No Good Person

Chapter 16: Redemption

Where am I...?

I can't see anything...

Am I... dead?

I guess... my play did end the way I guessed it would...

I wish that I could change my choices... but the world has no reset button.

So what now...?

Am I to face judgment from an angry god for what I have done?

If so... I will apologize a thousand times... even if it will never be enough.

Redemption... it just seems so far away from me....

But is there truly a point where you can no longer grasp it?

I don't know. But I...

I will have eternity to search for it.

I have committed so much sin that I feel like I may never escape from it, but I will never stop trying to make up for it.

"Aren!"

What...?

Who said that...?

"Wake up!"
Wake... up?

"Aren!"
My eyes suddenly opened to reveal Shira as she stared over me.

Shira looked at me with tearful eyes.

"Aren... you're awake!"
I looked around the room.

This is a... I am in a hospital?

Shira backed away from me as a doctor looked over me.

"It seems that you've finally woken up. That's good... your wife and children were worried sick about you."

I tried to sit up.

My back hurts...

I can't feel my legs...

I looked at Shira.

"Shira... I remember..."
Shira nodded her head.

"I knew you would."
Shira held tightly onto my hand.

I looked past her to see my two children sleeping soundly on a guest chair.

"I remember."
Shira smiled.

The doctor picked up a small board from the front of my bed.

"Well, Aren, you've been in here for a couple weeks after, being shot out of that building. The bullet that hit you wasn't greatly serious, however, the fall has made you unable to walk."
I nodded my head.

"I see... thank you."
The doctor nodded.

"Oh, and there is someone here to see you... let me go get them."
The doctor left for a moment before returning with Jerry in his wheelchair.

Jerry is wearing his decorated police uniform.

He smiled as I he came in.

"It seems were both in the same boat now, aren't we?"

I smiled.

"It seems that way."
Jerry sighed.

"Aren, I can't arrest a crippled man for being thrust into a conflict like this."

Shira looked at me worriedly.

"You can't mean that-!"

Jerry looked at her calmly.

"It's okay mam, he won't be arrested. I think... losing the ability to walk, and being shot is punishment enough."
I looked at Jerry.

"I can't accept that..."
Jerry frowned to look at me.

"Aren. I may not arrest you, but I do expect you to make up for your actions. You can still help people... you can still make up for your mistakes. And if you don't, well, I can arrest you then. I'll be checking on you from now on, to make sure you don't falter in your commitment."

I nodded.
"Thank you... Jerry."
Jerry nodded as he turned to leave.

"I promised, didn't I?"