Forgiveness

Imagine the shock on my face when Becky reached out to see that my parents wanted to speak with me. I was almost certain that it was a trap, except that I decided that I wanted it to be over and done with, so I took a chance and I went for this emergency sit-down in the home where I grew up. 

My parents looked way older than I expected them to be in just seven years. My mother shook uncontrollably as she stood in front of me, crying bitterly. I felt my heart break in pity of her because I knew all that she had to endure for staying married to my father. 

"Clara…" My father called out, and I looked away from him. Looking at him brought back some very painful and ugly memories. 

"I am so sorry," he said, and I could feel his belt landing on my face, my belly, my legs. "I was wrong for what I did to you." I relived his dragging my mother along for my hasty burial.