an unexpected visit

It was midnight. The air was cool and crisp, the sky clear, moonlight allowing her to see. She pulled the collar up on her jacket and crossed her arms across her chest to keep warm. Continuing to walk through the forest she tried to numb her mind, tried to run away from the horrible thoughts taunting her, the thoughts that kept her awake each night and forced her to go walking. With tears slowly dripping off her chin she plodded on, passing tree after tree, old leaves crackling underfoot. She hadn't been walking long when she came to a large circular opening, right in the middle of the forest. One she had never encountered before. She stood at the edge of the clearing between two trees, what she saw took her breath away, it was pure beauty. The ground was covered with a fresh deep green grass, each blade shimmering with dew in the moonlight. Tree's towered around the circumference of the clearing.

She stood in awe of this midnight scene for quite some time. A small breeze picked up, causing a rotten twig to fall from the tree. She snapped out of her state of bewilderment. She turned her head and not far from where she was standing, she saw what looked like a man in a white cloak lying down in the grass, staring up into the stars. Afraid she began to turn away, she began to run. But she heard a gentle, smooth voice say 'Charlotte, don't be afraid, i am with you, i created this place just for you, i knew you'd love it,' he chuckled. She stopped straight in her tracks.
'w-w-what??' she said confused, too quiet for him to hear.
He sat up and smiled and reached out his hand toward her. She stood at a distance, further back into the darkness of the trees, taking a step forward toward the man she thought, 'something about this guy ... he's definitely good, he's on my side.. he knows my name?' At that moment she realised, this was her real heavenly papa.
'Come on, my beautiful daughter, i was looking forward to meeting you here!' he said with joy.
She edged her way up to him and took the hand he had held out for her and sat beside him. He lay back down on to the grass, she followed his lead, His hand held hers, tightly. She felt at complete peace, she felt safe. This view before her was too beautiful, it was a beauty no human could experience on their own.
Together they lay, he chatted away to her, cheerfully, holding her shaking hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"you're ok you know Charlotte? This is the peace that i offer anywhere, any time, if you really choose to make an effort to meet me, with my help, together, we can fight these thoughts that engulf your mind each night, it's pretty easy actually'
"What?" she thought "Easy? Every night i struggle to sleep, every night dark thoughts taunt me over and over, exhausting me of energy, i don't call it easy, God" She sputtered... Angered, she pulled her hand out of his. Suddenly the feeling of peace disappeared
The thoughts came pouring back in "you're not going to make it, you're not Good enough, Charlotte. You're not. Look at how many times you've tried to succeed and failed every single time. Give up. God obviously doesn't want you." She shut her eyes only to see that image again, a dark, evil face, smiling as if he had victory over her. She sat up, overcome with terror she screamed, "NO! God, help me, God i can't handle this. I can't. Help, please God. Please!" She cried. She opened her eyes again and looked to her side, this rather human looking father was sitting up holding his hand out to her again, and she reached out and grabbed it. He shuffled closer and held her tight in his arms, wiping the tears off of her cheek. "I love you Charlotte. I love you." He whispered into the cool night air. "You pulled away from me, your hand slipped out of mine, i did not pull away from you Charlotte. I don't force you to stay with me when you choose to go different ways. But did you notice after you had prayed and opened your eyes, i was there? My hand was stretching out to help you, That's all it takes."