Information about Tilly (novella)

Tilly is a novella by Christian fiction author Frank E. Peretti. Originally written as a radio drama for Focus on the Family in 1986, Peretti published it was a book in 1988. Tilly was made into a short forty-minute film in 2002 by Love Life America. Its primary message most prominently regards abortion and guilt and post-abortion depression and is often used as a tool to help women see their need for forgiveness for their abortions.

Plot Summary

The story begins in April with the novella's main character, Kathy Ross, and her husband Dan attending a funeral for their old friend. While at the graveyard, Kathy sees a woman placing flowers on a grave. Curiously, Kathy goes to the woman, who looks at her in surprise and runs off. When Kathy views the gravestone she notices something unusual about it: there is only one name "Tilly" and one date, exactly nine years ago. Later, once at home, Kathy begins to feel deeply guilty about something. She asks Dan about her ability as a mother and he tells her that she had always been good to their three children. However, Kathy still feels ashamed of herself. That night, Kathy has the most strange dream. When she looks at her backyard she sees many children playing. When she asks them what they are doing they state that they live there. When she asks them their names they tell her they don't have any. When she asks about their parents, the children respond that they have none. Kathy then notices one girl, who says her name is Tilly, the same name found on the gravestone. Tilly takes Kathy to her favorite places in heaven and talks to her about Jesus. The two of them soon become good friends. Meanwhile, Dan investigates the tiny gravestone. He soon meets with the woman whom he and Kathy saw in the graveyard. Her name turns out to be Anita Mendoza, a former abortion clinic nurse. She tells Dan that she recognizes his wife from many years ago. Tilly, she tells him, was the late-term fetus that Kathy aborted. Tilly, however, had lived through the procedure but died moments later. Afterward, Anita insisted on burrying the mangled corpse. Kathy, still in her dream, continues talking with Tilly. She informs her that she, unlike the other children, does have a mother. Tilly informs Kathy that she forgives her for what she did. Once Kathy wakes up she no longer feels guilty about her past abortion. The story ends with her thinking about all the children who "have no mothers".

External Links

• Entry in FrankPeretti.com
• Tilly Love Life America
• Love Life America
• YouTube Tilly Trailers

•  • [ e] Works by Frank E. Peretti
Adult novels	This Present Darkness • Piercing the Darkness • Tilly • • Prophet • The Oath • The Visitation • Monster • House
The Veritas Project series (teen fiction):	Hangman's Curse • Nightmare Academy
The Cooper Kids Adventure series (youth fiction):	The Door in the Dragon's Throat • Escape from the Island of Aquarius • The Tombs of Anak • Trapped at the Bottom of the Sea • The Deadly Curse of Toco-rey • The Secret of the Desert Stone • The Legend of Annie Murphy • Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred Feet
Non-fiction:	The Wounded Spirit • No More Victims • No More Bullies
Video series:	The Wild and Wacky World of Mr. Henry
Films:	Hangman's Curse • The Visitation • House