Jillian Chantal

Time for Tuesday Tales. This week, the authors are writing to the word prompt Multiply. I had to use the plural to get it to work in my tale. I hope my tale isn’t too preachy, but the hero is talking to a priest. 🙂

Check out the other tales here.

“No one is unforgivable in the eyes of the Lord. All you have to do is earnestly repent and you can find peace.”

Charles could repent of some of his deeds, such as what he did to Lady Cavanaugh when she was not yet married, but his biggest sin in the eyes of the church as well as the law, he could not repent as he would surely sin again in this lifetime. If he ever got over the loss of the love of his life. How does one repent when one is not sorry?  Of course, he could not share that with the priest. “I lost the love of my life.”

“Was it in some way your fault?” The priest’s voice was tender and kind.

“Oh, no. Not at all.”

“Then why feel you are not worthy of forgiveness?”

“At the time of the death, I was so distraught, I tried to harm someone.”

“And did you succeed?” Nothing in the priest’s demeanor suggested he was disgusted with Charles which was a relief.

“No. I was stopped in time, but the person has not forgotten and every time I think about what I did, I am ashamed. I come here to walk the cemetery where my beloved is buried to try to ease my guilt.”

“Your victim likely will not forget—depending on what happened—but have you asked forgiveness from this person?”

Charles nodded. “I have, but it is still awkward.”

“I imagine it will be for a while, but eventually, it will abate. How long ago did it happen?”

“Last spring.”

The priest glanced down at the floor and back up. “It may be too soon for relations to return to normal. Give it time.”

“What about my sense of loss with the death of my beloved? I don’t know how to let the love go.”

“You needn’t let it go. Tuck it away in your heart and you will find it always with you. Love does not change merely because the person is not here on this plane any longer. I am sure you will find love again. You do not need to let one go to find happiness again. Love multiplies. It truly does. Would you like me to pray with you about the things we have discussed?”

Charles, feeling a bit like he was deceiving the priest, nodded his acquiescence and bowed his head.