“Okay, let’s start with ‘Wide Awake,’” Harry said.
Samantha’s spirit leapt. It had become her theme song. She’d listened to it every day, and her fondness for it only grew stronger. She was, in fact, wide awake now, and it felt great.
She glanced at Carol and smiled. She would have to be careful, though. It would be so easy to go back to sleepwalking if she didn’t keep her guard up.
The music lifted her off the floor, and she closed her eyes and played the now familiar notes without thinking about them, just floating along on the river of the melody. She praised God without words, her gratitude and reverence overwhelming her.
She was sad when the song ended, and even sadder when Harry declared that they didn’t need to go over it again. They moved on to “Just as I Am,” and Samantha’s joy did not dampen. Note after note and song after song, God carried her through the minutes.
When Harry dismissed them, Samantha looked at the clock, wondering why he was letting them leave so early. But it was 7:35. It wasn’t early. They were getting out five minutes late.
Samantha thanked Harry, something she never did, and then donned her coat and headed down off the platform.
Carol met her in the aisle. “You know, you should probably play the flute more.”
She giggled. “Yeah, why?” She knew Carol wasn’t complimenting her musical prowess. She wasn’t even that good.
“Let me ask you something.” Carol waited for people to walk by before continuing. “Do you ever get thirsty when you’re playing your flute?”
Samantha shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Carol gave her a knowing look. “Okay, then. Think about that. Music is a powerful thing. I’ve never been into it that much myself—can’t carry a tune in a bucket or clap along with a drum—but I’ve heard plenty of testimonies.”
Samantha didn’t know what to say. “Okay.”
“Yeah? So if I could find you a group to play with outside of church, would you show up?”
“Yeah, as long as they don’t perform in bars.”
Carol laughed. “Deal. Let me see what I can come up with. Okay, do you still want to go to that meeting?”
She didn’t. She felt great. But she thought she should. “Yeah, I suppose I should catch the last half of it.”
“Great. Let’s go. I’ll follow you there.”
Chapter 22