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"For how long?" I cried out "How ht with your last breath, walked every path which leads to nowhere and cried every worthless, faithless tear at the bottomless pits of Hell"

"Why?" I wiped my eyes "Why do you have to be so cruel?"

"It’s not cruelty, it’s a lesson What does not kill us, only shows us where to find strength e are in the dark"

"But I can’t find it I’ for the right question"

"What do you mean?"

"Ask not why, ask not when, ask not what you need to do?"

"Then what do I ask?"

"Try asking, and I’ll tell you"

My htly open and I looked to one side What the hell is this sli on about? "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to know the question to the answer"

"Well, what’s the answer, then?"

"You!"

Me? Me? Why would I be the answer? And what is the question?

Me?

I looked around at the tops of the trees

I’m the answer--to what? To the Lilithian’s future? Maybe But what does that have to do with finding hope on this Walk of Faith?

Ask not what I need to do, but what I need to…learn?

I looked up at the black, scaly creature "What is hope?" I asked

It seemed to smile but didn’t answer

What is hope? Is that what I need to learn? I squinted, thinking hard I know it’s in me, but what is it?

"Close," the snake whispered

"Hope is a part of faith," I started, going over the words init home to the me like a wash of cold water "Myself?"

"Yes You!"

"Well, I found her--she wasthe oath" I shook my head "What now?"

"She is not you She is a repeat manifestation of the lies that make you whole"

"What?"

"Truth Truthfor--before you can find yourself"

"What is the truth?"

"That," she hissed, "is exactly the right question"

"Er!" I screeched and backed away as the snake launched forward "Get away fro in weaving patterns across the dirt "Tell me the truth"

"I don’t know any truth"

"Yessss, you doo" It lifted its head off the ground and rocked from side to side, as if it had shoulders to sway from

"I don’t knohat the lie is…so I can’t tell you the truth"

"Then you are lying to yourself"

"No I know myself I know my inner truths I always follow my…" I paused My heart "My heart is the lie?"

"Or perhaps what’s in your heart"

I looked at the snake and felt the tight pull of my brow at the centre "I already told you; David’s in my heart"

"Is he?"

I nodded

"Is he there alone?"

"Of course he is"

"Answer irl Is He There Alone?"

"I…" I looked down at s "I don’t know"

"Yes, you do Ask your heart, and do not deny the first answer it gives you"