Adele's Stories

The fresh grass was quiet under Liza’s bare feet. She moved slowly through the dense woods with a soft breeze gently blowing her dress around her knees. She walked with determination but not with urgency. She had somewhere to be but was in no rush to get there. She hummed a soft hymn as she made her way to the low rising hill. A soft rustling came from beside her and she smiled in welcome as a large lion appeared by her side. He huffed his own greeting and they continued walking together. 

Liza placed a hand on her companion’s side and began to hum louder. She had known this lion since he was a cub and fondly referred to him as Zion. As they neared the hill, the trees fell away and Zion hung back while Liza climbed to the top as was their routine. Liza scaled this hill at least once a week to sit at the top and watch the village below. She settled onto the grass and peered down the hill. Today was one of Liza’s favorite days because just at the bottom of the hill was a small group of boys around her age throwing around a ball. 

Liza loved to watch them play and pretend she was down there with them. She longed to play with other kids but her father made her swear never to enter the village before he died. One of the boys turned to look up at her and their eyes met. Liza gasped and retreated down the hill. 

***

Roman stared after the girl disappearing over the hill. A football smacked him in the head and his friends’ laughter brought him back. 

“Entranced by the ghost girl?” Johnny teased. 

“She’s not a ghost.” Roman said, throwing the ball back. The story of a ghost girl seen wandering through the woods and hanging around the low hill had become a village legend in the past few years. Roman was the only one who knew her name was Liza. And she was not a ghost. They used to be friends when they were children, as he and his mother used to take food to Liza and her father at their cottage in the forest at least once a week. Until one day they just stopped. Roman always wondered why but his mother refused to talk about it and always got teary eyed when he mentioned it. 

“Obviously she’s a ghost.” Timmy chimed in. “Why else would she never come into town?”

“I don’t know.” Roman mumbled to himself. He looked back up at the hill and contemplated for a moment. Then in a spurt of courage Roman sprinted halfway up the hill and turned back around to look at his friends. “But I’m gonna find out.” he turned and ran up the rest of the hill ignoring his friends calling after him. Roman skirted down the hill and plunged into the forest before his resolve died away. He walked slower as the trees seemed to close in around him. 

Roman felt his heart skip and his breath came in shallow gasps. As the fear grew, he was about to turn and run when suddenly he heard a soft noise beside him and he stopped in his tracks. 

“Roman?” the soft noise came again. Liza stepped out from behind some shrubbery and as she approached the trees fell back and sunlight poured in from the canopy above. His heart settled down and the fear dissipated. 

“Hey Liza.” Roman wasn’t quite sure what else to say. Thankfully he didn’t have to. Liza suddenly beamed, and grabbed his hand. She began racing through the forest and dragging him behind her, chattering all the while. 

“Oh Roman, it’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you so much and have been dying to come play with you again. But of course I couldn’t because I promised my father I wouldn’t leave the forest-” Roman cut her off. 

“Wait so that’s why? Because your father made you promise?”

“Yes of course,” Liza turned her head to smile at him. “ So you can imagine how lonely I’ve been. I have Zion of course and he’s wonderful but he’s not an actual person so it’s not quite the same. That’s why I’m so glad you’ve come! We can spend the day together! We’ll go to my house and have some lunch then I’ll show you around the forest.” she laughed in delight. 

Roman shook his head trying to gather all his thoughts. “Wait, who’s Zion?” 

Liza finally slowed to a walk and let go of his hand. She tilted her head when she looked at him. “My lion of course.” She said it so matter of factly that Roman almost believed her. 

“Lion? Liza, lions don’t live in this forest. I don’t even think they live in this part of the world.” 

Liza laughed. “Of course he does. He’s walking right next to us.” 

Roman was starting to worry if living in the forest all this time was causing her to go mad. “Liza. I think you had better let me talk to your father.” 

Liza’s face suddenly changed. Her eyes took on a faraway look and an absentminded smile graced her lips. “My father went to heaven a long time ago, Roman.” her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper.

Roman’s jaw dropped and he stopped dead in his tracks. Liza continued on a few feet before she realized he wasn’t with her any more and turned around. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“Am I alright? Liza, are you telling me you’ve been living alone in a forest all this time?” 

Liza nodded slowly, a confused look on her face like she didn’t understand how he didn’t understand. “I may not have my earthly father anymore, but I still have my heavenly father. And I know he is looking out for me. And of course I still have Zion.” Liza shrugged a shoulder and continued walking. 

Roman ran to catch up. He decided to ignore the lion for a moment. “Your heavenly father?” 

Liza nodded again. “Yes, my heavenly father. He’s looking after me and he always provides me with what I need. I believe it was him who sent me Zion.” 

“The lion?” Roman’s voice was laced with skepticism. Liza only smiled and nodded. They continued walking in silence. Roman was dumbfounded. His original mission was completed. He found out why she wasn’t leaving the forest. Now his job was to figure out what to do about it. She clearly couldn’t stay here all alone. Roman had felt a brotherly bond toward this girl since they were kids and wanted to protect her.

Roman suddenly realized that Liza wasn’t wearing any shoes. This girl needed obvious help. But how was he supposed to supply that?

***

Liza walked with Zion on one side of her and Roman on the other. She was so excited to have her friend back and to share adventures with him again. She led him to her house and Zion stayed outside while they went in. Liza made them a lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches and they ate in silence. Liza didn’t mind the silence. She just enjoyed being in the presence of the boy she once considered a brother. 

After they ate, Liza took Roman’s hand again and they walked through the forest together. Zion came along and walked on Liza’s other side. She laid a hand on his back and Roman gave her a strange look. She decided not to address it. They chatted quietly and Roman seemed very interested in her life since she last saw him. 

Soon the sun began to set and they arrived back at the hill. “Well I guess this is goodbye.” Liza said quietly. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye again. Roman squeezed her hand and smiled. 

“Not for long. Would it be okay if I came and saw you again tomorrow?” 

Liza beamed. She was so happy she could only nod in response. 

***

Roman rushed home. He had to speak to his mom. Soon. She would know what to do. He threw the door open and his mom spun around from her place in the kitchen. “Roman!” she exclaimed, laying a hand over her heart. “You scared me half to death. What’s wrong?” Roman took a hesitant step forward.

“Mom. Do you remember Liza? The girl we used to visit in the woods?” Roman’s mother froze and her back stiffened. Roman closed the distance between them feeling a sudden urgency. “Mom, her father died a long time ago. She’s been living alone in the forest for years. She needs our help.” 

His mother spun around, her eyes brimming with tears. “Then let’s go get her.” She grabbed her jacket and Roman’s hand and pulled him out the door. “Roman. While we walk there’s something I have to confess to you.”

***

Liza sat under a tree watching the stars with Zion lounging beside her. Her stomach growled and Zion lifted his head. Liza had used up the rest of her food with Roman. She didn’t know where she would get more food but she trusted God to provide for her so she wasn’t worried. 

Liza yawned and laid her head on Zion’s back. She gazed up at the stars and softly sang her favorite hymn. Zion turned his head to look at her. He seemed to be listening to her sing very intently. Liza yawned again and felt the pull of sleep trying to take her away. She resisted for as long as she could but eventually sleep overtook her and she fell into a contented sleep still resting on the big lion’s back. 

*** 

Roman rushed ahead of his mother and raced through the forest at top speed, armed with new information. With the moon lighting the way he easily found the tree Liza was sleeping under. But when he saw her, he stopped dead in his tracks and felt his breath leave his chest. 

Roman could see the lion. He was huge. If he was standing he would be just over Roma’s head. He had no doubt that this lion was Zion. Zion raised his head and turned to look him dead in the eye. Roman was surprised when he didn’t feel fear of this lion. His eyes seemed almost welcoming to Roman. 

Zion stood slowly and Liza fell gently to the grass without stirring. He made his way towards Roman who was frozen still. “Hello Roman.” The lion’s deep voice was quiet, but Roman could feel the ground shake when he spoke. Roman found that he wasn’t surprised that the majestic beast could talk. 

“Hello Zion. You really have been looking out for her, haven’t you?” 

Zion let out a rumbling laugh. “Yes I have. I was sent to watch over her until you came.” 

“Me?” Roman was shocked. 

“Yes you. God ordained you as her brother for a reason, Roman.” 

Roman nodded vigorously. “I think I understand that now. I promise to be the best big brother I can be.” 

Zion laughed again and came closer. He rested his head against Roman’s for a moment before stepping back and making his way back to Liza. He turned to look back at Roman. “I have no doubt you will.” He nudged Liza’s back until she began to stir. 

***

Liza woke up to Zion gently nuzzling her. She laughed and sat up. When she did she saw Roman standing just behind him. She jumped to her feet and smiled. 

“What are you doing here? It’s not yet morning is it?” she looked up at the sky. 

“No child. Not yet.” The voice came from Zion. Liza had never heard him speak before and yet she was not surprised. “It is time for us to say goodbye.” 

“Goodbye?” 

“Yes. You don’t need me any more. Your brother has come to take you home.” 

Liza glanced at Roman. “My brother?” 

“I think it best he explains.” Zion stepped back and allowed Roman to come closer to Liza. 

“Liza-” he hesitated unsure how to continue. “We’re siblings, Liza. When we were little, our father and mother had a sort of falling out. Father took you here to the forest and mother stayed with me in the village. They continued to visit each other for our sake. But one day they had another fight and swore they’d never see each other again. But now that fathers gone… mother has regretted that day for years. She wants you to come home. We want you to come home.” Roman held out his hand to her. 

Liza stood, shocked, soaking in all this new information. Finally she took his hand. It was all she could do for she was crying and didn’t trust herself to speak. Zion nodded his approval and gazed at them gently. “It is time for me to go,” he said softly. Liza let out a gentle sob and threw her arms around him. 

“I’ll miss you.” she managed to choke out. 

“I’ll miss you too, child. But there are others who need me now.” 

Roman and Liza stood beside each other and watched the lion disappear into the trees. 

***

Roman walked next to his sister as their mother led the way home. “I’m sorry about Zion.” he said softly. 

Liza gave him a small smile. “It’s alright. He was right. I don’t need him anymore. God sent him to me when I needed him and now he’s sent me you.” 

Roman believed her this time.