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Or did she?

When they reached the school, Lisa ventured off with her friends while Car heavily They danced a bit, but by the time his flask was empty, he was drunk and ready to leave Lisa sht to her house Her parents were out of town for the weekend, and Lisa hit up the liquor cabinet, handing him a bottle of Southern Comfort

She took him to her bedroom, where he drank even more

She kissed his neck and snatched the bottle away before pushing him down on the bed He lay there and let her strip hi on the bed, she hovered over hi his head, he muttered, "I’m not that drunk"

Her touch was uncoentle Nothing felt right about it, her body wrong Squeezing his eyes shut, feeling hi, Carmine wished he could enjoy it He’d couaranteed lay He didn’t recognize hi hihter erupted fro with you, Carrabbed his clothes "Nutty like a fucking fruitcake"

She stared with disbelief "Wait, you’re leaving? Why?"

"I don’t love you," he said as he headed for the door "I’onna love you, Lisa"

Saint Mary’s Catholic Church looked like a o, with its pointy towers and strong tan bricks The grass surrounding it ithered, the sidewalk cracked, but the church was still iolden walls accented the wooden décor, the ivory h the stained glass s When Vincent was young, he felt like he had stepped inside a treasure chest Every Sunday, without fail, Saint Mary’s ed

Today, however, as he strolled through the vacant pews, he felt like an outcast in the place of worship The sound of his footsteps bounced off the walls, alerting the priest to his arrival He headed straight to the confessional and sat down as Father Alberto took a seat on the other side

Vincent pushed the screen out of the way, knowing it was senseless to shield himself from the priest He would knoas him--he always did "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned It’s been three months since n of the cross before he spoke, his Sicilian accent still present even though he had lived in America for decades "What sins have you committed, my child?"

Since his last confession, Vincent had lied, stolen, and been an accessory to hed heavily on his irl"

"Did you intend to cause the girl harm?"

He hesitated "Yes"

"Are you remorseful?"

Another pause "Yes"

"Have you told her of your regret?"

He ran his hands down his face in frustration "No"

Father Alberto was quiet for a moment "Was it her?"

Vincent needn’t answer They both kneasand they both kneasn’t the first ti was the worst it’s been in years I wanted someone else to hurt for once I wanted soet it out of me before I exploded I needed to feel better"

"And did you?"

"No," he said "I’ry, Father--but on top of it, now I’ this way, but I don’t kno to o away"

"Ah, but I think you do," Father Alberto said "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned Release, and ye shall be released"

"Luke 6:37" Vincent recognized the Scripture "But what if I can’t stop? What if I can’t let go? What if I can’t forgive?"

"But if ye forgive not ive your trespasses"

"Matthew 6:15"

Father Alberto smiled "Your hate is poison, Vincenzo It eats you froo Then, and only then, will you be forgiven"

11

Haven stared at the alarht Her broken hours of sluht her eyes terrified her She desperately wanted so silence