Until the Mountains Fall

She gently placed her palm on my wounded shoulder and the warmth of her hand did nearly as much to soothe the ache as did the ointment. If only she would continue touching me, allow us to forge something new together from the broken pieces of our past. Her willing presence in my life would be far more healing than any balm

Our family was built atop the ruins of tragedy, Rivkah, each brick fashioned from mercy. You will find no stones in their palms.

But still she fled, leaving me battered and bleeding among the remnants of my brother's life, each of her parting footfalls another blow to the dream I'd not deserved, but had foolishly dared to hope for.

You'll never discover what blessings are in store for you if you don't stop hiding here, licking your wounds.

She tipped her head back and laughed with gusto, the sound so full and lovely that my own amusement crashed to a halt and I could do nothing but stare. The notes of her laughter twirled through the air like butterflies alight on the breeze.

The mountains will fall to dust before I will ever give up on my daughter.

The dance of ink over finely woven plant fibers became an act of worship, a connection to the Creator of language himself, especially when the words of a new song spilled from my heart onto a sheet of papyrus.

…but one chance moment beneath a flowering terebinth two years ago had changed everything, transforming Rivkah from the girl I’d teased to exasperation into one whose beauty enthralled me nearly as much as her intelligence and spirit

The hair I'd yanked too many times to count shone in the sunlight, trailing down her back like liquid obsidian.

Smile. You look as though you are headed to your execution, not your betrothal." Are they not one and the same?

...Quiet amusement danced in her eyes.

You’ll never discover what blessings are in store for you if you don’t stop hiding here, licking your wounds.

Every step away from Kedesh felt like fighting against a rushing river. I could practically feel my home calling, beckoning me to return.