A Taste of Catholic Fiction Part 6

A preview of the book The Arrow Bringer 

Chapter 2 part 2: The Project

By the time we get to the bookshelves, I’m almost in tears. I try to dodge Shawn before he can notice, but I’m not fast enough. “What’s wrong?”

I plop in a chair, not wanting to have this conversation. Aside from my family, I don’t open up to people. Shawn doesn’t know I’m adopted, my legal name, or that my sisters call me “Evie.” I can’t even fathom telling him I’m dying. And not because he wouldn’t care… but because he’s such a nice guy he probably would. It’s not fair for our first real conversation to be about my death. “I shouldn’t be crying like this.” I manage to get a grip on myself. “I don’t know you that well. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. If you want to talk, that’s okay with me. You seem like you could use a friend.”

The word “friend” strikes a chord in me. The next thing I know, I’m admitting things I’d never tell my family. “I’m really having a tough time. I just… I’m not ready to... Have you ever thought about death?”

He soaks in my question. “A few times. I’m not afraid, because once I’m gone, I won’t know it. But I hope I can leave the world a better place. And… I hope I’m remembered.” He falters. “Are you going to lose someone, Evangeline?”

I can’t do that to Shawn.

“I know someone who’s dying.”

“Oh man.” He studies me. “Want to work on this later?”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”

He hesitates before pulling a book out of his bag. “I brought The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. It’s from The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. My dad read it to me when I was a kid. Ever heard of it?”

I shake my head. “We don’t read a lot of fantasy books at home. But we should include it.” We both head for the shelves, selecting more of Lewis’s works, as well as biographies on his life.

As we work, Shawn makes extra efforts to cheer me up. He uses his British accent for the next two hours, and I laugh so hard that the librarians keep shushing us. Somewhere along the line, we give up on the project because we keep getting distracted by The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. And for a while, I forget about everything, except working on a project with Shawn for Mr. Sidely’s class.

But all too soon the library closes, and we go our separate ways.

Then, just like that, everything comes rushing back. I remember I don’t have much longer, my life will be over soon, and I won’t even remember it.

(This book will be available on kindle for .99 on 3-19-19)