Susanna listened to Ellis and Raymond fight. She was afraid to speak to them, they both seemed so violent. The threats, the harsh words of insolence echoed in her mind as her praying came to a halt. Their words brought back haunted memories she wanted to refuse, but could not resist. She had no control. Her eyes began tearing and her breaths began to increase. Just pray, Susie, just keep praying, she told herself! trying to calm her nerves.
She wished they would leave, as badly as she wanted to leave, as well. Mass was starting soon, so leaving seemed to be such a redundant circle. She would have to quickly come back, anyways. She pressed her hands together, raising them to her face, praying, her eyes closed, sealing shut. Her mantra of the Jesus prayer restarted. O, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
Her light blue hair fell in front of her face, as she lowered her head, declining her neck and facing the ground, trying to remember why she was here in the first place. Pain was essential for life. Pain cannot be escaped. The only relief of pain was from God. Life is Pain. The afterlife would be better. She was so scared of the afterlife, what would happen after death? But the pain of the compound reminded her that she longed for the afterlife, more and more after every beating. . Those haunting beatings.
God, she wished they would stop talking, especially so inappropriately.