The Light... she forgot, huh?

"Good day, Mr Lehem!"

"Ah!"

He whipped his head about, before his neck craned downwards.

"Oh. It's you."

"Yep!"

"Could you not do that? It's not good for the soul."

"I'd like one full loaf of bread, please!"

Staring. Surveying. Exactly what I expected. His hands moved as if he were dusting something.

"Ok. But it'll cost you this time."

Yes! Just as I expected him to ask. I moved my arm as quickly as possible. With the weight of a thousand Helephants, I threw my arm, prepared to slam my palm onto the table. 

WAIT! But if I slam it with all my might, I'll blow his stand to smithereens! 

But it's already in motion! What do I do? Ah! Maybe I could stop it with my other hand! But wait! Wouldn't that just be double the force! Ah! I got too excited for nothing!  

 Will Lehem notice if I do anything?

I glanced up.

Ok. It seems I'm moving faster than he can see.

Now I just have to bend, turn and ... PULL AWAY!

...

...

A large gust of wind followed soon after.

"Ugh. It's been really windy these past few days, hasn't it, Girl?" Mr Lehem muttered. "Wait, why are you panting?"

With restrained weight, I slammed the copper coins on his table. 

"Ah. I see."

He collected the money and headed over to his oven.

"So, girl. I hope it isn't too soon to ask. But uh... your Father."

Father? Oh right. Paul.

"My Dad is actually doing really well sir!"

"Really now?"

"Yes, yes! In fact, he's the one who sent me on this errand today!"

"I see. Hmm. I always knew the Lord could heal the sick. But through me?  That must make me an Apostle then, right?"

It wasn't a funny joke. Though when I glanced away from his hands, I saw the warmth in his eyes that followed through. I found myself giggling anyway.

"Alright then. Please give him my regards. Glad to see another person knows the Way."

I think it was nice of me not to mention that Paul didn't eat the bread that day.

-

I designated Paul a recovery period of 7 days. From his seemingly bottomless sack of coins, I would travel across Damascus and buy him all sorts of foods I thought were good for recovery.

He wasn't a picky eater. In fact, he was surprisingly willing to work with me. When I asked why, he simply told me that it was for recovery's sake.

When he wasn't in bed and eating, I was helping him walk again. Nothing too fancy. Just in between the room. I'm not the biggest fan of moving this slowly, but here we are.

On the seventh day, when he could walk to Lehen's shop without my assistance, he seemed ready to go. I did have to remind him that the 7th day is also part of rest.

Which brings us here today.

"I don't know, Paul."

"What? I'll be perfectly fine. I assure you," he assured, tightening his tunic rope. "I know exactly what I'll talk about."

You can't exactly stop him when he gets going.

Yes, the Apostle Paul decided that today would be his first day as an actual preacher. I can't say for certain, but the way his hands jitter as he puts on his sandals implies some sort of excitement.

On the one hand, this is technically a historical event. I think. It's just... the feeling in my gut.

"Almost forgot your staff there," I said, handing it to him.

"Ah yes. The ones I saw always had one of these."

That said, everything has sort of gone to plan so far. 

"Right then."

We made our way out. Not to the heart of Straight Street like I had anticipated. Apparently, something told him to head further down east.

Something I hadn't noticed while rushing through the City was the multitude of moving marketplaces. Prime for preaching, so let's see how this goes.

I was sat merely a few meters behind. It was only then that I realised that Paul... had not practised.

"Listen, everyone. Listen when I talk, you hear?"

Now, he doesn't have people flocking to him. But I could see ears perking up at least.

"I came to you talk about a new beginning. Because I... am new! And just beginning newly. Yes. I have newly begun just a mere few days ago. This is my fresh start, and I am fresh. "

They listened. But not with intent. The way he moved himself made me certain he heard the snickers.

"You see, new beginnings are like... they're... ok. Imagine the Sun, ok? No, actually, imagine you washed your face clean. That's like a new beginning. Cause your face was muddy, then it was clean. Yes. I think I'm making sense here."

He was not. 

"See, I did a lot of... subpar things. But none of that matters at all. In fact, I didn't even do anything. And yet, a voice spoke to me, and now, I am whole and fully forgiven by all. Yes. You too can be forgiven through... through Christ. Yes. A"

It was at this point that he knew he had been relegated to background noise. He did keep going... but to no avail. 

"Ah! Talking about Christ! Yes! Did you guys know he's the Lord? Yes. He's the Lord. The carpenter born in Nazareth! See, that's why they called him Jesus of Nazareth!  He's the Lord because... well... he told me so. Yes! He... he..."

Even I know that's wrong. It was all too demoralizing.

-

After a while of being ignored and/or glared at, he hobbled his way to my cloak-covered side.

"I don't get it. I don't get it at all. My effortless conviction, my thrilling content. I was putting out a classic there."

I don't have the heart to tell him.

"Well... maybe it just isn't your day."

"I disagree. Every day is my day through the Lord."

Not a bad outlook on life to have.

"That's fine, Paul."

"Saul."

"But considering how today went, I do think we should stop for now."

"Impossible." he stood. "I'll go again. Buy me a snack first."

I sighed as he dropped the coins in my hand. As I prepared to do exactly that...

"Hang on."

"...yeah?"

"Tell me, girl. What is your name?"

"H-huh?"

"Stop acting shocked. It's a basic question and needed for my convenience. Do tell."

I chuckled. "Right! Right. Sure. That's easy."

"Mhm. So, what is it?"

...

...

I twiddled my thumbs.

"Strange."

"... I'm sorry. I really am. I just-"

"Just go," He interjected.

"Right."

Paul persisted, alright. Through the heat from the Sun and the scowls and the frowns. But the early evening came, and calibre had not improved in any way.

"I think that was a very good recovery." He stated.

"Uh. I see."

He didn't think so.

"That said, perfection can still be improved upon."

...

"I'm calling for feedback," He clarified.

"Oh, from me?"

"Who else could I be talking to, Girl?"

"Well..."

Ah!

"I've never spoken publicly before, Paul. Neither have I preached." I started.

"That's not promising."

"But... I think if I had to do those things, wouldn't it be a bit better if you read up?"

"Read up? I think I know what I need to."

His Nazareth statement flashed by my mind again.

"Well, you did say that you can improve on perfection, right? Imagine how much more perfect your perfection could become."

His semi-permanent glower would land on me only briefly. I couldn't tell if he was pondering or not.

"Why are you sweating?"

"Wha-ha what? I'm not-"

"Forget about it. You're correct. I could always use more knowledge. That's a nice mantra to live by."

Using his staff, he brought himself to his feet.

"Alright. I'll have Zadok source some more fitting documents." He exhaled. 

"Zadok? Who's Zadok?"

"Zadok was one of the people travel...ing...with..me."

Oh.

The cane clattered on the floor.

"Girl."

"S-s-s-sir?"

"Where are my men?"

"I'm sorry, I really am!"

-

At this point, Paul was pacing.

"And the last time you saw these people, they were completely unconscious?"

"Yes. Right behind us!"

"So why didn't you pick them up?"

"Well, I- I-"

"Stop stuttering. You talk as if you choose your words in real time."

"But... I don't know. Sorry."

"When has that ever been a good enough answer? I don't know. Pshaw. Stop holding your breath."

I didn't even know that I was. 

"Now. If we left them there, the best-case scenario would be that they started heading back to Jerusalem. I did want to head there-"

"I CAN DO IT I CAN DO IT I CAN DO IT!"

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

"You want to see them as soon as possible, right? I could just run there and tell them you're alive!"

"No. That would be unlikely. They've probably made the journey back. At that point, you would have to search the whole of Jerusalem."

Yeah. I could do that.

"Wait. Honi did want to stop at Tiberias. For a while."

I nodded. "So how far away is Tiberias from here?"

"I'm not certain, but they should be just leaving."

He gestured for me to follow him, as we strolled through Straight Street.

"The issue here, is that it's a 4-day trip."

"4 Days? Are they on the other side of the planet?"

"What? No. Accounting for sleep, supplies, food and rest, it that number could rise significantly."

"Paul."

"Sau- ah, what?" He wearily answered.

"Don't worry! I don't need any of those boring things."

Before he could finish blinking, I rushed to the house, and brought out his notebook.

"I don't need anything at all!" I beamed.

His scowl softened, then reaffirmed itself, as he snatched the notebook out of my hands.

"Well. Since you insist, then I'll humor you. Give me 10 minutes to write the directions down."

"ACTUALLY-"

"What now?"

"Could you just tell me them instead?"

-