Page 117 of Lightning Angel
She looked up at him from her hands with an expectant look. Haxsel smiled, as though reading her mind.
“Seeing you here, in a hospital and in this dress, it reminds me so much of my sister.” He smiled sadly, but his eyes shone with fondness. “Her name is Hailey. I adopted her when she was only six. I never had a sibling before her; having one was my greatest dream as a boy, even as a teenager. I used to pray constantly, and one day, I met her. Then and there, I knew she was my little sister.
“She became my ray of sunshine, and I loved her more than I thought it would be possible to love someone who isn’t even my blood. Hailey was my world. And Jesus tested my trust in Him two times, concerning her, because she was the one person I couldn’t live without. And those two times, the second time worse than the first, I nearly lost my faith, failing to hold onto the confidence that God brought her into my life as an answer to my life-long prayers. That she would never be taken away from me permanently, that I should trust Himwith His plans. But I failed both times.”
“What happened to her?” Alexa asked curiously.
Haxsel gave another sad smile, as though what happened in the past was still painful to him to recall. “She nearly died from a…an attack—a gunshot, and she was in a coma for over two weeks. Those were the worst days of my life. And the second time,” he paused, and a small smile crept to his lips, making him look less like he was about to deliver aworstexperience. “It was when her biological brothers took her away—kidnappedher, in fact, and kept us apart to get revenge on me.”
Alexa gaped at him. “That’s—that’shorrible. Why would they want revenge on you?”
Haxsel smiled wryly. “Because she chose me over them.Andbecause I did something terribly selfish—but that’s a story for another time.” He winked. “Anyway, my point is that, I thought Jesus brought Hailey into my life all those years ago only to take her away again. Because honestly, from the way her brothers kept us separated, I had no hope of seeing her ever again. And it wasn’t justmytrust that was tested, Hailey’s too. She practically ran away when Jesus told her to go with her biological family, because she didn’t want to hurt me. And He brought her back to where He wanted her, just like Jonah—in anicerway though.”
He chuckled fondly, again.
“Guess what, it all turned out to be good. Too good to be true. My sister can’t imagine a world withoutallher brothers now. It took time, but we both eventually realized the pain of temporary separation had a purpose, because God’s plans are always perfect. All we have to do is surrender ourselves to Him and to Hiswill for us,rather than tellingHimwhatwewant for us. Trust me, you might not see the good in all the pain now, but one day you will. Then, you will be smiling like me, even though some of those memories still sting—like, remembering the days I watched my sister’s limp body in her hospital bed.”
Haxsel leaned back in his chair and heaved a heavy sigh. “I hope I’m not boring you.” He tilted his head slightly, managing an easy-going smile.
“No, not at all.” Alexa surprised herself with her response, more so because she meant it.
Haxsel’s smile turned soft. “I’m glad to hear that. Are you well now—your health, I mean.”
“Yes, yes, I am. Thank you.” She smiled back.
“My sister had a supernatural experience during her coma, and when she woke up, she was miraculously healed.”
“What kind of supernatural experience?”
“Jesus took her to Paradise.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows shot up. She composed herself immediately. “Well, He definitely didn’t takemethere.”
He could’ve, right? But He didn’t; He could’ve shown her to her dad. But no, He didn’t.
Haxsel’s eyes gentled. “Because not all our stories are the same, Alexa. They are varied, unique from each other but perfect in their own way; yours, mine, your sister’s, my sister’s… Each one of us has a different life story. And Jesus is the author, so nothing will go wrong no matter whatever turn the story takes.”
“You believe that?” she asked slowly, a part of herwantingto believe it.
Haxsel grinned and spread his hands. “Like I said, I’ma living example. You know, I met my fiancée through my sister and her biological family. While I believe wemayhave met any other way, because we’re meant for each other, God has designed a specific way for everything. I met her after I learned to completely trust God, and my family became one with my sister’s biological ones. So all the pain, all of it, had a purpose.”
Alexa looked down at her hands, unable to ignore the movement of his words in her heart. “I want to believe,” she confessed.
“But it is hard because you’ve believed all this time that Jesus wants nothing to do with you anymore.” Haxsel spoke her thoughts aloud.
She met his gaze, surprised.
Haxsel chuckled softly. “It’s very much obvious, no need to be surprised.”
“No, actually, I was wondering if you have the ability to read minds like Edward Cullen.” She smiled a little.
“And she jokes.” He gave her a brotherly smile.
“I don’t lack that ability, you know?” Alexa chuckled, and then sighed. “It’s just that, whenever someone brings up this topic, I get upset. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was being rude, with my lack of enthusiasm.” She told him earnestly.
“There’s no need to apologize, Alexa. I was forewarned about your reaction, remember?” He gave her a teasing smile.
Alexa groaned, but with a smile, and dropped her face to her hands.