It’s a church, right? So a good place.
Every Sunday I hunch in the front pew, staring up at his face.
He knows who I am.
I know what he is.
Every now and then I’ll take confession, which is to say I enter the confessional and say nothing while he breathes heavily, his sour sweat permeating the grille.
One day I will speak. I’ll talk about my brother; his shame, the drugs… the needles… the squat.
And this man knows I will.
So he sweats and waits.
Waits for exposure.
It’s a good place this church. Right?
Wrong.
I was pleased that the muse, absent for a few weeks, decided to play a fleeting visit this week. Thanks to Rochelle for her leadership of our happy band of international writers at Friday Fictioneers. Click on the frog to read others similarly fortunate.
castelsarrasin 
A great sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop
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Thanks for reading, Neil.
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Superb narration!
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Many thanks Reena.
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A sad tale of evil deeds, but so well told
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Thank you Michael. Loved your story this week.
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Dear Sandra,
A nice game of cat and mouse she has going on. It sounds like the rat needs to be exposed. Exquisite writing as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Many thanks Rochelle. She can wait. He will have to.
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He knows her!
Maybe he is her brother?
Or maybe he lead her brother to the drugs…?
In any case, he is in panic-mode.
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Thanks Anita.
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Love this…. I imagined something really bad happening in the confessional. One would hope not, though. Great story.
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Thanks for reading.
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The church is a safe place, if you happen to be a predator. I loved the suspense.
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About as safe as a predator can get, I guess. Thanks for reading.
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As always the twist…your writing brings us to the dark side so subtly!
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Thanks for reading Ain.
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You build a forboding atmosphere so well here. It’s a sad thing that such darkness resides in a place that is supposed to offer sanctuary 😦
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Thanks for reading Lisa.
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You’re very welcome, Sandra.
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He deserves to sweat, and wait, and be afraid. It’s what he earned.
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Yep. Longer the better.
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He should squirm anticipating his fate! Well done!
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Thanks for reading, Susan.
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So well done. The church is so NOT a safe place for many…
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Sadly so, Dale. Thanks for reading, and for the photo.
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It angers me so that a place of worship is not also a sanctuary. My late husband once asked for help at a church. They took one look at him and said “there is not hope for you” and shut the door. Every time we would drive past it, he would point it out and say: That’s where they refused to help me. That door closed but he found another and turned his own life around.
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I can so identify with that. As a child I was closely involved in the church and its associated activities, sunday school, youth club, pantomime etc. I can honestly say I learned more about unchristianlike behaviour during those formative years than I ever did later in life. Or, I sometimes wonder, was it just that I had a higher expectation? Anyway, that was me done with organised religion. Keep smiling. x
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I believe it. And yes, I think we have a higher expectation (which, shouldn’t we?)
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Wow. He should sweat. It’s only a matter before his deeds are exposed. What he has done in secret will come to light. And, sadly, the church isn’t a safe place for many. What’s sad is that these perpetrators are charged and sentenced as criminals. They are transferred to other churches where they do the same thing.
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Yes, the concept of forgiveness can be stretched too far, sometimes.
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Sorry, I meant to say, “it’s only a matter of time…” and “these perpetrators are NOT charged…” I really ought to have proof-read my comment before posting it.
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No worries.
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Sandra,
Cornered like a rat and sweating like a pig! I don’t think I could wait so long before turning him in no matter how sweet the torture of revenge for fear of others he might abuse in the meantime. This reminds me of the U.S. Olympics doctor, Dr. Larry Nassar, who abused hundreds of young gymnasts while the FBI looked the other way, and only recently brought to justice.
pax,
dora
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Yes, I remember that story. Thanks for reading and commenting Dora.
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What a grim tale, and yet it’s happened far more often than we would like to think. In your story there seems almost to be a conspiracy between predator and victim. Very mixed emotions there.
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Thanks for reading Penny. You’re right, it’s depressingly familiar.
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That line “I’ll take confession” is superb. A subtle but unquestionable cue to look further. Grizzly, but excellent.
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Yes, it can work both ways, this ritual. Thanks for reading, Jen.
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could he be her brother? i wonder.
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Thanks for reading.
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So evocative of secrets kept, secrets exposed . . . “the truth is out there.” Hopefully no misdeed goes unpunished — if not in this life, then in the next.
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One would hope so. Thanks for reading.
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The idea of confession I always found creepy. Enjoyed the story vibe.
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The longer she holds back the more he’ll suffer, deservedly so.
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This is so well told, it makes my stomach churn. If only all the victims had someone who makes the abusers sweat and speaks up.
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Loved the swing at the end.. Good place? Wrong? You tell tale all 🙂
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Captivating characterisation, although a sad subject – well told.
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It’s a waiting game. At the beginning I thought the priest had the power, but by the end I think it’s her.
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He needs to sweat, the longer the better. It is horribly sad when a supposed place of safety turns out to be rotten and dangerous. It happens all too often. Superb storytelling as always, Sandra. I hope you are well!
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The description of the confessional box is visceral and claustrophobic – you convey so much about the corruption of the church, through the priest’s sour sweat. Spellbinding story telling Sandra.
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Powerful story, Sandra. Thank you for sharing.
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The devastating truth of so many. Thank you for putting it so well into words.
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