Whenever You Call – By TXPeach

You are listening to “Whenever You Call” by Mariah Carey and Brian Knight.

Chapter One – Invitations

Marlena and Samantha Evans were in their bathroom getting ready for school. They were juniors at Salem High School and although they were not snobby or mean they were a part of the most elite group in school. When Frank and Martha Evans had told Sam and Marlena the summer before their freshman year that they were moving from their home in Boulder, Colorado to Salem both girls were understandably upset.

Once they had moved the transition was smoother than either Frank or Martha or their twin daughters had expected. Soon after arriving in Salem, Marlena and Sam became friends with their next door neighbor Kate Roberts. Kate’s boyfriend was Roman Brady. Roman was buddies with John Black, Eugene Bradford, and Tony DiMiera the three richest guys in town. Soon they were all the best of friends and over the years they had come to be known as Brady’s Bunch even though John was really the leader of the pack.

“So Marly, who do you think will ask to the Mistletoe Ball this year?” Sam asked as she applied her mascara.

“Oh, I’m sure I will wind up going with Eugene or Tony again this year.” Marlena replied. Truthfully, Marlena desperately wanted John to ask her. Marlena had never believed in love at first sight until the first time she met John. With a full head of black hair, eyes as deep blue as the ocean, and a gaze so intense that he could make her blush without her even realizing it John was the most gorgeous guy she had ever met.

John, however, would undoubtedly ask Sam to the Ball. The two were not dating but always attended Salem High’s major social events together. Marlena knew that John had no interest in Sam and he only asked her because he was captain of the football team and she was captain of the cheerleading squad. Unfortunately, for Marlena, Sam was interested in John so he was off limits.

“Well, hopefully Tony will ask you. I love Eugene to death but he is a bit weird.”

“Oh I don’t know. Gene and I always seem to have fun.”

Sam rolled her eyes at Marlena in the mirror. “Perhaps you guys have a little bit too much fun. Remember last years conga line?”

Marlena laughed at the memory. At last years ball she and Gene had started a conga line. Somewhere along the way the refreshments table had been knocked over and all the punch and cookies covered the gym floor. It had been worth the week in detention to see the principal’s face when he saw the mess.

Sam grabbed her sister’s arm and dragged her out of the bathroom and down the stairs. “C’mon sis. We don’t want to be late. Our public awaits.”

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“There they are. The two best looking sisters in the whole school.” John yelled when he spotted Sam and Marlena down the hall. He ran up to them and draped an arm over each of their shoulders. “So how are the twinners doing this wonderful day?”

“I’m fine John, but what has got you in such a good mood?” Marlena asked even though she already knew the answer. John always got like this whenever the big social events at school were close.

“Well Marly, let me tell you. I woke up this morning and realized that the Mistletoe Ball is less than two weeks away and I hadn’t asked anyone yet. So, what do you say Sam?” John said looking from Marlena to Sam.

Marlena shrugged John’s arm off her shoulder and shoved her head in her locker to hide her disappointment. Maybe Sam would turn him down this year and Marlena would finally get her chance. Being second choice was better than not being asked at all. Maybe just maybe…….

“Of course, I’ll go with you John. Don’t I always?” Sam replied shooting down any hopes Marlena had.

“That’s great. How about you Marly? Who are you going with?” John asked.

“Well, no ones asked yet. I guess I’ll have to wait.”

“Wait no more m’lady.” a voice said behind her.

“Hey Gene!”

“So Marly, will you be my girl at the dance?”

“I’d love to Gene.”

“That’s great you two. Just promise me no conga line this year.” Sam said.

“We promise sis.” Marlena said before laughing and turning to face Eugene. “Hey Gene, do you know the jitterbug?”

Chapter Two – Awkward Situations

Aside from John not asking her to the Mistletoe Ball Marlena had had a wonderful week and a half. Now she sat in her last class before Christmas Break with the Ball later that evening and everything was going wrong. She was sitting in her English class staring at a research paper that Mr. Wilcox had just handed back to her. She could not believe her eyes. He had given her an F. She had had problems with this teacher but this was going to far. This would lower her grade to a B- and lessen her chance at Valedictorian next year.

By the time the final bell of the day rang Marlena was steaming. When Samantha made her way over to her sister’s desk she could tell Marlena was angry. Sam asked her why and Marlena simply told her she needed to speak to Mr. Wilcox and that she would meet her at home. Sam was reluctant to leave her sister alone with a teacher she had had problems with but Marlena assured her sister things would be fine and Sam went home.

Marlena waited until everyone left the room, then she gathered up her nerve and marched up to Mr. Wilcox’s desk. Then for added emphasis Marlena slammed her paper down on the desk. Mr. Wilcox’s initial look of shock was quickly replaced with a smirk. It unnerved Marlena for an instant but she soon recovered. “Mr. Wilcox, I need to speak to you about my paper before you turn in your grades for the semester.”

James Wilcox reclined his balding middle-aged frame back in his chair and stared at Marlena. Over the past ten years he had seen beautiful girls come and go through his classroom but none like the delectable Marlena Evans. It had always been his opinion that she was just begging for “extra” attention. Maybe he would be the one to give it to her. “What seems to be the problem Miss Evans?”

“As if you didn’t know.” Marlena raged. “That was a good paper and there is no way it deserved an F.”

Mr. Wilcox smiled at her feistiness. “I’m sorry Miss Evans I thought the paper warranted the grade that I gave you. What do you expect me to do about it?”

“Well, even if you won’t give me the grade I deserve you have to at least give me the chance for extra credit. I really can’t afford a B- if I’m going to be Valedictorian next year. I’ll do anything to get my grade up.”

“Anything? Well maybe there is something.”

“What?”

“Think about it Miss Evans. We’re both adults here.”

Marlena was horrified by the insinuation and she made sure Mr. Wilcox knew it. “I not only resent but I am shocked by that insinuation. Not only will you never get what you are wanting but I am going to report you to every authority figure that will listen to me.”

Before Marlena could move Mr. Wilcox had a firm grip around her wrist. As she twisted it painfully he began to threaten her. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I mean really, who will believe you? I have a good reputation here and you don’t have any witnesses.”

“Stop it Mr. Wilcox. You are hurting me. Please let me go.”

“Oh, I will let you go once we get a few things straight. First of all, you will never breathe a word of this to anyone. Secondly, you will only get an A in this class if you give me what I want. Finally, I always get what I want. Don’t ever forget that.”

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John was relieved that he was finally headed home. He had to stay after school to make up a test he had missed during football season. As he walked past his English class he stopped dead in his tracks watching the scene before him unfold. John could barely believe what he was witnessing. Mr. Wilcox had Marlena’s arm twisted nearly completely behind her and seemed to be speaking to her in a threatening manner.

John dropped his books and was through the door in an instance. “Hey, what’s going on here?”

Wilcox let go of Marlena instantly. “Hello Mr. Black. Miss Evans and I were just having a discussion. It’s really none of your business.”

“Why don’t I wait to hear Marly’s side of the story before I decide whether it’s my business or not.”

Marlena smiled at John, relieved he had come to her rescue. “Thank goodness you came when you did. I don’t know what might have happened.”

“You little whore. You are such a liar. Don’t listen to her Mr. Black. She is playing with your mind.” Before Wilcox realized what was happening John had him pinned against the chalkboard in a chokehold.

“Listen up Wilcox. I know Marly and nothing could make her try to seduce you. She is not a whore, she never will be. You had better back off or you will have me to answer to. That’s a promise.” John let go of Wilcox and he gasped for breath. Then John went to Marlena and put a protective arm around her. “C’mon Marly, let’s get away from this jerk. I’ll give you a ride home so you can get ready for the ball.”

Chapter Three – Nightmares

“Are you sure you don’t just want to ride with me and John in the limo, Marly?” Sam asked as she applied the last touches to her makeup.

Sam was wearing a form fitting burgundy dress with spaghetti straps and embroidered mauve and gray flowers along the neckline. She wore her hair down with a slight wave. She looked marvelous and Marlena knew she would be the belle of the Ball.

“Thanks for the offer Sam but you and John should enjoy the limo. Besides I am running so far behind that I would make you and John late for the Ball.” Marlena replied as she flew around her bedroom trying to get ready.

“I don’t like the thought of you going alone. Why did you insist on meeting Gene at the Ball instead of having him pick you up?”

“I’ll be fine Sam. I’m a big girl. Trust me.” Marlena replied as the doorbell rang. “Now go before your date thinks you’ve stood him up.”

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Sam opened the door a few moments later to find a very dapper John on the other side. “Hello John.” Sam said accepting an orchid corsage from him.

“You look stunning Sam. Are we ready to go or are we waiting on Marly?”

“Well, I tried my hardest but she insists that we go on. You know Marly, she’s running late as usual.”

“Tell me something Sam. Has Marlena been acting strange or upset today?”

“No, not that I’ve noticed. Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” John said as he escorted Sam to the limo. Even though they were on their way to the biggest social event of the season John could not shake the images of his earlier encounter with Wilcox from his mind.

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Forty-five minutes later the Mistletoe Ball was well under way. Brady’s bunch were all standing in one corner talking when Sam expressed concerns that Marlena hadn’t shown up yet.

“I just don’t understand where she might be. I’m really starting to worry about her.” Sam said checking her watch for the tenth time in five minutes.

“C’mon Sam. This is Marly we are talking about. The Queen of Tardiness. You only start worrying about her when she is at least two hours late.” Roman joked.

“I’m serious Roman. She should have been here already.”

John put a reassuring arm around Sam. “Listen, if she’s not here in another fifteen minutes I’ll go looking for her. Is it a deal?”

“Thanks John. I really appreciate it.”

“Good. Now let’s go dance.” John said as he lead a reluctant Sam to the dance floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marlena stepped out of her car and straightened her dress. She was wearing a navy blue dress with a fitted bodice and a fitted skirt to her knees where it flared out to the floor. She had pulled her hair up in a french twist and was wearing a single strand of pearls and pearl earrings.

She could not believe she was forty-five minutes late. What was worse was that she had to park so far away that it was going to take her at least ten minutes to get to the gym, get her bag checked, and find the group. By that time her sister would be freaking.

Marlena was relieved when she made it through the crowded parking lot up next to the buildings where there was more light. As much as she hated to admit it she wished she’d had Sam and John wait on her. She was almost there. All she had to do was walk the length of the cafeteria, then past the alley that ran between the caf and the gym and then she would be home free.

She sped up as she passed the dark alley. She was almost past it when a hand reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her into the alley. Marlena was so scared she couldn’t even scream. She struggled to get away but her assailant was much to strong. She could not believe this was happening to her so she tried to picture herself somewhere else. As her attacker violated her in the worst way a woman can be Marlena lost herself in the steady beat of the music coming from the gym door a mere ten feet away and thought only of John.

Chapter Four – A Dark, Cold Existance

John and Marlena held each other close as the music played softly. They danced slowly to the music, clinging to each other for support. Suddenly, the music changes to a fast song and Marlena and John are separated by a rush of people. Marlena searches for John but he is nowhere to be found. She turns cold as she realizes she has lost her one and only savior.

Marlena broke out of her trance when she felt herself go cold. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust after she opened them but when they did she remembered everything that had happened. She looked around frantically, hoping that somehow she was having a horrible nightmare. Then she saw him, her attacker, standing over her readjusting his clothing and she realized it was all too real.

“How could you do this to me? What kind of monster are you?” Marlena asked as pain racked her body.

“I am not an animal, merely a man with needs. As to how could I do this to you? Very easily. You’ve had it coming for months. I must go before I’m missed so you have a nice evening. Oh, and if you think about telling anyone about this, Miss Evans, I suggest you think again. You’ll regret it if you do.”

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Sam looked at her watch again. Marlena was over an hour late now and she was beginning to panic. Marlena wasn’t known for her punctualness but this was a bit extreme, even for her. The thing that really worried Sam was that she had that feeling. She couldn’t explain it and she had only experienced twice before. Once, when Marlena had gone to visit a friend and Sam had stayed home, Marlena fell and broke her arm and Sam had known immediately that something was wrong. The other time was when the girls had gone to camp one summer. Sam was at an acting camp, Marlena at a tennis camp, when Marlena’s appendix ruptured. Sam had called home to check-in with her parents to see if they had heard from Marly just minutes after the camp had called them with the news. Now, she had that same terrible feeling again and she did not like it one bit.

“Here is your punch, darlin’” John said from behind her causing her to jump. “Woah, are you all right Sam? Is this about Marly being so late?”

“John, I’m really worried about her. She should have been here by now.”

Just then another girl from the cheerleading squad came over to say hi. “Hey guys. Good to see you. Where’s Marly at? I swear I saw her pull into the parking lot just as I was coming into the gym earlier.”

“You saw her car pull in?” Sam asked. When the girl nodded Sam looked at john with panicked eyes.

“I’m on it Sam. I’ll go look for her now. Try not to worry.” John said trying to calm Sam. He only hoped his face did not betray his own panic.

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John had been looking for a good ten minutes with no sign of Marlena. He had a strange feeling that when he did find her he would be walking into a bad situation. He had been searching the far side of the parking lot where Marlena’s car was when he finally decided to look closer to the buildings. He walked the length of the cafeteria and had glanced down the dark alley when he decided to go back inside and get Gene and Roman to help look. Just as he turned to leave he heard a whimpering sound coming from the alley. He made his way into the darkness and when he saw her his heart broke.

She was huddled between two dumpsters with her head resting on her knees, which were pulled up to her chest. Her hair was no longer in a perfect french twist, instead it was a tangled mess filled with pieces of garbage. Her dress was torn and hanging by threads. John swallowed hard when he saw her slip, stockings, and undergarments in a pile nearby. Anyone could see that she was not in good shape. John made his way to her and put his arm around her.

Marlena went wild. “No, don’t hurt me. Please, don’t touch me. Get away!”

“Marly, it’s me. It’s John.” She finally looked up and saw who it was. John saw the relief wash over her.

“Oh God, John make it stop. Make the images go away.” Marlena replied.

“Marly, tell me what happened here.”

“It was awful John. He…… he raped me.” Marlena whispered nearly choking on the words.

John felt anger and rage well up inside him when she confirmed what he had feared. “Who Marly? Tell me who the sick animal was. I’m going to kill the bastard.”

“It was……..” Before Marlena could finish she passed out.

Chapter Five – Seeking Help

After Marlena had passed out John realized he needed to get her to the hospital. Some how he managed to find her car keys in the alley and he left her long enough to pull her car up as close as he could get it to the alley. He had just loaded her limp body into the passenger side of the car and was preparing to get into the driver’s side when he heard someone call his name. He looked up and saw Eugene running up to him.

“John! Hey buddy, what’s up? Where are you taking Marly?” Eugene said running towards the car.

John met his ten feet from the car hoping he wouldn’t be able to see Marlena clearly. “I’m taking Marly home Gene. She got sick so I’m taking her since she can’t drive. I’m leaving the limo for Sam.”

Eugene tried to get a better look at Marlena in the car. “Why don’t you let me take her, I am her date. You go back inside with Sam.”

“No Gene.” John said stopping Eugene from moving any closer to the car. “I promised Marly I would take care of her. Besides I got my tux dirty helping her into the car. You go back inside and have a good time and please explain it to Sam ok?”

Eugene looked at Marlena in the car, then at John and shrugged his shoulders. “Ok whatever.” Then he turned and headed back to the dance.

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Sam tried to be patient as she waited for news about her sister. John had been gone for awhile so Gene had gone to look for both of them. Now Sam sat on the sidelines of the dance waiting for any news and feeling that terrible feeling that something was horribly wrong. Just then Eugene came walking up to her.

“Gene, did you find them? Is Marly ok?”

“Yeah, I found them. Marly isn’t feeling well so John is taking her home. He left the limo for you.”

“She’s sick? What’s wrong? Is it serious?” Sam asked worried for her sister’s well being.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure it is just a stomach bug. Let’s enjoy the party. C’mon and dance with me.” Eugene said offering his hand to Sam.

Sam reluctantly took Eugene’s hand and followed him to the dance floor. As they danced Sam tried to push the unsettled feeling she had out of her mind and enjoy herself.

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Marlena had awakened on the way to the hospital. It was obvious she was in pain and all John could think of was getting her to the emergency room as quickly as possible. By the time John screeched into the parking lot Marlena’s painful sobs were almost more than he could bare.

John felt the tears begin to well up as he carried Marlena into the ER. She clung to him like a life raft. John had never seen her so dependent on anyone and it scared the hell out of him. “Please, someone I need help! Oh God, help me!”

Dr. Tom Horton, the hospital Chief of Staff, and his wife nurse Alice Horton rushed up to John with a gurney in tow. John laid Marlena on the gurney and let Alice lead him to a waiting area as he watched Tom push Marlena into an exam room. Alice looked at John, a boy she had known for years, with tears streaming down his face and her heart went out to him. “John, darling, was that Marlena Evans you brought in?”

“Yes Alice, it was. I can’t believe this is even happening to her. It was so horrible. As long as I live I will never forget what happened to her and what I saw tonight.”

“John, what did happen? What was so horrible?”

“Dammit Alice, she was raped. Some monster raped her. She was in so much pain. How could anyone do such a thing? I don’t know what sick bastard did this to her but when I find out he’s going to be sorry. He’ll never know what hit him.” John said, the tears attacking him again. As the nearly grown man began to sob all Alice could do was try to comfort him the best she could.

Chapter Six – Run To The Refuge

Dr. Tom Horton wiped his brow as he finished his exam of Marlena. It broke his heart to see the condition that this girl, who along with her sister had stolen his and his wife’s heart the moment they moved in across the street nearly three years ago, was in. Marlena had already made it clear to him that she didn’t want her parents to know what had happened to her. Tom had to respect that but he knew it wouldn’t be easy since Frank was his golfing partner and Martha volunteered at the hospital.

It was painfully obvious what had happened to the darling girl, who he had nicknamed “Sunshine”. Aside from the bruises forming on her arms and upper body there was even worse damage elsewhere. Tom, in all of his years at University Hospital, had never seen such brutality. He had taken all the steps required of him by law towards preserving any evidence in a possible criminal case.

Now came the part that Tom hated the worst. He pulled a chair up to the bed and looked Marlena in the eye. She was such a beautiful girl but now her once vibrant hazel eyes were lost. Tom wasn’t even sure if she would be listening but he had to try.

“Hey there Sunshine. You were in bad shape but I know you are going to make it. I know you probably don’t want to talk about this now but I have a professional responsibility. It is my responsibility to report any sexual assaults to the police. Now, I’ll have to give them your name but if you choose to press charges your name will remain anonymous to the press. This is the part where I need your help Sunshine. I think you know who did this to you, and now I need you to tell me who it was.”

Tom waited in painful silence for a few moments for any signs of comprehension from Marlena. She only continued to stare at some unknown point in space, retreated within herself in order to stay safe. Tom finally decided it was time to question John. He had brought her in, maybe he had seen something or someone. Tom had just left the room when the words, a nearly inaudible whisper, escaped Marlena’s lips.

“It was him.”

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John stood next to the window looking despairingly into the night. It had started to snow soon after John had brought Marlena in and now it blanketed everything in sight. John could not believe how deceiving it was. How was it possible that something so clean and pristine could so quickly cover up and almost make one forget how dark and cold the night really was? All John wanted to do was go and track muddy footprints through it. After all, if God had the right to ruin something as good and pure as Marlena why couldn’t he ruin something of God’s.

The tears were just beginning to well up in John’s eyes again when someone touched his shoulder. John turned and met the eyes of Dr. Tom Horton. The same tears that the threatened to spill out of John’s eyes were also present in Tom’s. John felt a lump form in his throat. He knew he had to ask the question he was just terrified of the answer. He took in a ragged breath and asked, “How is she Tom?”

“Well John, to tell you the truth she was roughed up badly. In time she will be fine physically. Her mental condition, on the other hand, is another matter. I tried to get her to tell me who did this but she didn’t say anything. I was wondering if she said anything to you on the way over here.”

“No. She was just about to tell me who did this to her when she passed out. Unfortunately, she wasn’t in a talking mood when she woke up.”

“I was afraid of that. The police will keep the samples I took for a month. We have to get her to give us a name before that. Plus, we have another problem. Marlena doesn’t want her parents to know but if she stays over night her mother will find out tomorrow when she comes in for her volunteer work. If we send her home her parents are sure to notice the bruises. Do you have any suggestions?”

“I’ve actually been thinking about that. Please hear me out before you refuse. Marly was supposed to take the last bus headed to Boulder, Colorado tonight after the dance. She was going there for a ten day ski trip with old friends. I want to make it look like she got on that bus. I’ll have her call her friends tomorrow and tell them something came up and she can’t come so they won’t worry.”

“Where will Sunshine be instead?”

“I’ll take her to the country house. Just me and her for ten days. That way she’ll not only heal but maybe I can get her to open up to me. What do you think?” John asked nervously.

“I don’t know John. What if something goes wrong and her parents find out?”

“They won’t, I promise. Even if they do I’ll take all the blame. C’mon Tom you know this will be good for her.”

Tom sighed. “It is against my better judgment but ok. Just promise you’ll take care of her.”

“Thanks Tom. I promise she’ll be fine. No one is going to ever hurt Marly again. Not as long as I’m around.”

Chapter Seven – The Moving of a Mountain

John parked his Jeep outside his family’s country estate a few hours from Salem and watched Marlena sleeping in the seat next to him. She had slept most of the trip but that was fine with him. The more she rested the quicker her physical injuries would heal. John wasn’t sure she would ever be the same emotionally ever again. It scared the hell out of John to think his bright, vibrant friend would always be as lost as she was now.

John went around to the passenger side and gently lifted her from the car. Within himself he realized that this experience was affecting him also. It wasn’t the same thing Marlena was going through, still she would have to help him through just as much as he would have to help her through. In his head John knew it would all be ok but as John laid a sleeping Marlena on the couch his heart wondered how.

No explanation for the moving of the mountain
We only know it’s gone from where it used to be
Sometimes, well it seems there’s no way around them
But you don’t always need to see.

Marlena awakened in a panic as she had everytime since the attack. She was so afraid that when she opened her eyes she would be back in that alley. This time when she woke up she felt that real sense of panic that comes when you don’t recognize your surroundings. When she saw John looking out the picture window across the room at the snow she remembered everything. John had had her call her friends and tell them something had come up and she couldn’t meet them for their trip. Then he told her he was taking her to his country house so she could heal in peace.

“John?” Marlena said as she sat up, groaning at the pain wracking her body.

John was by her side in an instant. “Hey Marly, how you feeling?”

“You want the truth? I feel like hell. Everytime I close my eyes I see it all over again. When I’m awake all I can do is feel it all over again. I don’t know how I will ever get through this with my sanity in tack.” Marlena replied as tears began to fall for the first time since the attack.

“You’ll make it Marly. We both will. I know it.” John said putting a comforting arm around her.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I can’t be sure. I just have to believe.”

When you believe no goal is to high
No dream you can’t achieve, no water too wide
Trust in your heart and go where it leads
You already have evrything you’ll ever need
When you believe

Marlena had gone upstairs to shower and change clothes and John had followed close behind. Just as he passed Marlena’s bathroom he heard a crash. he only hesitated for a moment before opening the door. The first thing he saw was a shattered vase that had obviously been the source of the crash and then he saw her. She was huddled up in a corner wearing a white terry cloth robe.

“John, I don’t want to remember anymore.” Marlena pleaded. John didn’t know what to say so all he could do was give her a shoulder to cry on.

There’s no accounting for the parting of the water
We only know that they wound up on the other side
Some roads seem they can’t get any harder
Still you won’t be denied

Marlena had finally gotten a shower and changed. Now John was trying to get her to eat something. All she did was pick at her food but John couldn’t blame her. He didn’t feel like eating either.

“John, promise me that you will help me get through this.”

“I promise, as long as it takes. As long as you help me in return.”

“I promise. We’ll get through it together.”

When you believe no goal is to high
No dream you can’t achieve, no water to wide
Trust in your heart and go where it leads
You already have everything you’ll ever need
When you believe

John had shown Marlena to her room and waited for her to come out of the bathroom. She came out a few moments later in her PJ’s. John helped her into the bed and pulled the covers over her. John was just about to leave when she stopped him.

“John, please stay. Just until I fall asleep.”

John shook his head and turned off the light before going to sit in the chair next to the bed. Before he sat he leaned over and kissed Marlena’s forehead. She looked at him a moment and then whispered “Thank you” before closing her eyes.

Somewhere, Someday
When you believe no goal is too high
No dream you can’t achieve, no water to wide
Trust in your heart and go where it leads
You already have everything you need
When you believe

It had been a hard first day and John knew there would be worse one’s ahead. Now as he watched Marlena sleep with the moonlight framing her face it seemed as if this had never happened. He even began to believe his own words. Maybe just maybe, they’d make it through this ok.

No explanation for the moving of a mountain.

The lyrics contained in this chapter are from the song “Moving of a Mountain” from the Prince of Egypt: Nashville album.