Chapter 1: Sacristan

"This is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to His supper." the priest said while holding the sacramental bread.

"Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed." response of people inside the church. I didn't bother to respond like the others. Instead, I simply gazed in the direction of the priest. I watched him consume the bread and wine he was holding. After he had finished it, the bell rang and the announcer spoke, signaling the start of Holy Communion. I watched people as they began to walk down the aisle to receive the Eucharist.

"Go there too, Shiloh." I heard my father speak. I have no intention to go there and receive the Eucharist, but I don't want to disobey my father. I nodded at him and began walking. As I waited in line, the announcer began to recite the Act of Spiritual Communion. There is one person who will receive the Eucharist before me. When she finally got it, I went in front of a priest who looked in his mid-50s. I noticed that his eyes were gray. Was he wearing contact lenses, or are those his real eyes?

He smiled at me and it was like a cue to open my mouth and slightly stick out my tongue. "The Body of Christ," when he was about to give me the bread, a shout echoed inside the church. That shout caught everyone's attention, even the attention of the priest in front of me. Before I turned to see where and from whom that shout was coming from, I noticed the priest's eyes widening, followed by rapid breathing.

"Father Michael, my son," said the lady with a weak voice. I couldn't see her face clearly. Only her figure could be seen because of the light coming from the outside of the church. "I haven't seen him in a week; this was the last place he went before he disappeared." The church was enveloped by different reactions from people. Even though the lady seemed to be struggling and tired, she still tried to walk as fast as she could to get in front of the priest.

"Please, Father Michael, I want to see my son. I know he's here." Before the priest could react, the lady knelt before him, begging. The priest sighed before he gently lifted the woman from her kneeling position.

"There are many people here today attending Sunday mass. You are welcome to look around afterwards; your child may be one of the attendees." said the priest with a light smile. The priest turned to the ushers beside him. He asked them to take and escort the woman to the chair. The ushers immediately followed the priest's order.

"No! I want to see my son. He is not among those seated today; my son is an altar server here. He's a sacristan!" she screamed. "Please, Father Michael, let me see my son Je-" Before she could finish her sentence, the priest spoke.

"Take her outside. Don't let her disturb the Sunday mass." the priest said. Without hesitation, the ushers drag the woman outside. The woman continued to scream as the ushers dragged her out. The noise finally subsided when the woman was totally taken out.

I turned my head when I heard the priest clear his throat. He smiled at me awkwardly before he spoke. "W-where exactly did we stop? H-have you eaten the bread y-yet?" he stammered.

"How I wish I had that same skin color as yours." I saw him frown at what I said, but then he smiled. "But I guess I couldn't achieve that." I said while looking straight into his eyes.

"Ah, I'm delighted that my skin color piqued your interest. I'm not that white-" He was halfway through his sentence when I broke in.

"You looked pale, Father Michael. I wonder why?" His eyes widened for the second time.

"Pardon?" the priest said trying to calm his tone. I shook my head and flashed a smile at him.

"I already have the body of Christ." I said and turned away from him. But before I could even take a step, I looked directly into his eyes again and uttered, "Amen."

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