Whispered Prayers

by Alex Grayson

“Hey, sweetie.” I bend and place a kiss on top of Kelsey’s head. She looks up at me and offers me a small smile with sad eyes, then continues her crossword puzzle. For being only eight years old, she’s extremely good at them. Whereas Daniel is open and talkative, Kelsey is the complete opposite. Unfortunately, her low-key response is normal for her. She’s very reserved and quiet. For a little over two years, since her father died, she’s only ever spoken twice. Once was when she begged me to bring Will back at his funeral, and the other time was a year ago when I had the flu. She quietly asked me if I was going to die as well. It broke my heart when those words left her lips. Not only because of what she asked, but also because I had prayed so hard for her to get better, for her to feel comfortable enough to talk again, for God to bring my little girl back, and when she finally spoke, her voice was more beautiful than I had remembered. I couldn’t enjoy it though, because I knew she was terrified she was going to lose another parent. Although she’s only spoken to me those two times, I still hear her every night when she thinks only God is listening. One day, three weeks after Will’s funeral, I was walking by her room when I heard something. I was about to go in and check on her, when her soft words stopped me. Peeking in through the small crack, I saw my little girl kneeling in the middle of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in prayer and her eyes closed. Her whispers, begg...