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[center [Merienda [b "...and forgive us, Father, of our sins, for we know not what we do..."]]]


[center [Merienda The words were spoken softly in the darkness of Clara Anderson's room. She sat on her knees, hands folded on the bed and her eyes closed as her forehead rested against them. A sigh soon escaped her lips as she slowly came to stand, brushing whatever dirt had ended up on her skirt before she moved over to the wall, flipping on the switch to turn on the light. When she opened the curtain, she was greeted by the darkness of the early morning. She had to assume it was only around five to five-thirty. Any later and the Mother Superior would have her hide for not showing up for their six A.M. mass. Far earlier than Clara would have liked but she wouldn't complain.]]


[center [Merienda Sitting down at her vanity, she pulled a brush out from the drawer and ran it gently through the wavy mess of brunette strands on top of her head. Once that was done, she stood, making her way to the bathroom next to her bed to wash her face and teeth. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but something felt off about this particular day. It was odd since every day was the same routine. She wasn't forgetting anything, since changing would come last, and her morning chores didn't start until after their first gathering.]]


[center [Merienda So what was it that made it feel like there was static in the air?]]


[center [Merienda Doing her best to shrug it off, she dried off her face, threw the washcloth she used into the hamper, and left the bathroom, quickly throwing on her uniform and headpiece. She hadn't been with the monastery for long, but she was quickly learning the way things worked, what was and wasn't acceptable, when she needed to speak, and when she needed to just keep her head down. It wasn't an awful existence. She'd known for a long time what she was getting into before she'd even arrived, but some days it could be quite tiring.]]


[center [Merienda Taking a deep breath, Clara soon left the room, making her way down the dim and quiet hallway. She knew, depending on the time, that some of the others would be awake, though they would be in the hall waiting for mass to begin. Usually, when she arrived, the pews were fairly full, since she tended to wait until it got closer to time. Today, however, she was restless, and when she entered the room, she found only one or two other sisters, novices like she was, sitting in the very front.]]


[center [Merienda The room wasn't very big, only six rows of pews occupying most of the space, and she would take her place on the right side, the very last row. It was the safest place for her most days. She wasn't called on to recite prayers, even though she knew them like the back of her hand and then some, and she didn't have to answer any questions directed at them. She could sit by herself, listen to what she had to listen to, and move on with the rest of her day with some peace of mind.]]


[center [Merienda It really helped, too, since Clara didn't like to talk in front of other people, even when she was required to. She'd much rather keep her head down and stay close to a wall or in the shadows than be noticed by those around her.]]

[b " ...And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil..."] His words were soft as he spoke them before the small alter that he had set in his room. The male had just finished the Lord's Prayer and he meant every word of it. He also did when he recited it. But today, Kyle Westley felt that the last bit was much more needed than was usual. If asked, the young man of merely twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight would not be able to explain. All he would be able to say was it was a strong feeling.
 
Slowly, grey eyes went to the alarm clock on his bedside table and the bright red numbers read 5:25AM. So he was a little behind in his getting ready. Which wasn't exactly a new thing when he had such strong feelings. But it was indeed not something that he wished to be the case. This was a new congregation and new people with whom he would be leading mass with. He had been doing this for the last three or four years but he had not a permanent place. This church was going to be that place. Well it would if he happened to pass the tests that were to be set before him. So being late was not a very good start.

[b "Forgive me Father..."] Kyle muttered as he made the sign of the cross. He then went to the bathroom and got a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and did a slight shave (which he didn't know why he bothered as it was always back within a day or two). When he had gone through that part of his morning ritual, the young Father went and got into his black button up and slacks and the robe that he would be wearing for mass. He then went to grab his bible and beads.

As soon as he was ready, or as ready as he could be, the young priest took a deep breath. [b [i 'Father, this day is yours. Come what may and your will be done. Just all I ask is that you give me the strength to make it through. Amen...']] Those were his last thoughts before he took one more glance to glowing red numbers and found himself rushing out of the room and down the quiet dimly lit halls to the room where Mass would be held.

Upon getting to the room, Father Westley as he was going to be called until after Mass let out a sigh of relief. From what he could tell, there were only a few others there. And so in hoa mind, that meant that he was not as late as he thought. Though when he looked again, the man noted that there was a young woman closer to the back. [b "Would you not be more comfortable being closer? We don't bite and I promise not to call on you."] Okay, maybe not the best words that he could have said, but Kyle did not quite want her to be in the back and alone so early in the morning.

Since he had spoken and probably made a little of a mess, the young man stayed where he was. They had some time before the service. And if truth be told, he was quite curious in seeing what response may be offered to his words.