Escape: Heaven’s Temple

THE EYE SYMBOL

When they finished eating, Emery was taken back to the Heaven’s Temple, where they worshiped. "Do you see those people?" Sister Anasha asked her and pointed out some people in their fronts.

Emery nodded and watched those kneeling on the floor and worshiping the Lord they were calling. She still doesn't see any children. "I have a question for you," said Emery.

"What is it?”

“Is this called an orphanage? I just wanted to know because I don't see any of my fellow children here,” she curiously asked. She had the courage to ask Sister Anasha.

Sister Anasha knelt slightly and matched Emery's gaze. “Do you want to have kids here? If you want, I can give you a companion and she will be your playmate. So that you won’t get bored and you will enjoy your stay here in the Heaven’s Temple,” she answered.

Emery was thrilled to hear Sister Anasha have said, “Really? Will I have a friend with me? I want to experience having a friend because I haven't had a friend before. And also, I am just an only child so I don't have any siblings. I don’t have anyone to talk to,”Emery explained. Sister Anasha nodded at her.

“I understand what you want. Tomorrow, you will have a friend here. I will get you a friend.”

"You mean this is not really an orphanage?" Emery asked again. "Is that why there are no children here like me because it's not an orphanage?" she added.

“This is not an orphanage. You are the only child here right now.”

Emery frowned, "But why did you adopted me if this is not an orphanage?" she asked again. There are more and more questions in her mind right now. For her, there is something strange about the church she is in now.

“You’re an exception, Emery. I saw that you were a really good kid so I decided to take you with me. I can't leave you in that place alone and no one else was helping you. Don't you want to be here now? It just means that you are in proper care now. You don't go to other orphanages that only hurt the children who live there,” Sister Anasha explained to her.

She remembered that she had seen children in some orphanages before. Some of them were being abused by the nuns. So she was also scared when she heard that she would be given to orphanages and sold to another family. She did not want to have another family because only her parents would recognize them as her parents.

"I'm glad I went to the right person to take care of me, Sister," Emery said sincerely. Sister Anasha nodded and then stood up.

“Then you need to know about it in our church. This is Heaven’s Temple. What kind of heaven do you know?”

“Heaven? That is above and the Lord is there,” Emery replied. The nun shook her head. Telling her that her answer was wrong.

“What you know is wrong. Heaven is exactly what you are treading on now. When you’re here, all the pain you feel will disappear. In this heaven, the miracle is not impossible. All your prayers can come true here. Just pray properly to our Lord.” The nun even pointed to the Lord she was referring to.

How did she become the Lord? He looks scary and it's almost impossible to know what his face really is. The statue of their Lord is uniquely made and kind of weird.

Emery could not say what was on her mind, because she was afraid that the nun might become mad at her. She just remained silent and listened to the nun.

“What they are saying are our prayers made in Spanish. You must learn everything for our Lord to accept you. You also need to accept him wholeheartedly. When the right time comes, you will see our Lord in person,” added by Sister Anasha.

Emery looked at her in shock. She, then pointed to the statue of the Lord above in front of them. "Can I see him in person?" she innocently asked.

Smiling, Sister Anasha nodded at her, “Yes, Emery. You will see him too. Other people here have already seen our Lord in person. He only shows up when someone is kind and really believes in him,” she explained.

"Is that so," was Emery's only answer.

But I didn’t want to see the Lord in person. Especially if he looks like that to the statue. I will be scared.

“So be kind always. Memorize each prayer so you can learn it immediately. Observe and watch them too for the next time, you know how to worship properly,” Sister Anasha ordered.

“Can I do that when my friend is already here? I want to have someone with me to memorize so that I can like memorizing the prayers immediately,” she asked.

"If that's what you want, Emery. Just be nice and follow me always. That way, I will not be angry with you and our Lord. Naughty kids are not allowed, okay?” the nun ordered.

"Yes, Sister Anasha. I will follow your orders always.”

"Come and I will show you the different parts of Heaven's Temple."

Sister Anasha holds Emery's right hand and they walked. They came to a wide and long hallway with many doors.

“These doors are for those who want to worship the Lord alone. You can’t play here or just come in lightly, do you understand?”

"Yes, Sister.”

“That’s good. Can you see the door at that end?” The nun pointed to the far door in the middle of the hallway. "Yes, what's there?"

The door’s design has a large eye that is in the very middle part. “That’s where the Lord is. It's huge and you are not allowed to get in there. Lord will be angry when he catches you getting in there. So basically, you are not allowed to go in this area.”

"All right. I will not go to this area.”

Emery quickly followed the nun. All she wanted was to know if there was a park or playground in that area so she could play in there. Without it, she would not know what she would do inside the church.

“Every time you wake up and when we have finished eating in the morning, you will come here to pray. These are the things you must learn and memorize. It is necessary that with each passing day, you have a prayer to memorize. Make sure that every single day, you already memorized new prayers.”

Sister Anasha handed Emery a book with a large eye symbol in the center on the first page of the book. Emery stared there. "What is this eye for?" she asked.

“That’s the symbol of our Lord. That means he watches our every move and watches over us all the time. He keeps us from evil and danger.”

She opened the book and could not immediately understand what was in it. "Don't worry because I'll teach you to read that."

“How am I going to memorize all of these, Sister Anasha? I am just turning grade three next school year. How can I continue my studies?”

“Don’t worry about that. There are nuns here who used to be teachers. So they can teach you properly. When you go to high school, you will go to school.”

Emery was pleased when the nun said that. In recent days, she has been taught to read by the nuns. Emery is an intelligent child so she learns quickly and memorizes prayers.

“But what do these prayers mean? Why should I pray if I don't understand what it means?” Emery asked curiously to a nun who had been a teacher before.

“You don’t have to look for its meaning. The more important thing about praying this is having a great feeling while reciting it.”

But how can I take these prayers to heart if I don't understand them? I also don’t know if I will accept as Lord what they refer to.

As she lingers in that place, she feels that she is no longer young. She is also waiting for her alleged friend but so far, she has not seen any child in Heaven’s Temple. Sister Anasha had told her in the past that when she had memorized all the prayers, then she would have a friend. That is why she does all she can to memorize prayers immediately. The nuns said that the prayers were for the children first. She’s doing her best so that, she will meet her friend in person. She’s too excited to have a friend.

"Emery, come here for a second!" Sister Anasha calls her. Emery ran to her. “What is it, Sister?” she asked.

"This is your friend, Kate."