La Mort et ses Merveilles ✔

11. Forgive Me Father, For I Have Sinned

La Mort et ses Merveilles

Chapter 11: Forgive Me Father, For I Have Sinned

Jason Rosendale did not do anything with Leslie Carpenter that night. Nope. Nothing at all. And that was final.

I repeated that in my head as I stood in the chapel, hands clasped as Mother Agnes led the prayers. I wasn't particularly religious, but if praying could absolve me from the guilt of what I did the previous night, then I'll get down on my knees and take my vows and devote my entire life to prayer. I even took a shower and gave myself a good scrub, whatever it took to get these sticky, disgusting feeling off me.

Leslie had gotten up early, but I didn't see him anywhere in the chapel. Good. Who knew where he went. Who cares? I don't. I certainly don't.

I bumped into the young man in the dining hall for breakfast. I was in the queue right in front of him, try as I could to ignore him, I couldn't help but notice him in the corner of my eye. He wasn't in his blue trunks anymore, obviously, his body all covered up by a plaid shirt and jeans. He didn't try to talk to me, and I did the same. The situation was already awkward enough for us. I handed my plate over to the sister behind the counter for breakfast.

It didn't help that breakfast for that day was scrambled eggs and sausages. It made me want to gag.

Spotting Josephine and my little sister at their usual table, I made a beeline for them, quickly turning my back to Leslie.

"Fancy seeing you at mass this morning," Josephine remarked as I plopped myself down on the seat in front of her.

"Yeah, just thought I needed to uh," I muttered, grabbing my fork. "Ask for forgiveness. For uh, my sins. That's what people do in church right?"

I trailed off with an awkward chuckle. The nun only raised an eyebrow as she sipped on her coffee. Placing it down on the table, she looked to our right, to the other end of the dining hall. Instinctively, I turned to look at well.

Leslie was seated alone at our usual table. He toyed around with his fork, picking away at his food. He didn't seem to have an appetite. Just like me. I guess he must've felt pretty awkward about yesterday too.

No, no, what was I talking about? I shook that idea out of my head. Nothing happened yesterday. Nothing.

"Why aren't you sitting with him?" Josephine asked as she cut a bit of sausage and picked it up with her fork.

"Wh-What?" I stuttered under my breath, the sound of her voice bringing me back to the real world, back to the world where Leslie did, in fact, play around with my privates the night before.

Josephine only rolled her eyes as she stuffed the piece of sausage in her mouth. I had to look away.

"Aren't you usually with Leslie when it comes to meals?" Josephine asked me, obviously pressing me for answers.

"I-I" I stuttered, my eyelids fluttering in embarrassment. "I don't know who that is. Leslie who?"

The young woman snickered as she shook her head. She and my sister shared a knowing look.

"Boys," she said in a soft whisper, but it was still loud enough for me to hear.

The two of them shared a giggle. Sure, it was at my expense, but I still couldn't help but smile to myself. Josephine and my sister were truly inseparable. She was the mother my sister never had.

As I nibbled on the eggs in tiny bites, I thought about my mother. I've never met her in ten years, not ever since she left. Not even a call or a message. She just disappeared. I wonder what she was up to now? Was she dead? Who knew, and I may never even find out.