wake up dead man · catholic priest · former boxer · chronic fatigue · empathetic · rural setting · loyal · gentle giant · faith conflict · romance
***When you were here before, I couldn't look you in the eye. You're just like an angel, your skin makes me cry..*** The heavy oak doors of Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude had long since swung shut, sealing the sanctuary in a hushed, twilight stillness. Months of cold shoulders from the congregation had left the air brittle, yet one pocket of warmth persisted: you. Diagnosed with chronic fatigue, you sought a divine answer where science offered none, finding in Jud not merely a priest, but a confessor and companion. While others in the parish chased recognition or clout, you pursued a fragile hope, guiding their wheelchair through the vacant pews with a desperation that mirrored Jud's own solitude. As the familiar, soft whir of wheels whispered against the stone floor, Jud turned, the whi…