Day 2 Prompt: What Haunts You
CW: This isn’t going to get super dark but dealing with themes of Christianity and loss of faith, so… yeah, don’t read if you aren’t in a place to
[“Ave Maria” playing, softly at first and then grows louder and louder until it’s almost deafening then cuts out suddenly as a spotlight snaps on CHELSEA, kneeling on a pew, rosary in hand, working through the second decade. ]
CHELSEA
…the Lord is with you. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our…
[Her voice falters and fades before the last word. The lights rise to show an empty church. Almost abandoned looking. CHELSEA shows no awareness of the surroundings, the time of day, the chill in the air from a stained glass window left open for who knows how long… or, I guess, God knows how long]
CHELSEA
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary mother of God…
[Her voice falters again. She puts down her head. Exhausted. FATHER DANIEL enters as she collects herself. He is surprised to see someone here, he was just coming in to lock the building for the night. He approaches but stays a distance from her. He doesn’t want to frighten her or make her uncomfortable. He, thank God, is one of the good ones.]
DANIEL
My child.
[CHELSEA bolts up, still kneeling, but straight backed, and looks ashamed like she got caught texting in church]
CHELSEA
Father! Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. I’m just… I was just praying. Um…
[holding up her beads]
My grandma’s rosary. Was, umm… was trying to…
DANIEL
Chelsea, do your parents know you’re here? They’ll be worried about you. It’s getting late.
CHELSEA
I told them I was at the library. I have an alarm set on my phone so I don’t stay away too long I just… I wanted to see… Father…
DANIEL
I know it’s been a rough couple of months for your family. Would you like to talk about it?
CHELSEA
You wouldn’t understand.
DANIEL
You know, even I was young once. Try me.
CHELSEA
I don’t feel her.
DANIEL
Your grandmother?
CHELSEA
[tears in her eyes]
I used to feel her every time I prayed and now all I feel is hollow.
DANIEL
It’s normal when someone loses someone they love to feel disconnected from them, but I promise you she is here watching over you, and I knew Gertrude and I know she would be proud—
CHELSEA
No, not grandma. I mean, this started when she- but no, I don’t feel her anymore.
DANIEL
I’m sorry?
CHELSEA
Mary. Father, I don’t feel Mary. I don’t feel Jesus. I don’t feel the Spirit… Where did they go?
DANIEL
Oh! Oh… oh child. I know when we lose someone our faith is tested-
CHELSEA
Every day, every night. I say the rosary four, five times. I go through it in my head in class. I kneel by my bed. I whisper it until I fall asleep… nothing. I thought coming here, saying it here, where I would come with grandma, where they supposedly live… they’re not here. Where are they?