In Your Embrace by Amy Miles

hardly enough to make any difference.
    A flash of lightning overhead startles the Pastor.  “Was that lightning?”
    Hannah nods, sinking down beside him.  She is spent, her energy utterly wasted.  When was the last time she ate?  Last night?  Yes, at the meal her uncle Andrew made for her. Far too long to go without, considering the strenuous day she has had.  Obviously, adrenaline has its own empty tank as well.
    “The eye has moved,” she whispers, leaning her head back against a fallen rafter and looks up into the sky.  The rain pelts down at her, soothing the heat that feels suffocating in this small space.
    “You need to leave.”
    She sits up.  “I’m not leaving you.”
    “Well you can’t stay.  I won’t have you risking your life for me.  We’ve proven that this is impossible.”
    “Nothing is impossible with God,” she responds, and the fear that she previously saw beginning to encroach into the pastor’s eye is replaced by contrition.  She places a hand on his arm.  “It’s ok to admit that you’re afraid because that’s when you realize you aren’t strong enough to succeed on your own.”
    Pastor Justin grins through his pain.  “Maybe I need to step aside and let you preach this weekend.”
    Hannah laughs, shaking her head.  “I’m not so good with crowds.”
    “Well,” he holds out his hand and waits for her to accept it, “at least let me extend the invitation to join us, though I have no clue where we will meet in all of this mess.”
    Hannah feels a flush rise into her cheeks as she smiles back.  “I’d love to, but first let’s get you out of here.”
    Squinting against the dark, she can barely make out anything beyond a four-foot radius.  The chances of them making it out of here alive are slim.  This is a fact that she accepted the moment she reminded Pastor Justin that neither of them are strong enough to save themselves.
    Despite all odds, Hannah is determined to do her part.  “If we can’t lift it off you, maybe we can push it.”
    “Push it?”  There is a hint of alarm in his voice as he glances overhead, blinking against the rain that falls in steady waves now.  “Won’t that bring everything down on top of us?”
    “Honestly,” she turns to look at him, “I don’t think we have much of a choice at the moment. Help isn’t coming and we are running out of time.  All we can do is wait on a miracle.”
    Pastor Justin nods.  His face is grim as Hannah moves into position.  “I’ll push the beam. You lift the desk the moment it’s free.”
    “Can you do this?”
    She pauses and shrugs.  “Guess we’ll find out.”
    Placing her hands upon the slick wood, Hannah plants her feet, allowing them to settle into the rubble to find a firm footing.  She tries not to think of how weary she is, how easy it would be to drop from sheer exhaustion.  Instead, she turns back to stare at Justin, the man depending on her.
    “On three.”  Without waiting for him to reply she pushes with all her might.  He cries out as the beam shifts.  The sickening crunch from beneath the desk makes her stomach clench but she doesn’t stop pushing.  The beam slides an inch and comes to rest.  The unstable structure around her groans but doesn’t give way.  Panting, she eases back to catch her breath.
    “I thought you said on three.”
    “I figured it would be easier if you weren’t waiting for the pain.”  Her fingers grip the edge of the beam, all color fleeing as she prepares to push again.  “Are you ready for this?”
    “As best I can be—” he howls with pain as the desk begins to lift on one side, placing extra pressure on his leg.  Hannah pushes till her arms shake violently.
    “Almost there…” she grunts as she releases her grip and then slams back against the wood.  The motion rocks the beam enough to get it close to the edge.  The desk tilts again, but this time there is no cry of pain.  Glancing over her shoulder she sees that Justin