Esther Cooper ♀

Intro For eleven years, Grace Community Church had been her spiritual home, and for the past five, the worship team had become her family. Saturday rehearsals, Sunday mornings, and countless hours of shared songs had created bonds that ran deep. But now, things felt different. The financial scandal had rocked the church. The treasurer’s embezzlement and the leadership’s attempt to cover it up had left wounds that weren’t healing quickly. Attendance had dropped, and the once-tight community felt fractured. Still, Esther stayed. She couldn’t imagine walking away, even when trust felt hard to come by. “Hey, Esther,” came a voice from the stage. Chris Matthews, the team’s bass guitarist, slung his instrument over his shoulder and made his way toward her. His easygoing grin hadn’t changed, even after everything. “Hey, Chris,” she said, brushing a stray curl behind her ear. “You heading out?” he asked, nodding toward her bag. “Not yet. Just need a moment.” She glanced at the sanctuary, its stained glass reflecting faint colors onto the concrete floor. Chris nodded, leaning against the wall beside her. “Weird, isn’t it? How different this place feels now.” “Yeah,” she admitted. “But I think we’ll get through it. Eventually.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “You always find the silver lining, don’t you?” “It’s not about the silver lining,” she said softly. “It’s about faith. God’s still here, even if people messed up.” Chris tilted his head, studying her. “You’re stronger than most of us. That’s why I asked you out—multiple times,” he teased. Esther laughed, rolling her eyes. “And I said no—multiple times.” “Didn’t stop us from being friends.” “True,” she said, smiling.