Creative Writing: A Separate Peace

A collective sigh of relief echoes through the room. Two more well-known disciples enter. Jonathan and Cleopas relax, and in the privacy at their own small table, they continue their quiet conversation.
Jonathan knows what worries him. “Has it occurred to you, my friend, we may be hunted down for a crime we didn’t commit?”
On hearing the word crime, Cleopas’ forehead creases. “What crime, brother? Explain. We have done nothing wrong.”
Jonathan looks around not wanting to share his thoughts with anyone else. “The women who went to the tomb saw it empty. Agreed?”
Cleopas jumps in quickly with, “You cannot believe this is true? It is but a reaction from distraught women.” “I’m not so sure,” Jonathan adds thoughtfully, leaning back against
It’s still fresh in his mind, festering like an open wound. The pain in his soul throbs when his memory drifts to what he witnessed. Over two hundred Roman soldiers and Temple police, torches blazing, marched through the dark and deserted streets. I would normally give them a wide berth and leave by another route.
Then I saw him. The man at the head of the military column was someone I knew, Judas Iscariot. I never liked Judas. There are people you can just look at and know something about them is not right. He is one of those, and leading a maniple of soldiers. Something dreadful was going to happen to Jesus. I just knew it.
Where was Jesus? Could he still be in the upper room with his apostles, eating the Passover? I felt jealous then; I feel jealous now. I wanted to be at that dinner. I knew well the house where they ate. Its owner is one of my closest friends. Arriving there, I hammered the door, shouting for entry. My friend opened the door with sleep still hanging on his face I already had my answer. Jesus was not there.
“Jonathan? What do you want this late?” My friend had asked.
“Is Jesus still here?” Yet, I knew the answer before I asked the
They have not considered the possibility, but realize the consequences.
“What I believe is most important is we, his followers, must survive; if only to spread his words, his teachings and tell people about his life and, yes, even his death. How we will tell the world, I do not know. All we have left is our memories. No matter what else, we must survive.
“All of us here are followers of Jesus and many people know it. Presently, we are safe here in this upper room, but not for long. Our need to leave this room from time to time exposes us to discovery. Our very presence in these numbers betrays us. Eventually, the Romans will arrest us. The Temple authorities will bring us before Pilate.”
Jonathan pauses. “Cleopas and I have a plan. We are searching for a new meeting place away from Jerusalem. Where we are going you shall not know now, for if the Temple authorities come, you will not be able to say where our new meeting place is located. With God’s blessings, we will return three days hence. When Peter returns, tell him of our intentions. All should remain hidden here. Keep silent and stay in the shadows. Pray to the Lord for our safety and success on this