She knelt by her bed and wept. The world was caving in around her. This couldn't be real... surely it was all a dream...

A nightmare.

Slowly, she left her bedside, and went back to her living room. The television was still on, broadcasting the nightmare as it unfolded.

The date was 9/11/2001

And it was Grace's birthday. Grace was 23 years old, newly wed to her wonderful husband... Her husband had just taken a flight. He was on flight 93 when it crashed.

As Grace sat disbelievingly on her couch, watching the news of this insane attack on freedom and hope, she began to do something she hadn't done in a long time.

Grace began to pray. She had been raised by Christian parents, and had accepted Jesus and been baptized, but hadn't really followed it up with much action. Now, she found herself kneeling on the floor, alternately weeping and praying, crying out to God in her despair. She didn't understand, she couldn't understand how a loving God could allow something like this to happen to innocent people. Her husband, and many others. She'd always heard that God was in control of everything, and that everything happened because He made it happen.

But she couldn't bring herself to believe that. For the moment, Grace contented herself with berating God for what had happened... and weeping for her own loss.

9/12/2001

Grace awoke to find herself on the floor in her living room. At first she was confused, not knowing why she was there. Then it all came rushing back to her, along with a flood of tears at the disaster. Grace then heard her phone ringing. She dragged herself to her feet to answer it. It was her sister, Hope. Grace was angry at her sister, though she did not know why. The anger was not actually for her sister, but it felt that way and that's where it was going to go.

Hope was weeping at the other end. "Grace! Grace, please tell me that David is there with you!"

"No! Hope, he was on his flight. Flight 93. You saw it go down, didn't you?"

"Of course I did! I was just hoping that maybe-"

"That's not helping, Hope! Why? Why did God make this happen? I'm a good person, and I'm a Christian. David's a good guy, too, so why? WHY GOD?!" Grace almost screamed into her sister's ear. There was silence on both ends, except for broken weeping from Grace. After a moment, Hope spoke again.

"God didn't make this happen, Grace. He is a merciful God. Yes, He allowed it to happen, but that doesn't mean He caused it. Remember, the Bible says that God will work everything, even the greatest tragedy, for our good. Nothing can separate us from God's love, not life or death, or heights or depths, or angels or demons, or anything on earth or below or above."

"But Hope! If God can do anything, and if He's so loving, then why didn't He stop this from happening? I know He could have! What good could possibly come of this?" Grace began weeping again, violently. 

"I don't know yet, Grace. And we may not know until we get to heaven. But be assured, God will turn this right."

10/6/2001

Grace called her sister. She had just had a real shock. She'd found out some horrible things. And she was beginning to see the tip of what good might come of this tragedy.

"Hope, Hope! You won't believe this!" Grace said, her words clipped with anger.

"Whatever is the matter, Grace?"

"I just found out that David had another girlfriend, and he was cheating on me with her! I just can't believe he'd do something like that to me! We hadn't even been married a year yet! Oohhh!"

"Grace, that's horrible! I can't believe it either!"

"But that's not the only news. I have more. This news is a bit better."

"Well, what? I thought you seemed a little calmer than I'd expect considering your late husband was cheating on you. What's this news?"

Grace quickly spilled the beans.

"Oooohhhh!" Hope squealed. "You're gonna be a mom! Oh my gosh, are you excited?"

"Yes... but nervous as well. I'm alone, and I have no job to support myself with. And now no one to support me. I can't think what I'm going to do."

"Pray?" Hope suggested.

"I might just do that."

11/2/2001

The bell rang, and Grace went to the door. She was expecting Hope to come over that day, so when she opened the door to see a handsome gentleman standing there she was a bit surprised.

Actually, to say Grace was a bit surprised would be understating the fact. Grace was thoroughly surprised, and confused as well. So much so that she burst out laughing. She quickly apologized, and asked him his name.

"I'm James Stanton," the man said, smiling. "Is... your husband home?"

"Umm, no... he was on Fli... he died recently."

"Oh! I'm so sorry, miss..."

"Grace. Grace Villa." She replied, using her maiden name.

"I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am. Is there anything I can do? Maybe pray for you? I think I saw you in my church the other day."

"Grace Baptist? Yes, I was there on Sunday. I enjoyed the sermon a good deal. It was so true, and gives me hope."

"I thought so as well. I recently lost my wife on Flight 93."

"Then you and I have something in common," Grace smiled. James smiled back.

1/1/2002

Grace smiled at her sister. "Didn't we just do this?" Hope asked.

"Ha, ha. Not funny, Hope."

"Sorry, Grace. I shouldn't have." Grace turned and sighed. "Are you nervous?"

"No."

Hope stared at her sister.

"Well, maybe a little," Grace admitted. She looked stunning in a white gown with a deep sapphire necklace and pale gauze veil. She held in her hands a bouquet of white roses, tied with a blue ribbon. Her grey eyes sparkled, and her lips were pulled into a half smile.

A few rooms away, Mark watched laughingly as James paced back and forth. "Stop it, Jay, you'll wear a rut in the floor."

"Why is it this always seems to take so long?" James muttered distractedly.

"Oh come on, it's a woman. That's what they do, take long showers, take long dressing, take long cooking, take long talking, etc, etc."

"You could be more helpful, you know," James said.

"I know. But this is more fun," Mark grinned.

Hope left her sister and ran to pick up her violin. She began playing as everyone took their places. In a moment, Grace walked out. James' jaw fell when he saw her. Mark, his best man, reached over and gently shut it. Grace tried to stifle a giggle, as she stood beside James in front of the altar.

It was a few moments, a few words; but a lifetime of commitment to each other... and to the little one soon to come.

Grace and James Stanton left that night, feeling more whole than either had felt since the attacks of last September. They each felt that they'd started this new year on a better foot than the last one had ended.

4/25/2004

It was a rather cool spring night, and Grace was sitting on her back porch. She was looking at the stars and thinking of the hands that had made them. Those same hands were guiding her future, and the Owner of those hands loved her so much that He'd sent His Son Jesus to take her punishment. Grace smiled thinking of her own little son, lying asleep in his bed, and of the little precious soul only a few weeks old inside her womb.

Suddenly Grace felt James' hands on her shoulders. She tilted her head up to look at him. "Are you glad, Grace, that things happened the way they did?"

"Glad? Hardly glad because of it. Rather, in spite of it. Or through it. Not because of 9/11 or David dying or any of it. But God has used these circumstances to bring me back to Him... and He gave me you, as well."

Grace's eyes sparkled up at James in the darkness. She knew she would always bear on her mind and soul the scars of that horrible day, but she also knew that the day had not destroyed her completely. As long as she had God, she knew she could always hope.

It wasn't the end, but only the beginning.

It was bad news that my servant boy Eric brought me that summer morning. Arendale's new queen was to be crowned in a month.

Yes, that queen. The one no one had ever seen. 

Elsa.

I knew that if she was to be the ruler of Arendale, that small island-country wouldn't survive. It would shrivel away, the people would starve, and several neighboring countries would be left without a good trade partner; especially Weasealton. I had to do something, but what?

Years of dealing with older brothers had taught me many useful things, I thought ruefully; as a plan began forming in my head. It was a risky plan, but I was certain I'd pull it off. I asked my father if I could represent the Southern Isles at the coronation. Pleased I was "taking interest in important matters," Father sent a message to the docks to have a ship waiting to take me.

I quickly packed, then it was off to the docks to board ship. My ship arrived just as Arendale came to life with the excitement of the festivities. Did I mention that the castle's gates hadn't been opened in more than ten years?

I stopped to buy some ice to cool myself from a rather flustered ice-seller. He seemed to have a strange thing with the reindeer which pulled his sleigh, as he shared saliva with it over a carrot. Feeling a little sorry for him, having only a carrot to eat, I gave him ten extra. Then I turned to more important things, going to the docks for a moment to pick up my horse, Strider. I was about to head towards the castle, when a sound of singing hit my ears.

I urged Strider forward, just as a very eager girl came around a corner. She hit Strider and fell into a dinghy and was about to land in the fjord when Strider stepped into the boat to right it. It's always been said that the Southern Isles breeds the best horses.

Anyway, being a gentleman I quickly went to see if the girl was alright. I offered my hand to help her up, and introduced myself.

"Prince Hans, of the Southern Isles;" I intoned.

She quickly curtsied. "Princess Anna, of Arendale." Oh dear, not a good start! I thought, quickly bowing. Unfortunately, Strider felt he ought to bow as well, and the boat tipped again, nearly flinging me atop the princess. She grabbed onto me, then quickly let go with an embarrassed smile.

After a few more moments of awkwardness, and a bit more of an introduction, I discovered that there was currently two princesses of Arendale, and Anna was not going to become the queen. During the party after the coronation, I managed to meet Anna. I quickly had her thinking she was in love with me, so when I proposed she quickly agreed.

I was sorry to see how things went then, for Anna was a pretty girl. I would have loved for her to have been my queen, and Elsa could have easily been married off safely to one of my brothers. Unfortunately, the queen was a hardhearted individual, and wouldn't allow Anna to marry me. In fact, Elsa started freezing things. 

Yes, she froze the whole fjord and created a winter in the midst of a summer. It was frightening, and it changed my whole plan. I winced slightly as I calculated what the collateral would be. Elsa... and Anna. If I hadn't gone and fallen in love with her myself. I steeled myself for what was to come. If my guesses were right this would work, but if not... Father would kill me.

The next thing I knew, Anna found a horse to go find Elsa. First I protested, until I realized this would still work with my plan. I let her go. She left me in charge. So I decided to give the citizens of Arendale a taste of what I would be as king. I had the castle servants fire up ovens and heat up soup and glog in the kitchens, while me and some guards passed blankets to the citizens of Arendale.

Anna returned, she was cold, and stiff. Like ice. Her hair was turning white. As I had surmised once Elsa began freezing things, that white streak in her hair wasn't a birthmark, or the result of being kissed by a troll. No, she'd been struck before by Elsa's powers, and now was struck again. I don't know why it didn't kill her the first time, and I almost wished it had. This wouldn't have been near as painful for me.

I quickly turned my own heart to ice as I refused Anna the kiss that would have saved her. I put out the fire and the candles, while monologuing with a stiff smile on to hide my true feelings. I told her lies, or I would've broken down and kissed her. "If only there was someone out there who loved you." Why, oh, why did I say that? 

After this, I left. I locked the door on what could have been, and then turned to the task of saving Arendale. Not just from dying under a lack of proper rule, but now also from this infernal winter! I went out then. To kill Elsa. If she didn't know how to stop the winter that would kill her people, then she must die. I would've wanted it that way, if I were in her shoes.

So then, all of a sudden, Anna was there in front of my sword. My sword shattered and a shockwave knocked me away. I was unconscious for several minutes, and when I awoke, it was spring again.

And Anna punched me for my actions. Not that I blame her, for she and Elsa will likely rule Arendale very well now. I misjudged them, gravely so, and the consequences when I get home will be great.

Bound by chains... Silent chains.

Yet I hear their clanking. They have been forged already...

A war will come... Because I will fight it. I want freedom...liberty.

And I will have it.

If I cannot have liberty...

Then give me...

Death.

Sand.

Cool, wet

Beneath feet

Bare and sandal-ed.

Waves rolling closer,

Foaming on the beaches.

Color-flecked waves in the sun,

Colors collide as the waves leap,

Splashing, frolicking in the sunset.

Slowly, night closes upon the ocean.

Softly, a light grows in the eastern sky.

Dawn begins across the darkened waves.

As the sun comes up, light scatters.

Fleck's of light run this way, that.

Waves rolling on the beach.

Bare feet are dampened,

With cool splashes;

Particles

Of damp.

Sand.

I knew my day would come.

But as I watched the flames flicking closer, I wished it hadn't come so soon. So much I had left undone. So many things unsaid. But the heat grew, and the smokey atmosphere thickened to almost blackness. I was choking, coughing. At last, I squeezed my eyes shut to the pain. Pain that almost made me wish I had made a different reply to them. I quickly regretted that thought. "I'm coming, Jesus. I'm coming home," I said as the flames burned my eyes, my skin, and the stake my hands were tied to. I had stood on my beliefs, against the Church, and I would receive my reward in full.

Vibrating deep down.

Fountain billows from your heart.

Hidden from the world.

Suddenly, a yell.

Angry words rush from the lips.

Apologize now.