Escaping New Year's: Part 2.

The Trapped News Cycle.

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest short fiction story, The Trapped News Cycle… Bella pressed her palms firmly against the cold, hard floor. She felt sweat start to drip down the front of her face and fall from her nose. Keeping her eyes firmly shut, she tried to even her breathing, but it kept coming out in small, hitched gasps instead. The words continued to pour out uninterrupted from the television. Bella regretted her haste to hide without turning it off first, but there was no way she could move now. Pressing her wrists as tight as she could against her earlobes, she tried to muffle the sound. It was happening again. Another victim had been found near the river. That was two this week. When Bella saw the image of the beautiful young woman who had been murdered, she froze. The woman looked so happy and full of life. It also didn’t help that she was Bella’s age, too. The hot tears tumbled out so fast that Bella barely had time to ground herself. Nestled under the weight of her bed was the only place she usually could regain composure. This story, however, even with all its macabre twists and revelations, had become too heartwrenching. Yet, Bella still found herself unable to stop reading every article about it or listening to every news segment covering it. The growing panic had started bubbling up inside her again, squeezing all the air from her already tight, aching lungs. She had been too distracted by her growing anxiety symptoms to notice that someone had entered her room. Bella nearly cracked her head open when she heard the TV suddenly turn off. Rubbing the tender, already swollen area with her dominant hand, she peeked her one eye open to see the two very familiar fluffy pink slippers standing in front of her. She held her breath and waited for those two deep pools of bright blue to appear in front of her. Bella felt guilty that her younger sister, Ava, somehow always had the burden of caring for her when she got in this state. However, she was grateful it was her this time and not their mom or dad. Their father had no patience or understanding when it came to Bella’s condition, while their mother always tried to pretend Bella’s episodes weren’t happening. Bella could only rely on her sweet, patient sister to help coax her out of her hiding place. Suddenly, those comforting eyes appeared in front of Bella. She saw her sister offer a genuine smile that made Bella’s insides twist more. She didn’t deserve her sister, or her insanely patient reaction to her never-ending anxious antics. Still, she was forever grateful. “Bella, you can come out now. I turned it off. Why do you torture yourself by listening to news like that?” Bella made no movement or indication that she was ready to come out. Even though she knew her sister was right, her mind had not settled yet on that conclusion. “I…I don’t know. I just…I just want to be prepared, I guess.” Her sister plastered an empathetic look on her face, but also one filled with concern. Bella knew she was worried about her, and that twisted the knife of guilt even more in her stomach. “Bella, you do not need to worry about that happening to you. It’s not even anywhere close to here. That town is located over three states away.” She shook her head. The truth was, Bella knew that, but the facts didn’t matter. The fear that rose up inside her had hindered all rational thought processing. The danger felt real and imminent. She needed to stay hidden under the bed in order to stay safe. Bella shut her eyes as another round of tears welled in the corners of her eyes, waiting to be unleashed like the roar of a dam breaking loose after a very heavy rain. She felt something being shoved against her hand. It was boxy with pointed angles. When Bella opened her eyes, Ava had already taken the object back slightly to flip a page. Bella recognized it instantly. Her sister had gone and retrieved her Bible from her nightstand. “Here. Read this scripture in Philippians. My sweet, compassionate sister, I pray you will be able to trade your anxiety for God’s peace in your heart.” Bella watched as her sister gathered herself from her knees and popped back up into a standing position. She heard her sister’s footsteps retreat away, but not out of the room. Bella knew she would wait for as long as it would take for her to come out from underneath the bed. After releasing a deep sigh, Bella started reading the verses in front of her. She flipped to a few other sections she had previously marked and continued reading. Soon she felt herself settling, and her breathing returned to a calmer state. Slowly, Bella pulled herself out from under the bed. She plopped down on top of her bedspread, feeling exhausted but better. Ava joined her and wrapped her arms tenderly around her sister. They sat like that for what felt like hours. Neither spoke a word, but they didn’t have to, because all Bella needed in that moment was for someone to stay with her, see her, and love her more than she could for herself in that moment. After a long while, Bella looked into her selfless sister’s sweet eyes. “Thank you, Ava. I needed that reminder.” Ava leaned her head against her sister’s and pulled her in closer. “Everyone needs that reminder now and then. We are never alone in the troubles we face. God hears and sees us—even under our beds. But Bella, He doesn’t want you to live in fear. He wants you to live fully. You can trust Him. Not every battle will we be able to be prepared for, but we can trust Him to guide us through everything we face. We can rest in that truth. He will always be there for us.” Bella felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn’t voice her emotion and gratitude, so she just nodded her head. Then she surrendered into her sister’s loving embrace. Her mind had finally accepted God’s peace and could rest. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 Kimberly’s Reflection This story means a lot to me. I wrote it in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a tale of where I used to end up in my mind during my anxiety attacks, and the me I’m growing into day by day. No, I never climbed underneath my bed, but sometimes I wanted to do just that. Bella represents the old me—the one who remained trapped in all the bad things happening in the world around her. Ava is the new me. The one who knows when to turn off the news. The one who knows how to turn to God for help instead. It’s true, I used to obsess over tragedies. I would read every awful detail I could as if learning about other people’s harrowing pain and absorbing it could somehow prevent my own. I truly believed that if I could feel how I would react to such terrible news, it would somehow prepare me. Only, it did the opposite. It made me more fearful. It robbed me of living in the now and enjoying the good I have in the moment. Learning to trust God with my life, including my loved ones, is the journey. I may not always get it right, but I do know that God is holding me. He cares about me so much, and He certainly doesn’t want me to live my life afraid of what might happen. May we live each day resting in His care and peace, trusting that He holds our every moment. Amen. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you! Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 Substack Recommendations 💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search], Mandy [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search], and Jillian [https://substack.com/@jilliankondamudi]! 💖 You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here: 🌟Just Because [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here: 🌟A Holy Ache [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here: 🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree [https://substack.com/profile/299407672-jillian-kondamudi?utm_source=global-search]🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Grandma's Prayer Porch.

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest short fiction story, Grandma’s Prayer Porch… Counting to three in her head, Caroline pursed her lips in an attempt to remain patient. Her six-year-old daughter, Olivia, lay at her feet, kicking and screaming in protest. Caroline had tried several times to quiet her child as her mother sat just outside the open door on the front porch, rocking back and forth quietly. She knew her mom loved it when Olivia came to visit, but her daughter was unfortunately not in a very receptive, happy mood today. “I don’t want to be here! I want to go home now! It’s so boring here.” Olivia pounded her tiny, balled-up fists against the hardwood floor. Caroline crouched down to get more on her level. Her daughter turned her head the other way and sobbed. “Honey, Grandma loves it when we come to visit. She lives here all alone, so it’s nice for her to have some company, right?” “But it’s boring here! All she does is sit on that porch and rock. I wanted to play with Jenny today. She has a pool!” Caroline tried to rub her back, but Olivia pushed her hand away. Reaching for one of the dolls they brought, she tried to pretend the dolly was asking her to play. Olivia took the doll and threw it across the room. It landed hard against the wall with a loud thud that even the hard of hearing would find difficult to ignore. Caroline heard her mother call for her instantly. She got up from her knees and sighed in resignation as she crossed the small front threshold to the open door. Poking her head out, Caroline was greeted with a gentle breeze that only temporarily relieved the heat of the day. Despite it being a humid 82 degrees out, Caroline smiled at her mother, who was nestled happily in her polka dot afghan. “Sorry, Mom. I don’t think Olivia is in the mood for a visit today. Perhaps we should try another day later this week?” Caroline watched as her mother folded and unfolded the end of the blanket with her trembling hands. Those hands that once were the strong, capable providers of carrying so much now looked so fragile and unpredictable. Her heart hurt seeing how much her mom had changed since the last visit. The new medication appeared to be working, but of course, there were always unwanted side effects involved. “Plea-please have her come out-outside, d-dear?” A lump formed in Caroline’s throat as her mother coughed for a long moment. It was hard watching the woman who did so much in her life be reduced to only being able to do so little. She nodded and turned around to go find Olivia. On the way, she prayed her stubborn child would grant her grandmother’s request. She had no idea how many more chances they would get to meet like this, and Caroline wished her daughter would realize just how special her grandma was to all of them. “Olivia?” Olivia raised her head from the spot where she lay on the floor and revealed one of her eyes with a quizzical, raised eyebrow in response. “Grandma wants to see you. Please go to her. I promise, we can leave after that.” To Caroline’s great shock, Olivia jumped up quickly and hurried to the front. Hopefully, she would at least give her grandma a hug goodbye. It was clear to Caroline that her daughter’s sudden burst of energy was due more to the fact that Olivia had latched onto the “leaving soon” part of the deal. Caroline walked over to the door but hung back just a bit to not intrude on their time together. However, a frown creased her face when she heard Olivia telling her grandmother she thought her rocking on the porch was boring. “B-boring? Oh, my sweet child. Did no one ever tell you what I do out here? No, no. This is very important work I’m doing out here, Olivia.” Olivia cocked her head to the side, and Caroline had to stiffle a laugh. Her mom didn’t hold hers in, though. She laughed and gave her signature smile that had always made Caroline feel safe and at ease growing up. “Are you sure you want to know? Because if I tell you, you have to promise to help me with my mission. It’s very important work.” Even though Caroline couldn’t see Olivia’s eyes, she knew that they had to be as wide as saucers now. She saw her child’s head nod up and down in a rapid, serious manner. Caroline’s mom clapped her hands. “Good. Now that’s the spirit. Come here and look over there. Do you see that woman? That’s Ms. Jacobs. She lives across the street with her three boys. She’s a single mother. Do you know what we have to do for her?” Olivia shook her head no and waited with great anticipation to find out. Caroline’s mother adjusted the afghan once more, but let it fall once Olivia decided to climb into her lap. “We need to pray for her. And do you see that man, by the mailboxes? He’s on crutches. That’s Mr. Nelson. I haven’t found out how he hurt himself, but we must pray for him, too. Now your turn. Do you see anyone we can pray for?” Olivia turned her head back and forth to look around the entire neighborhood. Caroline looked too. She saw a lady walking a dog and a man riding a bicycle. “The man riding the bike. We should pray he doesn’t get hurt. I fell off my bike once, and it hurt really bad.” “Absolutely. Good job, Olivia. I often pray for the safety of those I see out here. So what do you think of Grandma’s mission? I call this my prayer porch, and I pray for everybody I see.” Later that night, when Caroline and Olivia had long gone home, they had just finished supper, and it was almost time for bed. Caroline walked around to the familiar places she usually found her daughter before bedtime. She wasn’t sitting in front of the TV or playing in the finished basement with all of her toys. Caroline couldn’t seem to find her anywhere. She finally had a thought and decided to check the front porch. After stepping out onto their large wraparound porch, she grinned upon finding Olivia wrapped up in one of her blankets, sitting on one of their rocking chairs. Caroline came over and sat down in the chair next to hers. She didn’t even need to ask her what she was doing. “I’m praying for our neighbors, Mommy—just like Grandma! I already prayed for Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Baker, and Jimmy. Jimmy was riding his bike without a helmet. I gave him some extra prayers for safety and wisdom.” Caroline felt the tears welling in the corner of her eyes. How quickly one’s mood could change with a new perspective. She prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for her sweet Momma. “Can we visit Grandma tomorrow?” “I thought you had a playdate with Jenny tomorrow. You were excited to go swimming.” “Can we move it to another day, Mom? I really want to tell Grandma about all the people I prayed for tonight!” Caroline got up and kissed the top of her sweet child’s head. Then she lifted her yawning, very sleepy girl up into her arms. “Of course, honey. We can visit Grandma tomorrow. She will be so proud of you.” Caroline’s heart felt full of such gratitude. That night, she held tightly to the great love and care her daughter compassionately exemplified for her mother, a woman who did not waste her time wallowing in all she had lost, but still offered up her time and heart for others. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” 1 Timothy 2:1 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 Kimberly’s Reflection There are many times throughout our lives when we have to do things we don’t want to do. One thing I try to do, and I’m not perfect in this, is that when I have to run a particular errand or go to an unpleasant appointment, I try to take the opportunity to people-watch in the waiting rooms. It’s interesting to me to see all the different people gathered there together. Most people who are waiting go on their phones, but some chat or read. I try to think about what may be going on in their lives and use what they're wearing or have with them as clues. Then I pray for them, striving to ask for provision according to each of their unique needs. It gives the waiting time a purpose. It also helps me keep my mind off the wait. I chose to illustrate my story with a grandma and a porch because I believe a lot of older people get categorized as not very useful in their old age. It’s almost as if once someone reaches a certain age, they just fade into the background and can be forgotten. I heard a pastor say, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose,” and I could not agree more. Everyone can notice those around them, no matter where you are, and offer up prayers for others—yes, even for strangers. May we remember that no matter our age, we offer a valuable service to others when we lift them up in prayer. They may never know what we’re doing, but our Heavenly Father certainly does. Amen. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you! Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 Substack Recommendations 💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search], Mandy [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search], and Jillian [https://substack.com/@jilliankondamudi]! 💖 You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here: 🌟Just Because [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here: 🌟A Holy Ache [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here: 🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree [https://substack.com/profile/299407672-jillian-kondamudi?utm_source=global-search]🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Into His protective fog.

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest flash fiction story, Into His protective fog… Kara gripped the side door handle tightly as the car swerved slowly around another curve. Her husband of eleven years, Tyler, appeared much too relaxed for her liking. The dense fog had quickly enveloped their car, leaving only a few feet in front of them clear. It had not been in the forecast when they had planned this trip, but it was here now, and there was nothing they could do about it. Glancing a quick peek into the rearview mirror, Kara released a small sigh of relief to see that their son Silas was still fast asleep. She prayed he would stay resting peacefully, for she knew that as soon as he woke up, there would be no end to his curious questioning of them. Kara switched her focus back to the road. She scanned the narrow field of vision along the sides of the road for any signs of deer or other wildlife. Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark, making it even harder to make out the large shadows she saw along the road. Tyler placed his hand gently on top of her knee to reassure her. While Kara appreciated his attempt to calm her nerves, she would much rather he keep both hands firmly gripped on the steering wheel instead. He must have gotten her silent message because his hand did not linger on top of hers long. At least they were really close to their destination now. Taking a deep breath, Kara prayed God would keep them safe the rest of the way and that He would also calm her nerves. This was their first church retreat with the congregation of the new church they had been attending for almost six months. Kara reminded herself that she was stepping out in faith when she and Tyler had decided to join the retreat weekend away in the mountains. Being relatively new to the church had made her hesitate at first, but they had decided that stepping out of their comfort zones would prove far more fruitful. She and Tyler longed to build close relationships with this church, so they knew the best way to do that was to spend more time with the congregation. Suddenly, Kara was shaken from her thoughts when Silas shouted loudly and gleefully, “We’re here!” Kara blinked her eyes and strained to read the sign through the misty vapor: Pinewood Retreat. They had, in fact, finally arrived. She let herself release the breath that she had not realized she’d been holding in for almost the whole trip up there. Kara gulped nervously and quickly looked into the mirror from the pulled-down car visor. She tried to pull and will her frizzy hair into submission, but her frantic swatting at it did not seem to quell it into order. “Honey, you look beautiful.” Kara tried to meet his sweet, kind eyes with a smile, but it faltered with only a glance at his nose. “Thank you, but I think you might be a bit biased. My hair is sticking up in all different directions. I wish I could get it to look better before we go in and meet everyone. Perhaps I should apply some makeup?” “But you don’t like wearing that stuff. You always complain that it makes your skin feel itchy. Sweetie, just be yourself. Trust me, they’re going to love you.” Kara tried to smile again, but this time she could not muster even a pretend one for her always optimistic husband. Her voice wavered slightly when she had finally worked up the courage to say what was on her mind. “How…how can you be so sure?” At this point, Silas had unbuckled his seat belt and had his head poking up into the front seats between them. Kara looked anxiously over her cute six-year-old’s blond head. Tyler chuckled at the bedhead nest of hair that their son now exhibited proudly as the back hairs on his head stuck out every which way. “Kara, I know because we love you, and God loves you even more. Remember, He is in control, and He is faithful to bring about good works on our behalf. We trusted Him when we said yes to this, and we trusted Him to get us here safely. And look? The fog is even starting to lift. It’s a sign, Kara. We were wandering in the wilderness, but we found our way out.” Kara took in her husband’s wise words and let them settle in her heart. She suddenly felt at peace and was able to meet his gaze with a genuine smile this time. “Just like He did for the Israelites, all those years ago. Thanks, Tyler. I needed that reminder. I was so scared of the fog and what it held behind its thick walls, but the truth is, it was a test. A reminder for us to trust God to guide our steps forward. He only illuminates the path so far, and it is up to us to rely on Him fully to lead us to safety.” Silas suddenly stuck his head right in front of his dad’s and then swiveled it quickly to the right in front of Kara’s. He huffed dramatically. “Can we go in now? I’m ready to do something fun!” Both Kara and Tyler locked eyes and laughed together. They nodded their heads and opened their doors. Although they did not know exactly what the weekend retreat had in store for them, they committed themselves to step out in faith and to embrace the wonderful things God had for them by their obedience. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 Kimberly’s Reflection This flash fiction story is a slightly altered version of a recent event in my life. My family did just attend our first church retreat (with all the fog! That is a picture from our drive up) with the new church we have been attending for almost six months now. As most of you will recall from my story, Church hurt [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/p/church-hurt], my family has been searching for our church home. I was quite nervous at first, because I had no idea what to expect. Walking into a room where people don’t know you or only barely know you has always been hard for me. Yet, I trusted Jesus. Every step of the way, through the fog and through the entire weekend. And you know what? He did not disappoint. He showed up for us in so many ways. For the first time in a long while, I felt peace, comfortable, and included at church. That’s the power of stepping out in faith, especially when you’re unsure how it’s going to go. When we do that, we provide the necessary obedience and space for God to show up big for us. It’s the time when He can do what only He can do. We obey His will, and all we have to do is watch His mercies bloom for us. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were hesitant to do something, but obeyed God by stepping out in faith anyway? How did it go? I’d love to hear your experiences of how God showed up for you. May we be faithful to take the courageous leap into the unknown because what He has for us is far more than we could ever have dreamed or imagined. Amen. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you! Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 Substack Recommendations 💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search], Mandy [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search], and Jillian [https://substack.com/@jilliankondamudi]! 💖 You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here: 🌟Just Because [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here: 🌟A Holy Ache [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here: 🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree [https://substack.com/profile/299407672-jillian-kondamudi?utm_source=global-search]🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

His Forever Valentine.

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest flash fiction story, His Forever Valentine… Glancing at his watch, Ben hurried down the sidewalk. He was already running late to begin with, and now he risked missing his train. Onlookers gawked as he certainly looked out of place. He wore a dark black tuxedo and was carrying a rather large bouquet of mixed roses. With his other hand, he wrestled with his laptop bag and huge box of Gertrude Hawk chocolates. A few of the women watching him sighed dreamily and elbowed their partners. Ben hid a smile as the ladies pointed in his direction and the men barely looked up from their phones. Valentine’s Day certainly brought out the gamut of celebrations—from the simple to the extravagant. Ben slipped through the closing doors of the train just in time. Panting, he looked around for an available seat, but quickly realized he would have to stand the whole way. He carefully tried to balance the bouquet on top of the chocolates, but felt his laptop bag slipping from his shoulder. When he tried to adjust himself to fix it, the flowers suddenly started sliding faster off the box than he could quickly react. Luckily, a sweet, young woman caught them just before they completely took a nosedive and would have crashed messily onto the subway floor. She took a quick sniff of them and smiled at Ben as she handed them back to him. He returned her gorgeous smile with a quick grin of his own, but faltered slightly due to embarrassment. Thankfully, the beautiful woman didn’t seem to notice. “You must have someone pretty special you’re going to celebrate with tonight. Girlfriend?” she asked, slowly putting more weight and emphasis on the last word so it sounded both like an accusation and a question. “I do, but not a girlfriend.” The woman batted her eyelashes and leaned in closer to Ben, causing him to lean back the other way. He glanced up to see how many more stops there were until it would be his turn. He gulped, wondering if he and his special gifts would be able to survive five more stops. “So, what is it then, a first date? You’re too young to be married.” Ben swiftly and awkwardly held up his left hand. The woman stepped back once she saw the gold band gleaming in the low-lit train car. She smirked and nodded her head, signaling that she would leave him alone. Ben let out a sigh of relief. The rest of the ride thankfully went smoothly without any further unwanted conversation regarding his attire or his obnoxiously large special Valentine’s Day gifts. Finally, it was his stop, and thankfully, it was only a short walk to his destination. The famous Italian restaurant was, of course, jampacked tonight. Ben had been disappointed not to pick up his date for this evening, but she had talked him into meeting him there, arguing it would be more practical. He reached up onto his tiptoes to get a better look over the crowd. Unfortunately, his date was rather petite and it would be nigh impossible to spot her in a crowd. That is, until he heard her sweet voice carry loudly over the sound of the live jazz band playing. Ben shook his head. He should have known he’d find her dancing and grooving to the music. He had to squeeze his way between patrons to force his way over to her. Of course, she looked radiant as always in her shimmering red sequined dress. It was the dress she chose every Valentine’s Day. Ben sidled up beside her and bent down to give her a soft, gentle kiss on the cheek. Then he gently guided her over to their table. The waiters helped them get seated and after they were all settled, Ben handed her the chocolates and the flowers. “Roses for my Rosie girl. And sweets for my sweetie.” “Oh, Ben, you shouldn’t have! Whatever did I do to deserve you?” “It’s our tradition, remember? I’ve never missed a single one in the last five years and I don’t plan to ever.” Ben watched as Rose took a shaky sip from her glass of water. He could tell she had tears welling in the corners of her eyes. “Benji, you’re the absolute sweetest, but you shouldn’t be here with me. What about Ava? I’m sure she’s missing you.” “Ava knows about our tradition and she was the one who insisted I keep it. Besides, I get to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her every day. This is our special day.” Not wanting to waste their time arguing the matter any further, Ben stood up and reached out his hand to Rose. “Care to dance?” The light dancing in Rose’s eyes told him that she would be delighted and he moved his way around the table to help her up. Then they made a beeline straight for the dance floor. They danced to the fast songs until a slower song came on. Ben gently held Rose close to him and softly twirled her around. Then she leaned her head against his chest. “Oh, Benji. Your grandfather would be so proud of the man you’ve become. Thanks for helping an old gal feel young again.” “Always, Grandma. Forever and always.” “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 Kimberly’s Reflection Valentine’s Day can stir up a lot of complicated emotions. It’s typically the day that celebrates couples, but I like to think of it as the day we celebrate all the love in our lives. Whether we’re single or not, we can be grateful for the wonderful relationships that pour into our lives. That’s why on Valentine’s Day, I not only celebrate the love I share with my husband, but also my son, my family, and my friends. It’s okay not to have a date for Valentine’s Day. Take the day to honor the love you have in your life, even including pets! And above all, may we remember to thank our Heavenly Father for loving us so much. God’s love is the source of the love we share with others. May we share His sweet heart with the world on Valentine’s Day and every day. Amen. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you! Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 Substack Recommendations 💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search], Mandy [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search], and Jillian [https://substack.com/@jilliankondamudi]! 💖 You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here: 🌟Just Because [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here: 🌟A Holy Ache [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here: 🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree [https://substack.com/profile/299407672-jillian-kondamudi?utm_source=global-search]🌟 This is a public episode. 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Escaping New Year's: Part 2.

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear the second part of my short fiction story, Escaping New Year’s [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/p/escaping-new-years]. Here is the link to the first part in case you missed it: Now, let’s hear Part 2… Josh practically floated on air as he made his way to class that morning. He was grinning from ear to ear after the amazing night he had with Mia. They had stayed up watching another movie after It’s a Wonderful Life and ended up falling asleep together on the couch. Josh hated to leave her, but when they woke up, it was nearly four in the morning. His cheeks burned at the memory of giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Luckily, there weren’t too many people milling around campus when he left her dorm room. As he replayed their first sweet date over again in his head, Josh nearly lost his footing when a hand slapped him on his back loudly. He looked around, bewildered and riddled with confusion, until his eyes landed on his friend, Zach. He had a weird look on his face that immediately alerted Josh that something was up and by the looks of it, Zach couldn’t hold it in for another second longer. “Buddy, you’re the man! Everyone’s talking about you.” Josh rubbed his shoulder as his friend hit him once more in congratulations. He laughed nervously as he had absolutely no clue what Zach was talking about. “Why? I didn’t do anything.” “Oh c’mon, man. Don’t lie to me. Everyone’s talking about how you spent the night with Mia.” Josh immediately stopped walking and froze. Someone must have seen him exit Mia’s place after all. He tried to gasp for air as suddenly it felt as if all the wind had been knocked out of him. Mia is going to be humiliated. Without another word to his friend, Josh took off sprinting across the quad. He needed to find Mia before anyone else talked to her. As soon as he burst through the class doors, Josh wheezed, trying to suck in a big breath of air. He was not used to running like that and made a quick mental note to hit the gym more often this year. When he looked up, Josh noticed that everyone in the lecture hall was staring at him. Then, much to his chagrin, they all started clapping for him. He scanned the room for Mia, but he didn’t see her. He grimaced as his classmates started whooping and hollering. Josh turned his head to the top of the stairs to see Mia. Her face quickly turned a bright shade of crimson. Then Josh saw it. His eyes stung with shock and his face burned with anger. Someone had written a message on the whiteboard: Good Morning, Mia the slut. It took everything in Josh’s body not to yell at his disgusting, immature classmates. Instead, he focused his attention on helping Mia. She stood there for only a second, like a deer caught in headlights, and then darted quickly out of the room. Letting out an exasperated sigh since he was exhausted, Josh ran up the steps after her. Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. She had made it halfway to the middle of the quad when Josh started calling her name and begging her to stop. Much to Josh’s relief, she finally slowed down and surrendered in a heap on the cold, frozen grass. Josh jogged the rest of the way and plopped down beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her shoulders. She sat there in silence with a far-off look on her face, her eyes glistening with moisture. A couple of students passed them and snickered. That elicited a few tears to fall. “I am so humiliated. Everyone thinks I’m a..a..” “But you’re not, Mia. They have it all wrong.” “It doesn’t matter. You spent the night at my place, and they know it. The damage is done.” Josh suddenly stood up and held out his hand to help her up. Mia hesitated, but ultimately placed her small hand in his as he gently lifted her. Then he softly wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Mia, listen to me. You know the truth. That is all that matters. It doesn’t matter what they think happened; you know what happened. You know the real story. You’re a good girl with high morals. Don’t let what others think of you distort the truth. If you run away, then they win the narrative. You can’t let them get to you. Stay true to yourself and be confident in the wonderful person you are. You’re Mia. And you’re amazing.” Josh’s heart somersaulted when Mia let out a soft laugh in response to his pep talk. He was so happy to see her smiling again. He reached up and slowly moved a loose strand of hair off her face. Mia placed her hand on top of his and held it for a moment. Then she nodded her head that she was ready to go, so they walked hand in hand back to class together. When they reentered the classroom, the professor was standing at the front, about to start class. The message had apparently been erased already. Josh and Mia slipped into two open seats toward the back. A boy sitting near smirked and made a mocking kissing face in their direction. Josh felt his body stiffen and his jaw clenched. He had just told Mia to ignore the immature behavior and here he was not being able to take his own advice. He was pulled from his thoughts when he suddenly noticed that Mia had apparently raised her hand and stood up to speak to the class. “I just want to address something real quick and clear up some rumors that are going around. Yes, it’s true that Josh came over to my apartment, and yes, he stayed late on New Year’s Eve. We watched some movies and fell asleep on the couch. That’s it. That’s the truth. It’s honestly hardly worth this much attention. Your time would be better spent learning real facts and working to help one another—not tear others down. So in closing, please be kind. You wouldn’t want people to spread lies about you, so just don’t do it.” Mia sat back down and smiled at Josh. He returned her grin, and then, to everyone’s shock, he stood up and started applauding her. Slowly, a few others joined in and then soon after, almost the entire class was giving her a standing ovation. The boy who had recently mocked Mia had a deflated look on his face as he slumped further down in his seat. Josh’s heart swelled witnessing Mia’s dignity be restored. He gently pulled her up to a standing position and gave her a big hug. Josh had never met anyone so brave to be themselves, and he could not wait to get to know her even better over the course of the new year. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22 Kimberly’s Reflection One of the hardest things to navigate in life is when people speak lies about you. Even though you know they are wrong, you can still feel ashamed for something that you didn’t even do and that isn’t true. We must gain confidence in who we are as a person and learn to love ourselves. Whether you’re a Christian or not, this is imperative. This is not to build up a prideful or pompous view of ourselves, but rather to appreciate the unique gifts each of us possesses. We all have value and we all deserve respect, kindness, and love. I pray that we learn to love who we are so much that we can stand firmly in the truths about ourselves when lies threaten our character. Know your truths and may you always know your worth. I’m praying you all have a blessed 2026! May it be a year that you grow stronger in the truth of who you are in Christ. Amen. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you! Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 Substack Recommendations 💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search], Mandy [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search], Ali [https://substack.com/@alichan], and Jillian [https://substack.com/@jilliankondamudi]! 💖 You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here: 🌟Just Because [https://substack.com/profile/324159388-haven-nicole?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here: 🌟A Holy Ache [https://substack.com/@aheavenlything?utm_source=global-search]🌟 You can check out Ali’s inspiring and hope-filled Substack, OpenHanded Hope, here: 🌟OpenHanded Hope [https://substack.com/@alichan]🌟 You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here: 🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree [https://substack.com/profile/299407672-jillian-kondamudi?utm_source=global-search]🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe [https://authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]