Daniel, an engineering student, always made the right choices with the safety and security of supportive loving parents. His faith is tested when for the first time in his life, Daniel and his parents are on opposite sides. Meanwhile, Africa is calling Aubree to the treacherous mission field to minister to the natives in remote villages. A call she was prepared to answer until one event set their lives on a collision course cracking their very foundation and igniting a tragic set of events. Aubree battles inner doubts about her future when her stockpiled supplies are stolen, she’s brutally attacked, and she finally has an opportunity to be part of the family she longed for. When his parents withhold their blessing, will Daniel and Aubree remain steadfast or alter their course? Either way, no one’s life will ever be the same.
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They walked on the busy sidewalk toward campus. “The stars shimmer on the tapestry of the evening sky.”
“Where did that come from?”
“It’s something my daddy told me. On a clear night, he put me on his shoulders and we went to the middle of a large field. It was pitch black for as far as I could see. We laid side by side on a blanket looking up at the twinkling stars. He told me God placed each one in its place.” Aubree’s voice faded in the emotion of the memory. “Just like the stars shimmer on the tapestry of the evening sky, so should we shine in the world, or something like that. I was just four.”
“That’s beautiful.”
Her teary eyes glistened in the night as they walked in silence, mulling over the poetic phrase as students raced past them. The cool night air burned against her rosy cheeks. “I was so nervous tonight. I just rattled on. I can’t believe your mother is taking me shopping. I mean really, who does that?”
“My family.” Daniel placed his hand in the sway of her back to guide her around a few students on the sidewalk. “It’s going to be weird when you’re gone. You’ve been a great buffer between the guys and the Amy and Nancy alliance.”
“You don’t have to worry about Amy and Nancy after I’m gone.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not like you’re moving in together.”
Daniel felt like all the blood drained from his body—that dreadful sinking feeling was back. “That’s right. Wow. Everything’s changing, here, there, everywhere.”
She looked down at her watch. “You better hurry or you’re gonna miss curfew.”
“I know, I will, but I don’t want to leave you if you’re still upset.”
Aubree reached up and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Daniel, you can’t fix everything. What I’m dealing with can’t be solved overnight. Have a great visit with your parents, and I’ll touch base when I get back.”
Daniel watched her walk away with a heavy heart. He couldn’t seem to shake his new acquaintance: Anxiety-Doubt-Insecurity-Fear-Anxiousness-and-Panic, or Adifa P for short. Maybe the reason he’d been concentrating so hard on everyone else’s problems was to avoid his own. He made it to his room before lock down, but not late enough for Marty to be asleep.
“Hey, dude, I’ve been waiting for you to get back. How’d dinner go, introducing the little lady to the Mom and Pop?”
“Look, Marty, just stop. I’m not in the mood.” Daniel hung up his jacket, grabbed his things and headed for the shower. The pipes moaned when he turned on the water. As the warm water rushed over him, his thoughts back over the evening. Why was she still so secretive? What was she hiding and why did he care? She’d be out of his life soon and so would everyone else. Life is all about change, but if he wasn’t careful, these changes were going to cost him everything.