Long Ago

Many moons ago, tucked away in the weathered streets of Project Ville, a neighborhood nestled within the vibrant Southeast district of Washington, D.C., dwelled a spirited young girl named Natalia. With her heart brimming with dreams of aspirations, she sought solace in the pages of her journal, where she poured her soul into crafting enchanting tales day after day, keeping her secret passion hidden from the world. Natalia longed for an escape from the clutches of Project Ville, yearning for her own fairy tale ending, where Prince Charming would whisk her away from the shackles of the Public Housing Projects, commonly known as "The Projects." 

Within Project Ville, two opposing forces battled for control - good and evil. The streets were filled with evildoers peddling their cannabis elixirs, while the religious zealots prepared for a church revival to banish the darkness and bring new believers to Christ Jesus.

Despite her desire to attend the revival, Natalia feared the ridicule she would face from the people of Project Ville, who mocked those enthusiastic about the church. She worried that she would become the subject of their laughter.

From her bedroom window, Natalia watched as the flock of churchgoers departed for the revival. To her astonishment, her Aunt Evelyn arrived in a grey Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, speeding towards her house.

Aunt Evelyn, who knew Natalia's deepest desires and secrets, was her magical fairy godmother, unbeknownst to the rest of her family.

Jumping out of the vehicle, Aunt Evelyn carried a large shopping bag from the prestigious Lord & Taylor department store. Inside were all the items Natalia needed for the church revival - a black linen dress, a shawl, a hat, patent leather pumps, and a matching clutch purse.

Curious Natalia asked, "How did you know I wanted to attend the revival?"

Aunt Evelyn replied, "An angel whispered in my ear, telling me that you should go and be Saved! When Jesus touches your life, you will find a new spirit that connects you back to God. You will never be sad again, live a prospers and comfortable life, and escape from Project Ville."

Excitedly, Natalia dressed in her new attire, carefully placing her homemade business cards, lipstick, compact mirror, and cell phone in the clutch purse. Aunt Evelyn handed her the keys to the VW Tiguan SUV, instructing her to return the car by midnight as she had to drive back to New York City.

At the church, Natalia was overwhelmed by the energy and devotion of the people praising God and his Son Christ Jesus. A sense of happiness filled her troubled soul, and tears streamed down her face. It was her spirit rejoicing, craving the songs of praise to its creator, God. Natalia approached the pastor and requested to be baptized in Christ Jesus' name.

As she emerged from the water, Natalia felt a profound change within her spirit. The Holy Spirit filled her, reconnecting her to God's will and freeing her from her fleshly desires. It felt as though her old self had died in that baptism pool.

Eager to share her newfound salvation, Natalia couldn't wait to tell Aunt Evelyn.

At the church, a delightful dinner was served later in the evening. Natalia found herself seated beside a gentleman who had an unwavering passion for sharing his transformative experience of embracing Christ Jesus and how it had positively impacted his life. He eagerly recounted his journey, highlighting his remarkable achievement of securing a new job as a publishing agent and editor. Engrossed in conversation, Natalia couldn't contain her excitement and decided to unveil her well-guarded secret - a novel she had been diligently crafting in her journal, inspired by her experiences in Project Ville.

However, as the church clock struck at 11:45 p.m., she bid farewell to her new Christian friends and the young man she was chatting with. He walked her to the car, and in a blink of an eye, she disappeared into the night.

In her haste, Natalia dropped one of her homemade business cards on the church steps. The young man discovered it and decided to visit her home the next morning, eager to read the manuscript of her novel.

At the stroke of midnight, Natalia's timely arrival allowed her to return the car to Aunt Evelyn. Filled with immense excitement, she eagerly shared with her beloved aunt that she had recently been baptized and had become a devoted follower of Christ Jesus. Aunt Evelyn, overwhelmed with joy, exclaimed, "Praise God, my purpose is fulfilled. I adore you, my dear. Now, go forth and help deliver others from the grips of sin and its consequences." Natalia, determined and inspired, responded, "Absolutely, I will spread the message of hope through Project Ville." With a heartfelt embrace, Aunt Evelyn bid Natalia farewell and vanished into the mysterious night.

The following day, Natalia woke up filled with hope and sang a gospel hymn, believing that one day she would escape Project Ville. To her surprise, there was a knock on her door - it was the man from church, introducing himself as Ulysses Smith. He requested to read her manuscript, and after doing so, he deemed it a masterpiece that could be published as a series of books.

Ulysses offered Natalia a publishing contract, and her books were immediately published under the pseudonym N. A. Jones. The series titled "Project Ville" gained worldwide attention, selling one million copies in the United States within 72 hours and winning numerous awards.

With her newfound success, Natalia became a millionaire. Ulysses, who managed and promoted her books, also found financial stability. Together, they became a power couple in the literary world, with Ulysses recognized as a leading expert in book publishing.

After a year of working together, Ulysses proposed to Natalia, and she happily accepted. Ulysess became Natalia's Prince Charming, and they lived a blissful life in the affluent neighborhood of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., far away from Project Ville.

But Natalia's journey didn't end there. She returned to Project Ville as an evangelist, determined to save as many souls as possible from the evil that once plagued the community. With her influence, the evildoers were transformed, and Project Ville became a place led by Christians, filled with hope and redemption.

The End. 

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(Copyright Dana Esposito. All rights reserved.)