Should We Run?

Sundays are for church.

Born and raised in a strict Christian family, Sandy knew all the rules that had to be followed. She had a name to protect, parents to respect and was being vigilant in every way possible. She could not be caught being on the wrong side of the Bible. She had to be updated on everything happening in the Christian community. As a youth leader, she had a duty to follow. As a pastor's child, she was the epitome of discipline.

Donning a knee-length dress that covered every part of her body and a light shawl, she carried herself with the quiet dignity of someone ready to worship. Her face, plastered with a forced smile, showcased how respectful she was. She looked like an idol to all the other youth members in church. She bowed and extended her hand cheerfully to greet the other congregants around.

The church service was over. Small meetings took place around the place to make sure that everything was in place.

She picked up her Bible, ready to tell her fellow youth what to do. Administering the fear of disobeying Mr. G.

Her hands were shaking as she tried to walk to the youth section. A figure stood in front of her. She raised her head to smile and say hello as she had been taught, but her smile turned to a frown as soon as she saw Cindy, smiling sweetly in front of her without worry.

"What, not happy to see me?" Cindy joked as she forcefully grabbed the Bible in Sandy's hand and flipped through it.

Sandy wanted to push her, but she knew that her parents were watching and everyone around the church was looking at what she was doing. Any small mistake was going to make things difficult for her.

"Did you enjoy the sermon today?" Sandy asked in a calm tone.

Cindy peeked from the Bible, and winked at her before looking at the Bible again before closing it.

"About sowing a seed or about being honest with one another?" asked Cindy meekly before sitting down on one of the pews.

Sandy couldn't escape this matter. If Cindy had sat down, she would have had to follow suit. She is the youth advisor, and she had to act as one.

Conflicted, for once, she didn't know how to advise the twenty-year-old who was a smart parrot in front of her. Any time someone came for help, she was always ready to say anything to make them feel better. As for Cindy, she knew she was not troubled even a bit, but the real person who needed some good advice on how to act like a grown-up was her. She knew she was venturing into a very dangerous territory that was going to make things very difficult for everyone involved with her. She had her career to protect, her family's name to protect, and she didn't want her marriage to be dragged through the mud because of her actions.

"Are you going to advise the youth, or should we run out of here and get some better advice than this?" Cindy crawled her hands on Sandy's waist, making her widen her eyes, looking at her.

"You need to behave!"

Sandy stood from the pews and started to walk towards the youth when her mother stopped her.

The tall lady, with fair skin, who looks like a teenager in her adolescence, but in reality, she was a forty-something mother.

"You are the face of the church, can you act accordingly?" She lashed out in a low voice before pinching her waist.

Sandy looked around her and saw Cindy winking at her. She didn't understand what she did wrong to deserve the lashing that she experiences every time.

Grabbing her by the arm, she dragged her to the little convention that was on the church's podium.

The Governor, Mr. Winkle, her father, Mr. Edmond and Cindy were busy talking. Sandy knew what this was?

With the general elections coming up, Edmond, Cindy's brother, was supposed to run for governorship because Winkle's term was up.

Cindy's family was the wealthiest people in the town, and they owned a lot of businesses. Sandy's parents received very generous contributions from them every Sunday. Sandy understood why her family has to lick up the Winkle's ass and why they are worshiped every time.

She stood in front of the room like an artwork on display when her mother introduced her for the millionth time. Every Sunday, she has to stand awkwardly in front of this family as if she were a new piece of mannequin.

Today was a little different. Edmond has been away, but despite all that, he knows her very well.

"Smile," her mum whispered before introducing her.

She smiled, a smile that reached her lips but didn't reflect on her face.

Edmond looked at her and nodded. As for Mr. Winkle and her dad, they were not interested; they sipped their coffee from their cups, their eyes looking at her slightly.

"How is the teaching career?" Asked Mr. Winkle.

Sandy was nervous. She didn't like being in this place. She didn't want to look at the floor. She had to look at the person talking, but she had never felt comfortable in Mr. Winkle's gaze. Her gaze travelled and looked at the person next to him, Cindy. For some strange reason, she felt comfort in her smile, her eyes assured her that everything was okay.

"Teaching is fine, I am loving it." She felt relieved after talking, but for some reason her eyes didn't leave Cindy's, and she couldn't help herself. She quickly diverted her gaze, afraid she would be caught and looked at the table.

"So, you are not planning to do ballet again?"

Her body went stiff, she could feel the chill running down her spine with the question. Her eyes started itching, but she quickly held her tears back and looked at Edmond, who had asked her that question, "No!"

She dropped her gaze, fondling with her hands, and she wanted to get out of this place. Her body was tensed, her shoulders were firm, and she feared that the fear would be seen if she didn't act.

As if she were reading her, Cindy asked to be excused as she had something to ask Sandy.

"Is that okay with you, Ms. Sandy?"

Sandy looked at her with an astonished look. She was very respectful, unlike when she is alone, she never listens, nor does she respect her.

Out of the sight of her parents, Sandy turned to her with a scornful look in her eyes. She didn't want to have any altercation with Cindy anymore. She wanted to end everything. If she is a teacher, she wants to act like one.

"Are you ok?" Cindy asked, making her change the expression on her face.

The way her voice was gentle and she acted as if she cared made her mad face change instantly.

She knew she was not okay and would never be.

She looked at the teenager in front of her, who could gather the courage and talk to her as if they were age mates. She wished she could be as courageous as her. She wished she could spew nonsense the way she wanted, like her and be okay with it.

She widened her lips the way she always does and nodded.

"What did you want to talk about?" She folded her arms on her chest, acting unbothered by the demons that were threatening to creep out of her thoughts at any time.

Instead of asking a question, Cindy grabbed Sandy's hand and massaged them slowly before looking at her.

"I told you I am not a kid. So, that facade you are trying to hide there, I can see through you."

Sandy gave her a questioning look. She knew that she was hiding everything very well, but why was this one kid finding out everything that she was bottling up?

"I am here, I might be inappropriate, but please, lean on me, will you?"

The way Cindy was projecting her words made Sandy's heart soften. She wanted to cry and hug her. She wanted to open her mouth and say something, but at the same time, she was afraid. She knew how teenagers are. She knew kids are always kids.

She wanted to pull her hands out of Cindy's grasp, but Cindy held on to them forcefully. Cindy didn't want to let her go. She was waiting for her answers.

"Cindy,"

"What is happening here?" Thornson stood behind Sandy.

Sandy quickly pulled her hands out of Cindy's, but Cindy held on to them and looked at Thornson. "I wanted some advice from Ms. Sandy."

Walking in front of them, Sandy switched her hands and held onto Cindy. Thornson looked between them, his brows arched, questioning the truth about the two.

"Must you hold her hands?" He questioned. Sandy let Cindy's hands go and turned to face his husband.

"Excuse me."

Instead of letting her go, he stopped her and asked Cindy to leave them. Cindy was hesitant but walked out.

"Are you in your right mind?" Asked Thornson, anger evident in his tone.

"I hope you were truly advising her and not getting into more trouble!"