Her heart ached at the thought of Sam sitting in that damp shelter waiting for her. Back in her room, she desperately tried to come up with a way to slip out and bring him at least a little food. She tucked part of her meager lunch under her sweater and stood by the small window. Sneaking out in broad daylight seemed impossible.
Then the quiet of the yard was broken by the creak of the front gate. A truck rolled in carrying new beds for the novices. Taking advantage of the commotion, Emily slipped outside. “Where do you think you’re going?” Agnes barked, waving directions at the delivery men. “Get back inside and peel potatoes.”
Ignoring her, Emily darted around the truck and found herself just steps from the open gate. Running on pure adrenaline, she bolted and disappeared into the woods. Sam was waiting at their usual spot. “Emily!” he said, lighting up as he held out a handful of the biggest berries. “These are for you. I picked the sweetest ones. I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”
“I only got away to say goodbye,” she whispered, swallowing tears. “Here’s water and crackers.” “Emily, come with me,” Sam said. “I know I’m not exactly in a position to make promises, but I swear I’ll prove I’m innocent. If you come with me, you won’t regret it.” “And where would we go?” she asked. “Your branch shelter?”
“No, Sam. That’s crazy. I can’t repay Mother Mary’s kindness with betrayal. She saved me when I had nowhere to go. And I’m not eager to throw myself back into that rotten world.” “I’ll give you a day to think,” he said. “Think carefully before you make a permanent choice. I’d be happier than I can say if you chose me.
If you don’t…” He paused. “It’ll hurt knowing we lost each other. But I can’t hide in these woods much longer. I have to act.” Emily couldn’t bear to hear more. She turned and ran back toward the monastery. More than anything, she wanted to be behind those thick walls again. Mother Mary had been right: she was not ready to renounce the world. Not yet.
To her great relief, the truck was still being unloaded. She slipped back into her room unnoticed, collapsed onto the hard mattress, and let herself cry. “So this is where you’ve been hiding,” Agnes snapped, storming into the room. “What kind of stunt was that? Why am I running all over the grounds looking for you? Where were you?”
Emily didn’t answer. She just kept crying into her pillow. Realizing scolding would get her nowhere, Agnes went straight to the abbess. Mother Mary listened to the angry report and told her to leave the girl alone. She would speak to Emily herself.
“What is troubling you, my child?” Mother Mary asked gently after closing the door behind her. Emily had expected this visit. Agnes had never been one to keep things to herself. Looking into the abbess’s calm, forgiving eyes, Emily knew there was no point lying. Mother Mary saw too much.
“I think I’ve done something wrong,” Emily said, lowering her head. “I’ve fallen in love.” “That is not a sin,” Mother Mary said kindly. “Love is one of God’s gifts. But tell me—who is this man?” “We met at the market,” Emily lied quickly, knowing no one would react well to hearing the truth about an escaped convict. “He works there.”
“Are you planning to leave us?” the abbess asked directly. “I don’t know,” Emily admitted. “I’m torn.” “I won’t keep you here by force,” Mother Mary said. “Just know this: our doors remain open to you. In these months, you’ve become dear to me, and I want you to be happy. If your heart is pulling you back into the world, then staying here makes no sense. Come see me before you go. I’ll give you a little money to help you get started. After that, you’ll have to stand on your own feet.”
“Thank you for everything,” Emily said, hugging the woman who had saved her life. After that conversation, packing took only minutes. Mother Mary’s understanding gave her courage. Emily had truly wanted peace in service, but she now understood that fear alone was not enough reason to give up the world forever.
“God be with you, Emily,” Mother Mary said, blessing her at the gate. “And remember—there is plenty of cruelty outside these walls. Learn to protect your boundaries and face hardship head-on. That is the only way to live there.” “I won’t forget what you taught me,” Emily said, brushing away tears.
Once outside the gate, she took a deep breath of free air. All her life, she had lived under someone else’s control—first her manipulative aunt, then the strict order of the monastery. “Sam,” she called softly as she approached the bushes where he had hidden before. “You came,” he said, breaking into a smile and pulling her into his arms. “You chose me?”
“It’s the right choice,” she said through tears. “What’s our plan?” “First, we get out of these woods,” he said with a laugh, trying to shake off the tension. “I’m starting to feel like a local legend out here.” “Lead the way,” Emily said, slipping her hand into his.
Sam held on tightly, as if afraid she might vanish. They had no idea what lay ahead, but together they felt ready to face it. “Where are we going?” Emily asked. “We need a temporary place to stay,” he said. “Honestly, I’m scared for you. Every sound makes me jump. The thought of losing you again—I can’t stand it.”
“Relax,” Emily said. “The active search has probably died down by now. In a place like this, nobody’s checking IDs every five minutes. We just need to rent a place. Preferably somewhere the landlord doesn’t ask too many questions. I’ll give you cash and tell you what to say. Think you can handle that?” he asked with a wink.
“I can do it,” Emily said firmly. An hour later, they sat in a modest café, drinking hot coffee and talking through the details. Beside Sam, Emily felt an unexpected calm, as if they had known each other forever. He gave off a sense of steadiness, and despite the mystery surrounding him, she trusted him completely.
Following his instructions, Emily went to look at apartments. She found a cozy one-bedroom in a quiet neighborhood and paid two months’ rent up front. “Will you be living alone?” the landlady asked with casual curiosity. “I don’t really care either way. Just asking.”
“My husband and I,” Emily lied smoothly. “He’s tied up with work right now, but he’ll be here soon.” “That’s what I figured,” the woman said. “Just keep it quiet after eleven and don’t wreck the place. Other than that, I stay out of people’s business.” “You won’t have any trouble from us,” Emily assured her.
With the keys in hand, she hurried back to Sam. Deep down, she felt a flicker of fear at the idea of sharing a home with a man she barely knew. For a moment, she even wondered if leaving the monastery had been a mistake. But one look into Sam’s open, honest eyes, and the doubt faded.
Once inside the apartment, Sam began pacing, peeking through the curtains every few minutes. “Are you scared?” Emily asked gently. “Maybe we should’ve gone farther away.” “It’s probably just nerves from prison,” he said with an apologetic smile.
