We’ve spent the past six weeks walking alongside Princess as she’s been uprooted from everything she’s ever known. We’ve met the people who went with her on this journey. Louis, her brother, who left behind his own plans to support her. Abe, who brought her into an uncertain future.
But today, I want you to meet the ones who stayed behind. Mickie and Uncle Nate.
Early Monday morning, as the sun rose over the reservation, Princess said goodbye to her sister. They’d be okay without her, but Princess was going to miss Mickie. She’d been Princess’s roommate her whole life. It would feel strange going to bed without her below in the bottom bunk. So many late-night talks came flooding back. Mickie had always been Princess’s confidante, mentor, and best friend, helping her through life’s ups and downs.
Now Mickie was married to Uncle Nate. She was pregnant, about four months along, her baby bump getting bigger every day. She was taking over Louis’s job at the casino when she wasn’t busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars. Nate wanted her to learn the business so she could take on more responsibilities once she graduated high school. He dreamed of turning the casino into a destination resort, complete with overnight accommodations and canoe rentals on the lake. He was sure Mickie would play a big role in making that happen.
Mickie had a future, a husband, and a baby on the way. Her career path was laid out before her. And Princess was leaving all of it behind.
After dinner that final Saturday night, they said their goodbyes. But this time, the goodbyes felt much more final than before. Princess didn’t know if she’d ever see Mickie or Nate again once she left. Mickie and Princess hugged, both of them wiping away tears. Princess said goodbye to her unborn niece or nephew, resting her hand on Mickie’s belly. She felt a tiny kick, and it only made the sadness deeper. She touched her own belly, wondering if she’d ever experience that same feeling.
As Mickie and Nate walked down the front porch steps to leave, Mickie looked back at Princess, tears still in her eyes. She waved a slow, sad goodbye, and Princess waved back, her heart heavy.
Goodbye does not always arrive with closure. You may never know whether you will see that person again. Staying can be an act of love, yet walking away can be one too, and each path brings its own kind of grief.
In Genesis, families scatter. Abram leaves his homeland, and those who stay behind fade from the story. We don’t hear much about the ones left in Haran, Nahor and Milcah who watched him go. But their grief was real. Their loss was real. And the weight of staying, of being the ones who kept the home fires burning while others journeyed into the unknown, that was real too.
Mickie and Nate stayed. They built their life on the reservation. They carried on the work of the tribe. And Princess left, not knowing if she’d ever come home again.
That’s the story of Barren. Displacement. Separation. The ache of leaving and the ache of being left behind. And through it all, the question of whether God sees us in our grief, whether we’re known and valued even when everything falls apart.
Let’s Talk
What does it mean to love someone when distance separates you? How do you hold onto connection when goodbye feels final?
Read Princess’s Full Story
If Princess’s journey has resonated with you, I’d love for you to read Barren. It’s a story of displacement, betrayal, and ultimately being seen by God when you feel invisible.
Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble
Barren is part of the Margins of Genesis series, contemporary fiction that reimagines forgotten biblical characters in modern American settings. Each book amplifies a marginalized voice from Genesis, exploring themes of faith, survival, and redemption.
Other books in the series:
Rejected: Helena’s story of trafficking, forced surrogacy, and wilderness survival.
Distressed (coming soon): Isaac’s journey through religious trauma and healing.
These aren’t easy stories. But they’re honest ones. And I believe they’re stories worth telling.
Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you. Which character’s story resonated with you most? What questions do you still have about Princess’s journey? Would your book club or youth group be interested in discussing Barren? I’d be happy to provide discussion guides and even join your conversation.
Thank you for walking this journey with me over the past six weeks. It’s been an honor to share Princess’s story with you.
Until next time,
Elizabeth
P.S. If you know someone who’d appreciate these stories, please forward this email or share Barren with them. These are stories for anyone who’s ever felt displaced, unseen, or left behind. Stories that remind us God sees us, even in the margins.
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