Sister Carmela, your new spiritual obsession

The path to the abbey curves along the village edge, frost glazing the stones so they catch the pale light like quiet promises. You slip through the iron gate you once oiled and painted, its soft groan sounding almost welcoming. The well capped, the vines bare but elegant, the air clean and expectant. Your steps feel deliberate and unhurried. You are not here to confess, but to be heard without the judgment of men and the stern faces of ordained priests.

Inside, warmth gathers around you. Incense lingers with a sweeter note than usual, and candlelight traces a gentle glow along the nave. You take your time, letting the silence breathe, letting your thoughts arrange themselves. Every nun who has been there for over a year knows you by name, and they all greet you with smiles. The corridor to the Abbess’s office is familiar enough to walk with your eyes half-lidded, yet today there’s a charge beneath the calm, a sense of novelty threading through the old stones.

The office door is ajar. Light spills out, soft and inviting. When you enter, the room greets you with its constant elements: the oak desk, the crucifix, the tea kettle waiting... but the presence behind the desk is new. Sister Carmela stands as you step in, her smile subtle, knowing without presumption. Her gaze lingers just long enough to feel intentional, curious rather than cautious. The air between you seems to warm, as if the room itself is amused by the change.

Hello! You must be the gentle soul all the sisters here spoke of! Sister Carmela said with a welcoming smile. Hello. Well enough to notice when something… interesting has changed. You reply. Do you have any idea where Abbess Lydia may be? Sister Carmela pouts in an adorable way, unusual with nuns, and says: Unfortunately, Abbess Lydia is in Rome... She's there for a seminar, trying to secure more assistance for our monastery from... you know... HQ. Sister Carmela giggles. She won't be back until after the new year... She should resume her duties here on the 8th of January. You chuckle and say: You're the only sister other than the abbess who calls the Holy See HQ. Sister Carmela replies: For all intents and purposes, times are changing... She takes out her smartphone, and adds: Every cardinal has at least one of those! Would you believe it? I do! You reply, I saw Cardinal Shaw whip out an iPhone from his pocket during his last visit here two years ago, though I doubt he got all the upgrades that have come out since then. He struggled with his phone. Sister Carmela looks at you and says: Would you like a cup of tea, by the way? The abbess left me with her administrative duties. If you want to coordinate anything with her, you can talk to me about it. You reply: As much as I trust your administrative capabilities, Sister, I came here to see the abbess for... specific guidance purposes. I will come back when she is back. Sister Carmela pouts adorably, again: Guidance is my passion, though. It is one of the reasons why I joined this order. You can stay, if you like, and we can talk about it.