When Sunday Comes Again by Terry E. Hill Page B

hand on his chest. That’s when we all heard the second shot. There were screams coming from everywhere. It was horrible,” she said with an air of introspection. “Just horrible. I honestly don’t remember anything after that.”
    Renee dabbed a tear from her eye. She again reached across and took Samantha’s hand and asked, “Do the police have any clue as to who may have done this?”
    Samantha looked even more mournful and said, “So far they don’t have any suspects. They think it might have been someone who had been stalking him for at least a year, but they’re not sure. The Los Angeles Police Department has been wonderful. I have every faith that they will find the person or persons responsible for my husband’s death.”
    Renee paused before continuing. “Yeah,” she said, “I mean, for many people Hezekiah was an icon, but for you he was more than that. He was your husband, your partner, your lover. It must be surreal for you. . . . Is it disbelief? It’s hard to believe still? It’s still hard to believe he’s gone?”
    Samantha shifted uncomfortably in the chair and said, “It is, Renee. Some nights I turn over in bed and reach for him, only to find that he’s not there. Anyone who’s lost a loved one knows the grief is almost unbearable. It’s as if you’ve lost a part of your own soul. I miss him more than you can imagine.”
    Renee pressed on. “Now, the entire thing was caught on tape?”
    â€œWell, yes. It was Sunday morning service. There were cameras everywhere.”
    â€œUnfortunately, the tapes were leaked to the media and have been played . . . seems like nonstop since it happened. How does it feel when you see it now?”
    â€œI haven’t seen it. I haven’t turned on a television or radio since it happened. I’m too afraid of hearing his name on the news or accidently seeing the footage.”
    â€œWell, unfortunately, I have seen it. I suspect most everyone in the country has seen it,” Renee replied. “And like I said, it’s surreal. I don’t know how you’ve gotten through this with such grace.”
    â€œI can honestly say that I don’t have any hate for the person who did this. My heart goes out to him, and every night I say a prayer for him. Its times like these that your faith is tested, Renee. This has, of course, tested my faith, but I know that God has a plan, and this has only increased my faith in him.”
    The last words triggered a round of applause from the audience.
    Renee acknowledged the audience with an affirming smile and continued. “Now, this only happened a month ago, right?”
    Samantha nodded yes. “It’s been just over a month, and the amount of love I have received has been amazing. Thank you, America, for all the love and kindness you’ve shown me,” Samantha said, smiling warmly past the camera to the audience. “Your love and the love of God are the only things that keep me going.”
    More applause erupted from the now entranced audience. Samantha was everything they had dreamt a friend of Renee’s would be.
    The host waited for the applause to die down and then continued. “Maybe you’re not in this space yet—it’s been a month since his death—but when you are able to go to the space where you’re able to remember the warmest place and thoughts about your husband, what do you think those thoughts will be?”
    Samantha contemplated for a moment and said, “I think what I will remember the most is his kindness. Not only to me, but to everyone he met. When people talked to Hezekiah, he had this uncanny ability to make them feel they were the center of his world. That whatever they were thinking or feeling at the time was important to him, and that he really cared. I loved him deeply, and I believe he also loved me just as much. I’ll miss the feeling of