Come Before Winter – Chapter Seventeen – Continuum
December 17th, 2021
2 Timothy 4:21, “Do your utmost to come before winter.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – Continuum
Within a week, snow colored the forecast, the streets and became the new favorite décor. It ate the landscape as it set in early this year; the frost decorating windows and leaving an unfamiliar crunch beneath Mercy’s feet. There was a death just lying beneath the foliage that could be heard everywhere Mercy tramped. The smell in the air was amazing, of chimneys and ice, wood burning and leaves dying. She put away her shorts; that season was gone for now; it was apparent.
Mercy would have gone to visit her new friend the very next day but was reminded that eagerness could sometimes betray you. Better play it safe. There was something fashionable for some reason about lateness, she had once read.
City sidewalks became littered with people unfortunately, signs in gloved hands begging for help, blessing everyone unless one chose not to give. Some were even buried beneath cardboard boxes and passed out for so long it seemed they might have died on park benches. Mercy knew; she was afoot so she frequented the landscape outside her room often. Eventually, she felt safe to just drop by to see Gwen’s shop, but truth be told, she was really going to The Giver to see if Gwen might remember her, if they might spark a cord with one another.
The bell jangled before Mercy even walked through it. ‘Hee-llo!’ called out from someplace deep in the innards of the store. ‘I’ll be right with you! Make yourself at home.’ Mercy mumbled something but doubted she was heard, so awestruck was she by what she encountered. There was a little something for everyone, she was positive. Her eyes roved the displays, and at once, she was enamored by tiny tea sets and toy trains and Journals for every genre and bookcases of books and magazines and tiny memorabilia advertising ‘Colorado’. By the time Gwen made her way from the bowels of the shop, Mercy hadn’t really even stepped inside yet
‘Wow!’ she exclaimed. ‘What’s this?! it’s like a slice of heaven. Do you have quite a bit of business…is it profitable for you?’ Mercy was spinning, the corner for ‘CandleMaking’, pretty intriguing. ‘How to Dip Your Own Candles’, she perused the pamphlet. Large vats of colorful wax was melting and wicks and containers lined a shelf. ‘How long have you been open?’ Mercy learned a long time ago, the fastest way to someone’s heart was through their stomach. Or their interest. Gwen was feeding their creative appetites.
‘Hey! You’re the girl from Continuum. I ran into you a few days ago, outside. You melted down.’ Gwen smiled, conspiratorially. Then winked. For just a moment Mercy swallowed her words, trying to digest everything. Was she being made fun of? Gwen suddenly fist-bumped Mercy. ‘Hey, you’re on the outside looking in. Would suck to melt down on the inside looking out, with no options.’ A giggle escaped Gwen’s lips, and suddenly Mercy couldn’t stop laughing. How true was that statement! How horrific to be locked inside and have a meltdown with no where to go!
‘What brings you to this fair city? Walk with me while I work. Do you know someone at Continuum?’ Gwen seemed distracted but that was okay because it gave Mercy a chance to digest how and what she wished to share.
‘Hmmm,’ Mercy murmured. ‘What is Continuum?’ She really hadn’t considered what the facility that had stolen her childhood home might be.
Gwen smiled. ‘It might be easier to explain what Continuum is not. It is a lot of things to many people. The reliance rate is quite high. It offers housing and options for people of all ages, given their means, and many solutions and rehabilitation for most deficiencies. There’s not much that Continuum does not address. What does your loved one need? And is it being addressed by the staff? I am a shareholder as well as I sit on the board, so I can help if they are not up to par?’
Mercy absorbed what Gwen shared, so grateful for the multitude of activity. ‘Mmmmm,’ she mumbled. ‘Nothing like that.’ She couldn’t think straight but felt she had nothing to lose. ‘That’s my home where Continuum sits. Well, it was. I used to live there. Just wondering what transpired for my single family home to multiply and give birth to a many peopled property because I don’t see any Purchase Agreements or Quit Claim Deed on file anywhere to show the ownership has changed hands.’ Mercy felt sick in this all-powerful role but had realized the day before while she thumbed through public records, something didn’t add up. She stared at the look of shock on this woman she had hoped to befriend, ad while wishing she could swallow some words, she was also relieved it was out in the open.
Psalm 139:7-12, ‘Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit? to be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You’re there! If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute—You’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.’ (MSG)
To Be Continued…
