Enamored with my retelling of the church’s history, she asked, “What did they do?”
I’d recited this tale so often I could easily convince someone I had lived in Chogan and had attended this church. But for some reason, narrating it to Kenny made it feel like the first time I’d ever told the story.
“They removed the bell and enclosed the top with glass. You might not be able to see it now, but when we get closer, you’ll notice that there’s not much left of the stained glass. Thanks to the river and the way the dams work, the flow of water has ruined more than half of it—the rest of the damage is due to being buried beneath a lake for the last forty-some-odd years.”
The boat followed the current as it drifted toward the steeple without much interference from me. And as we grew closer, her focus became more intense, her attention glued to the tarnished brass that stood proudly through the water’s surface.
“Did that work?” It was like she’d held her breath while waiting for the answer.
“Yeah.” I, too, found myself unable to take my attention away from the historic landmark. “After that, no matter where the sun was in the sky, the entire church lit up.” I leaned down, bringing my lips closer to her ear, and added, “Everywhere except in the very center of the pulpit.”
“Wait…what?” There was no denying how absorbed she was in my story.
“You heard me. The entire church was regularly bathed in sunlight…except for the very center, the pulpit, the only remaining part of the original church.”
“But why?”
“There’s actually a myth about it. I have no idea where it came from or how long it’s been told, but apparently, if you stood at the podium beneath the dome and the sunlight landed on you, it meant that your guardian angel was watching.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” she argued with the bridge of her nose scrunched. “The whole thing is glass; how would the sun not shine on you?”
“You’ll see when we get inside.”
Kenny turned on her heel and faced me with shock and maybe a hint of horror in her slightly obscured expression. “We’re going inside? Are we even allowed? Is it safe?”
There was not enough strength in the world to fight off the grin she caused. “Yes, yes, and so far, so good.” I watched in amusement at the wheels in her head turning, likely trying to remember what questions she’d even asked. “The current has completely washed away the glass on two sides, which leaves enough room for a small boat to pass through when the water level is at its lowest—such as right now.”
“How many times have you been inside?”
“Quite a few. It’s surprisingly dark in there.”
The residual current from the dam being opened helped guide us closer to the unmistakable brass standing tall above the water. I relaxed against the cushioned backrest behind me and angled myself to face her more. With my arm propped behind her, her full attention set on me, I began to fully explain the only piece of Chogan still alive.
“No one has ever been able to explain it, but it does kind of make sense if you think about it. The pulpit was directly beneath a large piece of solid brass, which would encase what’s below in a shadow. The glass dome dispersed the light all around the church, and every now and then, when someone stood in the very center, the sun would hit them like a spotlight.”
Her forehead creased, giving away exactly how she looked at me through her tinted glasses—with skepticism. “How do you know this?”
“Stories that have been passed down.”
“Did your dad used to live there?”
I shook my head and repositioned myself in front of the steering console, ready to direct us through the church tower. “No. My dad was only a baby when the town flooded, and he never lived there. But my Grans did, and she’s the one who told my dad and me the story.” I smiled and added, “It’s part of our tour.”
If I could’ve seen her eyes, I would’ve bet she rolled them.
“Come here.” I pulled her to stand in front of me, between my arms, and placed her hands on the steering wheel. “Just keep going straight.”
“Wait…” She tried to slide away, but I wouldn’t let her pass. “I don’t know how to drive a boat.” Panic flooded her tone.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her beneath my breath. “Kenny…it’s fine. I’ve got you.”
“Oh my God, what if we get in trouble?” she whispered in fear.
“Not gonna happen. Trust me.”
Not thinking about it, I dropped one arm and lightly gripped her hip while keeping my other hand on the throttle. After feeling her relax against me, I pulled her to my chest and shifted the boat into reverse for a second. I needed to slow us down even more as we made our way through the first opening.
It couldn’t have been more than thirty feet from one end to the other, but for whatever reason, it seemed to go on forever. Kenny gasped and craned her neck to peer up, although I couldn’t do the same. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I’d drifted through this exact spot countless times before, at this same time of day when the water level was low, and never, not once, had I seen the sun flood the space like it did right now.
I’d told her how dark it was.
Yet now, we were surrounded by the brightest light I’d ever seen.
Kenny lifted her shades and slowly turned in my grasp until we stood chest to chest. The sun bathed her in white light, almost angelic-like. I’d gone this entire time without sunglasses, and suddenly, I felt as though I needed them. As though the space was too bright, yet soft and glowing. A contradiction I couldn’t be bothered to figure out.
Her piercing blue eyes captivated me. Pulled me in. Held me hostage. They told me things I wasn’t ready to hear, painted a story I’d never been told before. And they whispered a song my heart had known, even though it was unfamiliar.
A force I couldn’t deny, one I couldn’t fight, wound around us and refused to let go. Heat exploded everywhere our bodies touched; electricity ignited between us, burning so brightly I had no choice but to close my eyes. And in an instant, my lips were on hers. I blinked, needing to make sure this was real, that I hadn’t drifted into a parallel universe or somehow died and this was heaven. I needed to know without a doubt that it was Kenny who stood in front of me, whose lips were on mine, whose hands burned through the fabric of the shirt covering my chest.
I couldn’t describe the light. It shone on us, both of us, yet I didn’t feel the heat. In fact, a breeze drifted through the tunnel, cooling me, calming me. A hum reverberated through the vacant space and wrapped around us. The kiss could’ve lasted minutes or hours—probably only seconds—but it felt as though it spanned lifetimes. Generations. Instead of lasting a few heartbeats, it could’ve easily transpired over a few decades.
Our mouths separated, but rather than back away, we remained close to each other. Her breath wafted across my lips, battling against the cool breeze. But I couldn’t move. Her gaze froze every muscle, stunned every breath, and captured every thought.
Just then, the sky opened up, and the sun’s warmth welcomed us back to reality. The harsh light forced me to blink a few times and caused Kenny to lower her shades back from the top of her head to the bridge of her nose. I frantically glanced around and wondered if anyone had witnessed our exchange.