Free Enticed:A Dangerous Connection (Secrets) by Melody Carlson Page A

questions.”
    “I’m just curious. Wouldn’t you be too? I mean, if you’d just arrived and didn’t know what to — ”
    “Shut up!” She swears at me as she shoves me back into the room and slams the door, snapping the dead bolt tight.
    To my relief the McDonald’s bag is still sitting on the floor by my bed, and even though the Egg McMuffin is cold and probably hours old, I’m grateful. And although I’m tempted to gobble it down, I remember to thank God and I even ask him to bless it, hoping that maybe he will multiply it, like Jesus with the loaves and fishes.
    But when I open my eyes, it’s still just one McMuffin. So I pace myself and eat slowly. Who knows when I’ll see food again?

… [CHAPTER 8]………………
    I ’ve heard that solitary confinement messes with your mind, and I’m beginning to understand this. God made people to need people. My only human contact on my second day is when Tatiana, who doesn’t even speak to me, drops off a box of dry cereal, a gallon of water, and a bucket. I try to engage her by asking what the bucket is for, but she silently slams the door in my face. And as the day wears on, with no bathroom breaks, I figure it out.
    I press my ear against the door off and on during the day, but it’s silent as a tomb out there. It sounds as if no one is here, and I begin to wonder if they’ve abandoned me completely. But I keep reminding myself that I’m not really alone. God is with me. I know it. I believe it. But all this solitude is taking its toll. My nerves are wearing thin, and I suppose my faith is wavering slightly as well.
    As I’m crying out to God to rescue me, it occurs to me that I need to confess my own responsibility for my dire circumstances. So I get down on the grubby carpet, kneeling with hands lifted up, and attempt to confess my foolishness to God. As hard as it is to admit all my failings — and they are many — I know this is exactly what I need to do.
    As I confess my stupid shallowness, I remember Mrs. Norbert’s advice. She told me I wasn’t ready. She cautioned me to wait for her to help me … and yet I ran ahead. I also remember how Michelle warned me to be careful. She told me about how people lie on the Internet. How did I respond to my best friend? I just laughed.
    Even worse, I remember how I conveniently managed to keep the news about my agency interview from Mom. Although I didn’t actually lie, I was deceptive by omission.I rationalized that it was only because I didn’t want to worry her. But the truth was, I didn’t want her to know. I was afraid she would insist on going to the appointment with me. I was worried that her presence there would humiliate me.
    It sickens me to think of this now. How could I have been so stupid and so shallow and so deceptive? To think that my mother, who loves me and would do anything for me, would have embarrassed me in front of the likes of Marcia and Bryce isn’t just absurd, it is insane. How I wish I could turn back the clock. How I wish I’d told her. Keeping my whereabouts a secret may well be the end of me. How could I have been so completely stupid?
    “I’m sorry,” I tell God. “I did it all wrong. Please forgive me. And if I ever get the chance to see Mom and Michelle and even Mrs. Norbert, I will confess this all to them, too. I will ask everyone to forgive me.”
    I continue to pour out my heart until I don’t feel there’s anything left to confess. And when I’m done, I know that God has forgiven me. But I still have no idea how he is going to get me out of this. The truth is, I know now that I don’t deserve to be rescued. I am here because of my own foolishness. My personal vanity has allowed me to be lured into a trap.
    When morning comes, I hear some noises in the house, but no one comes to my door. Although I continue to pray and believe God is with me, my loneliness is overwhelming. However, this time of isolation gives me time to think. If I’m going to get out of