On My Own by Melody Carlson Page B

that something about her had changed. It was something in her eyes that gave it away.
    “Hey, you look great, Chloe,” I said as I gave her a hug. “What's up?”
    “Oh, nothing much.” But there was an unmistakable twinkle in her eye.
    As we ordered our coffee I was suddenly assaulted with the fear that perhaps she'd gotten herself a new boyfriend. I remembered how crushed she'd been the last time she'd gotten involved with a guy and then been dumped. I sure didn't wish that on her just now.
    “So how's your first year of high school going?” I already knew that she wasn't liking her new environmenttoo much–another area where we shared common ground of late.
    She made a face. “Oh, it's pretty much the same. Too many insecure kids, like me I suppose, all trying to act cool but looking like complete morons just the same.”
    I laughed. “That sounds about right.”
    “But there is something …” She took a sip of coffee, peering at me over the heavy mug with what looked like a suppressed grin.
    “What?” I set down my cup with a thunk. “I can tell something's up, Chloe, and I'm dying to know. So just spill it, will ya?”
    She slowly set down her cup. “I did it.”
    I studied her face, still unsure where this conversation was headed, and to be honest, I suppose I was actually fearing the worst. “Did what?”
    She giggled. And I can say this is the first time I've ever heard Chloe giggle. I mean she's just not the giggly type. In fact, in that same moment, I was keenly aware of how Chloe was a lot like Beanie, and yes, even Liz, I suppose. And it struck me as just slightly ironic that I keep getting paired off with these types of girls. But then maybe it's a God thing.
    Chloe leaned forward and looked right into my eyes. “I invited Jesus into my heart.”
    Well, I'm sure my jaw must've dropped as I absorbed her words. Then I jumped up and hugged her. “Oh, I can't believe it! That's the best news I've heard in weeks. Tell me what happened.”
    She proceeded to tell me how she'd been reading the Bible (places I'd recommended for her to read–specifically the things Jesus had said). And then she said how she'd actually prayed this week, asking God to show her whether or not He was for real and if the things she was reading were true.
    “Well, this is where it gets a little strange,” she continued, “but hang with me here. I've probably never told you about how I like to walk around in the cemetery.” She paused as if waiting for my reaction, but I nodded like that was the most natural thing in the world. “Well, most people think it's pretty weird–and just slightly morbid. But I like it, and sometimes I've made up some pretty good songs there. Anyway, I went to the cemetery yesterday, just to walk and think. I pretty much did my regular route, except I stopped in an area that I don't usually stop in–probably because it's newer and I tend to like the older sections better. It's like they have more substance or something. Anyway, I sat down on this fairly new cement bench and leaned over to think. I guess I was wondering why God hadn't answered my prayer. I don't know what I'd been expecting. The thing is: I probably expected to be disappointed …” She took a sip of coffee and paused as if considering what she was about to say.
    “And?” I couldn't hide my impatience.
    “And I looked up at the gravestone, and right there on it were the exact words from one of the last verses you'd sent me–one that I'd been seriously thinkingabout. It's the one where Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
    I felt myself gasp just then as it hit me. “Were you–were you at Clay Berringer's grave?”
    She nodded her head. “Yeah, and it was so weird because I really didn't know him, and I never even went to his funeral or anything. But I did know he was a friend of Josh's, and yours too. And it seemed to bizarre that I was sitting in front