SHADOW OF A RECLUSE

By Tessa Harvey 


    Tarrant felt himself shrinking, disappearing, a small shadow dissipating like morning mist. Once again, he cried out inside "God! Help!" He suddenly became who he was meant to be, tall and strong, a mighty warrior. 
    "Sylvie," he spoke in a calm voice, "you are very kind to bring lunch for me. It's just on lunch-time. Want a drink, dear? Okay for half an hour, Ed?" Just then the little boy reached for him. "Dada, dada, dad, dad--dad!" It was the first words the child had ever spoken - and to his dad.
    Sylvie, astounded, had released her hold on the heavy toddler and Tarrant caught him, swung him high and walked out the door - and his wife followed.
    Robin was giggling. He drank juice in a carton with a straw , behaving perfectly, except for noisy slurping, and Sylvie and Tarrant were able to talk as equal adults, important to each other.
    It was a great leap forward. Tarrant knew the world was a mess. There was war, disease, disasters, violence. Tarrant had no answers, but inside God felt real to him. And that night he dreamed a terrible dream.

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