Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

Bible today that might help you."
His suggestion felt like a slap in the face. "My faith is fine,
thank you."
He studied her as though weighing what he was about to say
"You wasted a year hating Brian Wesley, Hannah. Where did it get
you?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't throw that at me, Matt. I had a
right, and you know it."
"Hey..." He reached for her hand, but she jerked it back. He
hesitated, and she knew he was trying to maintain his cool. "You
gave up your rights when you agreed to be a Christian, remember?
The only real right you have now is to ask God for help in
forgiving your enemies. Whoever they are." He softened his tone.
"Isn't that what Tom's last words were all about?"
The reminder tightened like a noose around her neck.
Frustration multiplied within her, and she hissed her response.
"That isn't fair." She stood and glared at him. "I don't need
Scripture or a lecture or a reminder about Tom's dying words,
okay?"
Matt cocked his head, his expression harder than before.
"What do you need, Hannah?"
"I need Grace, okay? And I need you to leave me alone."
Before he could say another word, she stormed inside, through
the kitchen and upstairs to their bedroom. There she slammed the
door and flopped on the bed.
Fifteen minutes passed, and she heard Matt leave. She sat up
and watched through the bedroom window as his car pulled
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away, and regret welled up within her. She balled her hands into
fists. Why was she taking it out on Matt? He'd coddled her fragile emotions since Grace left; it wasn't his
fault. Hannah exhaled through clenched teeth.
Still she was angry. Even at him. Matt's words came back to her.
You're doing it again... being angry only hurts you more...
Was it true? Was this the same way she responded four years
ago after losing Tom and Alicia? Memories moved across the screen of Hannah's mind. The times when
she shut everything from her mind except her desire to see Brian Wesley pay for what he'd done. Times
when she asked Matt to stop praying for her, stop mentioning God, stop making references to Scripture.
She had been too angry to hear any of it.
Hannah crossed her legs and dropped her head in her hand. Since Grace left, she'd told herself that she
was handling it better than before, especially when it came to her faith.
I still believe in You, God, don't I? I haven't turned my back on You. There was no response, no whispers
of holy assurance... and Hannah realized it had been days since she'd prayed. She stared at the pattern on
their bedspread. Maybe she wasn't openly against God like before, but she certainly hadn't gone to Him
for help.
Tears spilled onto her ankles, and a mountain of discouragement settled on her shoulders. She hadn't
learned a thing about forgiveness. She was right back where she'd started all those years ago, back when
she and Tom were kids growing up in the same neighborhood.