Chapter 26: The Mark of Revelation

Susan had not slept well for days. The dreams kept coming, clearer and deeper each night. Always the same, she was dressed in a white gown, her heart full of peace, standing beside a man whose face she could never see. But this time, something new had appeared.. a scar on the man’s left palm. That single mark haunted her thoughts all morning.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she whispered to herself, “What could this mean? Who is this man?” After a long silence, she reached for her phone and scrolled to Richard’s number. Her fingers trembled slightly before she pressed “call.”

“Good afternoon, Pastor Richard,” she began when he answered, trying to sound calm. “I… I’ve been having more of those dreams. I think there’s something about them you should know. Can we meet?”

Richard paused for a moment, thinking. He still remembered his mentor’s words.. seek clarity, not escape. But he also knew he needed to be careful. “Alright,” he finally said. “Let’s meet in a restaurant,on Friday Say, 4 p.m.?”

“Yes, that’s fine,” she replied softly.

When the time came, Richard got to the restaurant early. He chose a quiet corner where they wouldn’t attract much attention.

Minutes turned into nearly half an hour before Susan finally walked in. She looked different, composed, modestly dressed, and glowing with a kind of peace he hadn’t seen before.

“I’m so sorry, I came late,” she said quickly, sliding into the seat across from him. “A customer delayed me. She was supposed to pick up her outfit earlier, but she came late.”

Richard raised a brow, smiling slightly. “Outfit? You make clothes now?”

Susan nodded proudly. “Yes. I decided to use my tailoring skill to start something new. I’ve been sewing from home. It’s not much, but it’s honest work. I want to build my life differently now.”

Richard’s smile widened. “That’s beautiful, Susan. I’m really happy for you.”

Encouraged by his warmth, she leaned forward. “Thank you, Pastor. But that’s not all… there’s something I’ve been seeing in my dreams.”

As she spoke, Richard absentmindedly rubbed his left palm, a habit he had when deep in thought. The movement caught Susan’s attention. Her words trailed off. Her eyes fixed on his hand and there it was. The scar. The same scar from her dream.

Her heart began to race. Her breathing quickened. The restaurant’s noise faded around her as her mind struggled to connect the dots.

Richard noticed her sudden silence. “Susan, are you alright?” he asked gently.

But she didn’t answer. She was staring at his hand, then at his face, disbelief written all over her. The realization struck her like a storm, the man in her dream, the scar, the familiar voice..it was him.

Before Richard could speak again, Susan pushed back her chair abruptly, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. “I… I have to go,” she stammered, and before he could react, she ran out of the restaurant, leaving her bag and drink untouched on the table. Richard froze in shock, watching her disappear through the glass door.

Richard quickly got up from his seat, grabbed Susan’s bag, and hurried out of the restaurant after her. He spotted her a few meters away, walking fast with her head down, clearly disturbed.

“Susan!” he called out, his voice calm but firm. She didn’t stop. He called again, louder this time, “Susan, wait! You forgot your bag!”

At the mention of her bag, she slowed down, then stopped. Without turning around at first, she took a deep breath before facing him. Richard walked closer and gently handed her the bag. She collected it quietly, her eyes avoiding his.

“Thank you,” she muttered, holding the bag tightly as if it could shield her from his gaze.

But as she turned to leave, Richard reached out, lightly holding her arm. “Susan, please wait,” he said softly. “What happened back there? Why did you leave like that?”

She froze. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Her mind was a storm, confusion, fear, disbelief. She knew he deserved an answer, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. What if he didn’t believe her? What if it wasn’t even true?

After a moment of silence, she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’ll explain later, please… just later.”

Richard looked at her for a long moment, sensing the heaviness in her tone. Then he slowly released her arm and nodded. “Alright,” he said quietly. “I’ll wait.”

Without another word, Susan turned and walked away, clutching her bag while Richard stood there, watching her disappear into the evening crowd, his heart heavy with questions he couldn’t yet ask.