No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

The smile slowly faded from Fanny's face. "Felicia, over the years, I've seen too much despair in women battling cancer, too many babies who never got the chance to see the world, too much of life's hellos and goodbyes. Every time I see it, it just breaks my heart. So, I

"Why on earth would you make wishes for everyone?" I asked, puzzled.

figured if I don't have to see that anymore, my days would be a whole lot brighter."

After saying this, Fanny took my hand. "So, in making wishes for everyone, I guess I'm also doing it for myself."

In that moment, as I looked at Fanny, she seemed almost otherworldly, radiating a kind of light.

She seemed oblivious to it and asked, "Are you still planning to go up? If not, a little prayer here wouldn't hurt. It's the thought that counts, right?"

"I'll go," I suddenly found myself saying more decisively than I'd felt before.

"Are you sure you're up for it? Why don't you just come back with me?" Fanny looked concerned.

I nodded, saying, "I'm sure."

Looking up at the church at the mountaintop, I said, "I'll go and make your wish again."

then I'm grateful,

was worried. Sensing something was off, I

slapped my arm. "What could possibly be wrong? I just hate hiking. You know the last time

Fanny sighed, "I've got a real aversion

I nodded, "Okay, you head back.

at the mountain, "But I'm

anything happens, you can call for help," I reassured her,

the church, then clasped her hands together in prayer, "May the

high-five, I started my

a recent storm, was tough to navigate, but driven by Fanny's prayers, I

feeling inside, like something had been

challenging, but

for a world without suffering, where families remain together, and

I went to see Father Mathew, who was cleaning the chapeland tending to the candles instead of his usual

on

vigil candles, I remembered Herschel lighting one for me Sure enough, there was a candle with my