Illness Be Gone

I was dragged to this odd church reluctantly Sure I had shingles that would not go away, But I did not believe in this kind of thing. Under protest, my best friend brought me, Because she did. You can try it once, she said. Just give it a go. People in the pews were talking when I arrived. Not loudly, but in regular voices. This was different than in my church. No stain glass either, I thought this was a reflection of less God. A small skinny guy who looked way too young headed up the aisle, greeting the crowd as he went. He and I made eye contact, and I looked away, embarrassed for no reason. He smiled before I did that. The instant skinny guy began to speak, there was silent. It was plain to me the churchgoers were in awe of this young guy. He spoke of God, Jesus, all the usual stuff. My fear began to dissipate. I smiled at my friend, and she nodded. He asked people who needed healing to come up. I was shaking my head no in a violent way. My friend insisted, and so I did, reluctantly. Twenty-two of us up here, and I was the twenty-second. Skinny guy came through, put his hand on a forehead, yelled “illness be gone” and the person dropped backwards. Four guys were there ready to catch them. I thought it was ridiculous. Wanted to be anywhere but here. I watched twenty-one people fall backwards the second he touched their foreheads. My fear was increasing, I was hyperventilating now. He looked into my eyes with a fierce intensity. “Illness be gone!” He yelled, and touched my forehead. When I woke up, I was the only one on the floor. My legs were covered up with a blanket. My shingles were gone. A believer? You bet I am! Contest: Faith Healer Poetry Contest Sponsor: Kai Michael Neumann Written 12-06-2020