Eva liked going to church. She always worried however, with no one in the house to look after it, someone would break in and steal something. Not that there was much to steal. Aside from the furniture there was just one teddy bear Eva had been given when she was born.
All week Eva would think of the things she wanted to talk to God about. Any worries she had, she spilled it all out in her prayers for God to hear. He didn't really seem to do much about her problems, still it was a relief to just get them all out. Eva was pretty sure God was real, because once she asked Him to make Elias better when he was sick with the Flu and Elias got better.
Before Eva left for church, she collected Elias on the way. Elias didn't like church as much as Eva did, but she didn't want his soul to go to hell when he died, so she always dragged him along, in the hope God would appreciate the appearance. When they got to the church, it was still very early and no one else was there yet. Eva's father took the stand and read some interesting stories from the bible. Eva wished she could be like Jesus and feed all those people with just some bread and fish.
Elias sat right at the back of the church as usual. Eva knew he would be quietly pretending to steer a carriage whilst chasing down a dragon on his seat.
As time went on, a few more of the village arrived and after the end of the sermon, everyone chatted a little with each other. It was quite the social event really, attending church. Everyone had tales from their week to share, gossip was dished out on those not attending and people mostly just had a good time.
Elias, as charming as ever, spoke to a noble about the weather. He was so cheeky, nobles generally associated very little with the poor folk, but it was pretty hard to resist Elias's big blue eyes and blond hair. Lady Adrianna was one of the nicer nobles anyways and happened to quite like children. All children, not just the noble ones.
Back at home, Eva woke up from a little nap to the sound of her mother moaning. The baby was coming! Instead of being excited, Eva was really worried. What if her mother died in childbirth like the woman that lived down the road? Suddenly Eva was very afraid.
As was her father it seemed.
Those prayers Eva made in church must have been heard as God decided Eva's mum would live through childbirth and after a six hour labour, baby Sunday Dearheart was born!
Eva couldn't believe it. She was a big sister! Baby Sunday looked so small and helpless. It was going to be hard to get much sleep now her parents and Eva shared their one bedroom with a baby.
Eva was so excited about Baby Sunday, she rushed next door to tell Elias but when she got to the door, Elias's mum was stood outside, with a baby of her own! Elias had a little baby brother!
"Aww, Mrs Buckhorn, your baby is so sweet! My mum just had the baby too, I have a little sister called Sunday," Eva said politely.
"Well, tell your mum I am pleased everything went well," Elias's mum said. "If you are looking for Elias, you will find him inside, he is not very well I'm afraid."
Eva felt as if someone had punched her in the chest. The thought of Elias being unwell was horrible. He might only be a boy, but he was her best friend. There were some serious diseases around just now and no one had the money to pay for treatment.
Eva found Elias hung over the toilet. He was white as a sheet and really shaky.
"Eva, don't come to close, you will get sick too", he said weakly.
Eva looked him up and down and knew he had something serious.
"What's wrong Elias?" she asked.
"I can't stop throwing up and its like I have no control over when I need to pee. I feel terrible Eva. Really terrible" Elias said, pitifully.
Elias looked so unwell and sad, Eva couldn't help herself. She pulled him up from the toilet and gave him a good hug. For once, Elias didn't act disgusted and try to pull away. He really was sick.
Elias went to have a nap on his bed. Eva was left with her own thoughts, now all full of Elias and his sickness. What if he didn't get better? It never occured to Eva that by hugging him, she had just risked her own health.
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