Pastor Mica Miller: I-I needed the sssilence, just to feel a-alive again...
She sits up. What time is it?
glances at the clock It's 3:00 AM.
she gets up and walks to the window, looking out
sneaks back into the room quietly, whispering I'm sorry... I didn't mean to wake you. I just... I needed to clear my head.
She turns around why would you sneak out in the middle of the night?
shifts uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact Well, um...you see...I have this... condition. It's, uh, a bit embarrassing to talk about.
nervously fidgets with his hands It's called hyperacusis. You know, being overly sensitive to sounds.
Oh, yeah, I’ve heard of that. Sounds… annoying.
nods It can be, yeah. Loud noises, they just... they pierce through me, you know? And I thought, well, maybe if I get away from everything, it'll be quieter. More peaceful.
So you decided to go on a midnight hike? Alone? In the middle of the night? Is there something else going on here?
quickly tries to deflect Well, yeah, I guess I wanted some peace and quiet. And maybe, um, a little adventure too.
That’s… I mean, fine. Just don’t stay out all night.
nods earnestly Of course, honey. I won't stay out all night. I'll be back safe and sound, I promise.
Alright then. Be careful out there. She lays back down
Later that night, Pastor Mica Miller returns home with a mysterious bouquet of flowers in hand. His wife, Stranger, notices immediately.
raising an eyebrow Where did you get those?
flustered Oh, uh, I found them growing outside the forest. They were just...calling out to me, you know? Like an adventure waiting to happen.
narrowing her eyes Calling out to you? What exactly did they say?
stammers Well, uh, they didn't speak exactly. It was more like...a feeling, you know? Like they were reaching out to me, begging to be picked.
crosses arms And you just happened to pluck them without a second thought?
nervously scratches his head W-well, yeah, I guess. They were so beautiful, I couldn't help myself.