew that her heart was too strung out. God’s answer always came in the form of a still, small voice in her heart. And she always recognized His voice. No matter that the situation seemed hopeless, she would cling to Him the best she could.
And, as if He’d answered, the snow stopped falling, and the sky peeked through the dense clouds, if only a little. After her hurtful words to Isaiah, he’d left her behind, hiking on ahead, but he glanced back now and caught her gaze. He remained every bit the pillar to her that her brother was, and that made no sense.
Isaiah stopped.
He stood at attention and peered into the sky.
Heidi heard it, too.
A helicopter!
SAR had finally
She wasn’t sure when their relationship had started exactly, but she’d been sure when it ended, at least for her. Isaiah began giving her rides home after search and rescues. After work at the Avalanche Center they’d hang out together. Get dinner, or a soda, or catch a movie. Just friends, all along. Neither of them ever crossed that invisible line. But over time, they shared a few looks. Three years of that and Heidi’s heart grew attached to Isaiah in ways she could never explain. His friendship meant the world to her, and his presence wrapped around her, protecting her and making her feel cherished.
Should a girl feel that way about a guy who was nothing more than a friend? They never talked about it, but she had a feeling he understood what she was thinking. She felt the attraction and suspected Isaiah did, too, but stepping over that line, becoming more than friends, would mean they’d risk losing what they had.
Maybe having more with Isaiah was worth the risk. And that’s why that one evening while they waited on Cade and Leah to return from Seattle, she’d found herself looking into Isaiah’s eyes and letting herself wish for more. Found herself wanting to trust him completely. She’d seen something similar in his eyes. Her heart had leaped at the possibility of freely loving him.
And her head had spun when the longing behind his gaze had shuttered closed, hiding his feelings from her. Everything about Isaiah had changed that day. His smiles weren’t personal and special and just for her anymore. She could have been a stranger off the street, the way he treated her, though he was never unkind.
But he’d been scared that day. Apparently something more with Heidi hadn’t been worth the risk to Isaiah, and yet his fear had shut down the friendship they shared anyway. He changed his work schedule so he no longer worked the same shift.
Nothing had been the same between them. After the hiking trip that ended with the loss of her friend, Heidi had needed Isaiah and he’d failed to be there for her. His choice. After that everything had spiraled downward and sent her into a darker place.
She couldn’t stand to let Isaiah know that he’d held enough of a place in her heart to hurt her. But if he knew anything about her, he’d know she had lied. Still, her words had cut him all the same. She could see it in his eyes.
Her pain.
His pain.
But none of what she’d gone through compared to this nightmare. Oh, Lord, please give us hope. Help us out of this somehow. Use us to show these people Your love and grace. Just...show up.
The prayer lifted from her heart, but she’d never felt so alone. God was there. She knew He was, but why couldn’t she feel Him? Get a sense of His presence?
What about all those verses in Psalm 139? She’d meditated on them, used them to help her get through her most painful moments, and yet here she was hiking through the wilderness and slipping back into the darkness.
She whispered to herself, “‘If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’”
Where are You, God?
No answer.
But Heidi knew that her heart was too strung out. God’s answer always came in the form of a still, small voice in her heart. And she always recognized His voice. No matter that the situation seemed hopeless, she would cling to Him the best she could.
And, as if He’d answered, the snow stopped falling, and the sky peeked through the dense clouds, if only a little. After her hurtful words to Isaiah, he’d left her behind, hiking on ahead, but he glanced back now and caught her gaze. He remained every bit the pillar to her that her brother was, and that made no sense.
Isaiah stopped.
He stood at attention and peered into the sky.
Heidi heard it, too.
A helicopter!
SAR had finally
Similar Books
