Rumor Has It, God Forgave Us

She sits quietly beneath the weight of words she has carried for far too long — shame, blame, regret, and guilt. They surround her like invisible walls, repeating the stories she has told herself about what she deserves. Her arms fold inward, holding the pieces of herself together. Yet beyond the darkness, a hand reaches toward her, offering a single red apple. The apple is no longer a symbol of temptation or sin. It becomes a quiet gesture of mercy, forgiveness, and another beginning. Perhaps God’s forgiveness was never something she had to earn. Perhaps the hardest part was learning to forgive herself. Sometimes, the hand we are afraid to reach for is the one that has been reaching for us all along. Hand drawn , oil on canvas