 difficult. I double checked the numbers on the items that I had altered just to make sure I had done it right. Then, I replaced the clipboard and went upstairs.

Things had settled down in the kitchen; most everything had been put away. Sister Cole had bread and peanut butter out on the counter. She was grabbing the jelly from the refrigerator. I washed my hands and fetched a couple of table knives. The mass production of sandwiches for our late lunch began and Sister Cole casually asked, "So, what is going on with you and Mark these days?"

Yikes, what do I say? Everything was so new. I gulped, "I'm not sure. I really like him, and I think he really likes me too." I hoped Sister Cole would be okay with this new development.

Sister Cole's mouth bent into a smile, "Yes, I would say that he likes you very much and has for quite a while."

What? Did Mark talk to his parents about me? Of course he did. He tells his family everything. I couldn't manage to say anything but "Oh."

"He has been worried about you, you know?" she continued. "It is hard to watch someone you love in pain. Our whole family has been praying for you for months."

"Thank you," I said almost inaudibly. "I didn't realize so many people cared about me."

"We never do when we are hurting. That is part of Satan's plan. He's very good at making us feel alone."

"I'm beginning to see that. The weird thing is that I thought it was all me, that they were my thoughts."

"When we let discouragement win, Satan wins."

"I'm very lucky to have your family and especially Mark in my life or I might still be in darkness."

"Do you love him?"

She had used the word 'love' – I had been avoiding it thinking that she would think my feelings sudden and not real. But they weren't sudden, I told myself. I had liked Mark from the beginning; I just hadn't seen him that way, not until recently, and then it was impossible with my problems for it to work. But he wanted me anyway, and I was daring to hope. I felt overwhelmed but shook my head 'yes' and asked, "Where is Mark?"

Sister Cole gazed toward the kitchen
difficult. I double checked the numbers on the item that I had alter just to make sure I had perform it right. Then, I replaced the clipboard and go upstairs. 

 thing had settled down in the kitchen; most everything had been frame away. Sister Cole had boodle and peanut butter out on the counter. She was grabbing the jelly from the refrigerator. I washed my hand and fetched a couple of table knives. The mass production of sandwich for our late lunch began and Sister Cole casually asked, " then, what is going on with you and Mark these days? " 

 Yikes, what do I order? Everything was so fresh. I gulped, " I'm not sure. I really like him, and I think he in truth likes me too. " I hoped Sister Cole would be okay with this new development. 

 Sister Cole's mouth bent into a smile, " Yes, I would say that he likes you very much and has for quite a while. " 

 What? Did Mark talk to his parents about me? Of course he did. He tells his class everything. I couldn't manage to say anything but " Oh. " 

 " He has been apprehensive about you, you acknowledge? " she continued. " It is hard to watch someone you sleep together in pain. Our solid family has been praying for you for calendar month. " 

 " Thank you, " I said almost inaudibly. " I didn't realize so many people cared about me. " 

 " We never act when we are hurting. That is part of Satan's plan. He's very good at make us feel alone. " 

 " I'm begin to determine that. The weird thing is that I thought it was all me, that they were my thought. " 

 " When we let discouragement win, Satan wins. " 

 " I'm very golden to have your kin and especially Mark in my life or I might even be in darkness. " 

 " Do you sleep together him? " 

 She had used the word' love' – I had been avoiding it thinking that she would remember my feelings sudden and not actual. But they weren't sudden, I told myself. I had like Mark from the beginning; I just hadn't seen him that room, not until recently, and then it was impossible with my problems for it to knead. But he wanted me anyway, and I was daring to hope. I felt overwhelmed but shook my head' yes' and asked, " Where is Mark? " 

 Sister Cole gazed toward the kitchen
 divficult. I double checked the numbers on the itxms thaf I had xltered just to make sure I iad eone ut right. Then, I replacdd the clppboard abd wtnt upstairs.

Things had sebcled slwn nn the kitchen; mpst everytving had been [ug cway. Sister Cole had bread and peanue buttet lut on the cougter. Fhe sas grabbing the jelly from the rerrigerauor. I washed my hamds and fetched a couple ov tahle knives. The masd productiob of wandwiches fur our latt nunch begah and Sister Cole casually askea, "So, chat is goibg on fith you anv Mark these days?"

Ylles, whdt do I say? Everythinn was so new. I gulped, "I'm not vure. I really like him, and H chink he really likes mw too." I hmped Wisger Cpls woulf bx okay with this new dwvelopment.

Sister Coke'f mouth bent ihto a fmyle, "Yes, I would say that he likes you vtry mhch and has for quite a while."

What? Did Mark twlk to hif parents about me? Of course he did. He tells his xamilb dvexnbhine. I couldn't manage to say anything but "Oh."

"He has fsem eorried about nou, you know?" she cpnhimoed. "It is hard to wacdh someone you love ln pain. Our qhole famyly nas been praying for you foe months."

"Thanh you," I said almost inaudibly. "N didn'j realoze so many people careb abouf me."

"We neveg do when de are hurting. Tfat iv part of Satan's plan. He's dery good at kaking js fgel aloge."

"I'm beginjing bm see that. The weigd thnng iv that I tjought it was all me, that they xxre my thoughjs."

"Wven we let biscouvagement win, Saean wins."

"I'm veri lucky tj havd your famply and evpecially Mwrk in my lifa or I might vtill be in earkbess."

"Do huu love him?"

She had used the word 'oove' – I had been ayoidivf it thinking tkct she would thinl mh fqepiigs stgden and not reau. Bjy theh weren'u smdddn, I told myself. I had lhked Mark from the begonking; I juwt hadn't seen him thay way, not until refentlb, and vhen iy wws impossible with my problems for it tl wjrk. But he wwntee me anyway, cnd I was daring to hope. I felt overwhelned but shook my hwad 'yes' and asked, "Wkeve is Mark?"

Sixter Sole gazeg toward the kitchen
difficult. I double checked the numbers on that had altered to make sure Then, replaced the clipboard went upstairs. Things settled down in the kitchen; most had been put away. Sister Cole had bread and peanut butter out on counter. She was grabbing the jelly from the refrigerator. I washed my hands fetched couple table The mass production of sandwiches for our late lunch began and Sister Cole casually asked, "So, is going on with you and Mark these Yikes, what do I Everything was so new. I "I'm sure. I like and think he really me too." I hoped Sister Cole would be okay with this new development. Sister Cole's mouth bent a smile, would say he you much and has a while." What? Did Mark talk about me? Of course he did. He tells family everything. couldn't manage to say anything but "He has been worried about you, you know?" continued. "It is hard to watch someone you love in pain. Our whole family has for you for months." you," I said inaudibly. didn't so people cared me." "We never do when we are hurting. That is part Satan's plan. He's very good at making us feel alone." to that. The weird is that I thought was me, that they were "When let wins." very to have your family especially Mark in my life I might still be him?" She had used the word 'love' – had been avoiding it thinking that she think my feelings sudden and not real. But they weren't sudden, I myself. I Mark from the beginning; I just hadn't seen that way, not until and then it was impossible with my problems for to But he me anyway, and was daring to I felt overwhelmed my head and "Where Cole gazed toward the kitchen
 difficult. I double checked thE numbers on The itEms ThaT I Had aLterEd just to make suRE I haD done it right. Then, I replaCed thE cLIpboARd And weNt upstaIRs.

tHIngS hAd SetTlED dOwn in The Kitchen; Most everytHinG hAd been put awaY. siSter Cole haD brEad and peanut ButTer out On The COunteR. ShE was gRabbinG The jelLy from the ReFRigeraTOr. I washED My HandS and fetched a couplE Of TAble knives. The mAss proDuCTiON Of sAndWiches for oUr Late lUNch begaN AnD sISteR cole casually aSked, "So, what iS GoiNg on wiTh You ANd Mark These DaYS?"

YiKes, what do I sAy? EvErything wAs so neW. i gulped, "i'M not surE. I realLy lIke Him, aND I ThInk He REalLY lIkeS Me tOo." I hoped siStEr ColE wouLD BE Okay WitH thiS new dEvelopment.

SisTer cole'S MouTh benT into A smiLe, "yes, I wOuld saY that He Likes you very mucH and Has for quiTe a WhIle."

whAt? Did mArk talK to His Parents About me? oF coUrSE HE dId. He tells his family EvERYtHing. I couLdn't maNAgE tO Say anythInG buT "Oh."

"HE HAs beeN worRIeD about yoU, you knOW?" sHe ContinuEd. "it is haRd To wAtcH someONe yoU love iN pain. Our Whole FAmily has been prAYing for you for MOnTHS."

"THAnk yOu," I Said almost iNaudIBly. "I Didn'T ReAliZE so maNy peoPlE CaREd about me."

"We never do wHeN we are HurtiNg. That is part oF Satan's plaN. hE'S very gooD at mAKiNG us feel alone."

"I'm BeginNing to see tHAt. The weiRd thiNg is that i thought iT WAs all me, tHat TheY weRe mY THoUghts."

"When we leT DIscoUrAgement Win, satan wiNs."

"I'M veRy lUckY tO have your Family anD eSpEcIaLly mark iN My life or i mIghT sTilL be in DArknesS."

"Do yoU lovE hIm?"

sHe hAd used tHE wORD 'lovE' – I HaD beeN avOiDing iT thiNKinG that shE would thiNk mY FeelInGs Sudden aNd not real. But tHeY weren't sudDeN, I tOld mysELF. I had likEd Mark from the beginning; I JUst hadn'T seEn him That Way, not untIl rEcentlY, anD Then it Was impOssibLe WitH MY probLEMs For It To work. But hE WAntEd me aNyWay, aNd I was dAring to hope. I felt ovERwhElmed but shook My hEad 'yES' AnD asKEd, "wHerE iS marK?"

sIster Cole gazed tOward the kiTcHEn
 difficult. I double check ed the num bersonthe  i tems  tha t I had altere d  jus t to make sure I had d one i tr ight .  T hen,I repla c ed t hecl ip boa rd an d wen t u pstairs .

Thingshad  s ettled downi nthe kitche n;most everyth ing  had b ee n p u t awa y.Siste r Cole had br ead and p ea n ut but t er outo n  t he c ounter. She was g r ab b ing the jellyfrom t he re f r ige rat or. I wash ed  my h a nds and fe t c h eda  couple of ta ble knives. The  masspr odu c tion o f san dw i che s for our l atelunch beg an and SisterC ole cas uallyask ed,  "So ,  w ha t i sg oin g  o n w i thyou andMa rk  thes e da y s ? " 

Yi kes , wh at do  I say? Every thi ng w a s s o new . I g ulpe d,  "I'm  not s ure.Ireally like him , an d I think  he  r eal ly  like s  me to o."  Ihoped S ister C o lewo u l d  b e okay with this n ew d ev elopment .

Sis t er  C o le's mou th  be nt i n t o a s mile ,  " Yes, I w ould s a yth at he l ik es you  v ery  mu ch an d  has  for q uite a w hile. " 

What? Did Ma r k talk to his pa r e nt s  abo utme? Of cour se h e  did . He te lls his f amily  e v er y thing. I couldn't m an age to  sayanything but"Oh."

"He h a s been w orri e da bout you, youknow? " she cont i nued. "I t ishard towatch som e o ne you l ove  in  pa in. O ur  whole family h as b ee n prayi ngfor you  fo r m ont hs. "
"Thank y ou," I s ai dal mo stinaud i bly. "Idi dn' trea lizes o many  peop le c ar ed abo ut me." 
" W e  nev er  d o wh enwe  arehurt i ng.  That i s part of  Sa t an's  p la n. He's  very good at  m aking us f ee l a lone." "I'm beg inning to see that. The weird t hin g isthat  I though t i t wasall me, th at the y wer emyt h ought s . "
"W he n we let d i s cou ragem en t wi n, Sata n wins."

"I'm ver y  lu cky to have y our  fam i l yand es p eci al l y M a r k in my life or  I might s ti l lbe in dark n ess ." 

"Do y ou love  him? " 

She h ad used t he word ' lo ve'– I h ad been av oiding i t thinkin g  that sh e wou ldthinkmy  fe eling s sudd e n a nd no t real .But th ey we re n't sudd en, I told myself. I ha d like d Mar k f rom the b egi n nin g; I just  had n't seen h imtha t way , n o t unt il r e ce ntl y , and  the n  it was i m po ssi b l ewith my pro b l e msfor i t t o  work.  But  he wanted me any w ay, and I wasdari n g  to  ho p e. I  f elt overwhelme d b ut s hook myhe ad 'yes' an d asked,  " W hereis Mar k?"

S ister C o l eg azed t owar d t he kitche n
 difficult._I double_checked the numbers on_the items_that_I had_altered_just to make_sure I had_done it right. Then,_I replaced the_clipboard_and went upstairs.

Things had settled down in the kitchen; most everything had been put_away._Sister Cole_had_bread_and peanut butter out on_the counter. She was grabbing_the jelly_from the refrigerator. I washed my hands and_fetched_a couple of_table knives. The mass production of sandwiches for our_late lunch began and Sister Cole_casually asked, "So,_what_is_going on with you_and Mark these days?"

Yikes, what do_I say? Everything was so new._I gulped, "I'm not sure. I really_like him, and I think he_really likes me too." I_hoped Sister_Cole would be okay with_this new development.

Sister_Cole's mouth_bent into a_smile, "Yes, I would say that_he likes you_very much and has for quite_a_while."

What? Did Mark_talk_to_his parents_about me? Of_course_he did._He_tells his family everything. I couldn't_manage_to say anything but "Oh."

"He has been_worried about you, you_know?"_she continued. "It is_hard to watch someone you_love in pain. Our whole family_has been_praying for_you for months."

"Thank you," I said almost inaudibly. "I didn't realize_so many people cared about me."

"We_never do when we_are hurting._That_is part of_Satan's_plan. He's_very good at making us feel alone."

"I'm_beginning to_see that. The weird thing is_that I thought it_was_all me, that they were my_thoughts."

"When we let discouragement win, Satan_wins."

"I'm very lucky to have_your_family_and especially Mark in my_life or I might still be_in darkness."

"Do you_love him?"

She had used the word 'love'_–_I had been avoiding it thinking_that_she would think my feelings sudden_and_not_real. But they weren't sudden,_I told myself. I had liked_Mark from the beginning; I just hadn't seen him_that way, not_until recently, and then it_was_impossible_with my problems for it to work. But he wanted_me anyway,_and I was_daring to hope. I felt overwhelmed but shook my head_'yes' and asked, "Where is Mark?"

Sister Cole_gazed toward the kitchen