After 12 years

 I wouldn’t normally go out, but I’d heard that he was coming, and I just had to try. Even if it was pointless, you get kind of desperate and will try anything. Well, not anything - after a while not anything painful or expensive…

So there was a big crowd following him, all talking at the top of their voices to him and to each other. People were buying things along the side of the road, running on ahead to talk to other people, throwing figs or skins of wine to each other. Basically it was a walking party.

I realised that I could easily get close to him - so many people around and no one was really paying attention. So I slipped close. It was hard to walk at the right pace, I had to pretend to be listening and look like I was part of the group. He was wearing this long cloak that was billowing out behind him, and I saw my chance! If he could really heal, then all I needed to do was to touch the cloak and slip away through the crowd. No one would ever know except me. At my age, I’m practically invisible so the plan was foolproof. 

So I did it. Slowly manoeuvred closer, bent down quickly as if picking something up, and touched the hem. It felt rougher than I expected- I thought he’d wear something more expensive. But that thought disappeared immediately as I realised it had gone. The pain. The constant ache and cramp that had been there for twelve years. The feeling of blood always draining from me. I was so surprised I stopped right there and several people bumped into me. I stretched up to my full height as I suddenly felt well and healthy.  I’d forgotten what that felt like. I wanted to jump in the air, shout, run around - like an excited teenager! Thankfully I realised where I was before I did! Time to go home where I could shout for joy in private. Thee was an alley next to me, just a few steps…

Then my world stood still. I heard his voice - ‘who touched me?’ That sick feeling in my stomach that had often been there from the bleeding returned, but this time it was fear. Why would he ask that? why had he noticed?  I couldn’t believe he knew I’d been healed  How could he tell?  Those around him were asking the same questions- so many of the people were walking so close! But he didn’t stop looking around. It began to sink in that this wasn’t just some great healer if he knew. As he started to slowly walk back the way he came, the crowd spread out. Everyone was looking at everyone else, trying to work out who it was. As he looked around, I looked up in panic, and happened to catch his eye. I knew that I couldn’t hide any more.

Trembling, I walked forward and knelt down at his feet. I explained what had happened. I didn’t know what he’d do - women like me shouldn’t get near men like him, and I taken the healing without paying.

I couldn’t believe what I heard next. ‘Daughter.’ It had been a long time since anyone had called me that. Suddenly I knew I belonged - no longer an outcast, always sick and unclean. He said my faith had healed me! I knew again that I belonged- it had surely been his power that had healed me, but my faith would hold onto him forever. He also said I could go in peace, but I knew I wasn’t going anywhere…