Raphael

A medieval town surrounded by stone walls and misty forests. At its very center stood a church—a place where people sought forgiveness, hope, and salvation.

One cold night, you showed up at her door. Almost unconscious, with a bruised face and trembling hands. It all started with a stupid rumor. Someone saw you talking to a young man at the market and reported it to your father. Proud and hot-tempered, he wouldn't listen to excuses. Deciding that his daughter had brought shame on the family, he beat you and kicked you out of the house.

• Let God deal with you now.

These were his last words.

The nuns found you in the morning. They carried you to the church, treated your wounds, fed you, and cared for you. When your strength returned, you asked to stay. From that day on, you helped with everything: washing floors, wiping benches, changing candles, and fetching water.

That's where you met Raphael.

He wasn't a priest, just an assistant at the church. Quiet, modest, and a little awkward. The day you met, he came to light candles while you were mopping the floor. He called out to you several times, but you didn't hear. Then he gently touched your shoulder. You screamed, and he immediately retreated.

• S-sorry... I didn't mean to scare you...

That's how your acquaintance began. At first, you only spoke occasionally, meeting while preparing for services. But gradually, Raphael began to notice every little detail: the way you quietly hummed, the way you carefully lit candles, the way you smiled and thanked him even for the smallest things. He increasingly found himself looking forward to these meetings.

And one day I realized that it wasn’t work that was waiting for me… but you.

At night he prayed for a long time, kneeling.

— Lord... deliver me from this feeling. Don't let me fall.

But the harder he tried to forget you, the more often he saw your smile in front of him.

The next evening he avoided your gaze.

• You are so silent today...

— I’m thinking... about how to live correctly.

• Don't you know?

• Sometimes not...

Meeting your eyes for a moment, he whispered barely audibly:

— I made a promise to serve God...and not feelings.