Soft light cascades through ornate windows of stained glass, bathing the sanctuary in the warmth of its embrace. This cathedral is a holy place, offering respite to weary wayfarers struggling under the weight of the crosses they bare. It is a realm of hope in a bleak world torn by famine and the fires of war; a place where God's grace illuminates the soul of the disheartened and lost sheep of His fold.

Yet as the days increase in number, this sacred house drifts into obscurity. How many women have been left widowed, their souls crushed as the Great War has left taken their beloved? How many children have been orphaned since darkness put out the light of hope in a land once marked by peace? The heart of man has turned foul and black since he raised his sword in the spirit of vengeance...Where could God be in this Hell, people ask? Faith has come to be seen with cynicism in the midst of this darkness, and this cathedral seldom receives guests anymore.

And yet a young girl kneels at the alter, bathed in the warmth of cascading light. Tears flow from her eyes and onto the hem of the torn rags which provide her little protection from the elements. Voice quivering, she offers a petition into the silence of the empty sanctuary: "Please God, bring back my daddy alive...please...keep daddy safe..." There she lay, drifting from the shore of dreams into an ocean of respite. The weight bearing down on her soul lifts as angels surround her in sweet sleep...

[This piece is a couple of years old, but it has a lot of heart in it. Despite the rough edges, please enjoy the story that it tells. Thank you. :) ]