Cling to What is Good

“He SHOT you?!” Christina shouted.Orel sat next to her, on a splintered tree stump in the woods near Inspiration Point. His gaze fell to the ground. It was mid-day, when the area was less crowded with distracting sounds of rocking cars and teenage voices joined in enthusiastic Hallelujah. Normally the more tranquil sounds of the wind rustling the trees and the distant tweet of the birds would put Christina at peace. Now all it did was emphasize how quiet they had both become, after Orel’s story was done.Orel’s cast dangled over the stump. Christina looked away when she realized she’d been staring.---[Takes place after "Nature Part 2" but before "Nesting." Orel tells Christina the entire truth about what happened and finally gets some emotional comfort.]