RE: Forgive Me
04-24-2016, 03:19 PM
"Cheryl, dear! It's another of your friends. She's come to see how Vince is doing."
I get up, wondering who is at the door. Surely it cannot be Francine this soon, but I have not yet told anyone else about Vince. Deep in thought, I move over to the door.
The figure that stands in the hallway is very familiar. For a moment, my mind is a blank slate, until I realize who it is and how much she has changed since I last saw her.
"Cheryl. Sorry for barging in uninvited."
Francine is dressed in a long overcoat, a hat and a scarf. Her hair is long and uncombed, and her glasses seem damaged. It's not her style, but it is also not what kept me from recognizing her. That award goes to her face. Her eyes seem stern and cold, and she has sunken cheeks. Her mouth is a thin line.
"Francine? I barely recognized you!"
Her expression softens.
"I can't blame you. I hardly recognize myself either."
I step forward, pulling her against me and letting my head sink on her shoulder. It's been months since I last saw her. We stand like that for just a moment before Francine lets go.
"I'm glad you're here."
"I am happy to see you too. I didn't come only to see Vince."
"Vince is still unconscious. I think it's just sleep, though."
"He'll be just fine. He'll wake up again in the morning. Anyway..."
Francine looks at my mother. I can't tell what she's thinking, but her expression has changed once again. She seems more serious, yet her voice remains light-hearted.
"We have so much to talk about, and I don't want to wake him up. Should we go to the back yard? The stars are bright tonight!"
I nod and grab my jacket. It's not very cold yet, but the days have been getting shorter. Together, we step outside. Francine stands beside me, looking up at the sky.
She speaks. I listen. The tone of her voice is very deep. I don't think I've ever heard her speak like this before.
"Cheryl, I'm about to tell you something important. You must hear me out."
"Today, Vince's father was murdered. Vince turning up on your doorstep? Odd, but whatever. This? I don't even know what's going on any more."
"Shit. What? He was killed?"
"I'm afraid so."
Francine pulls a shimmering brass object from her pockets. I look at her, then back at the device and at her again. She nods solemnly.
"The very same."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I mean, I think it's a time machine, but I'm not exactly sure what it does or how it works, because it's not straightforward in any sense of the word. Just thinking of the implications of what this thing can do is making my brain hurt and...- what was I talking about?"
"What it does?"
"Right. It alters past events, or something. It changes stuff. I don't know more about it."
"Well, shit."
The device in Francine's hand makes a soft clicking sound. She looks at it with a worried expression on her face.
"It didn't do this before. Hold on, I may need to-"
There's a flash of light. Francine is gone. With a quiet thud, the device she held in her hand hits the ground.
After what seems like an hour, I reach forward to pick it up. Nothing but the breeze remains. What in heaven's name just transpired here?
I get up, wondering who is at the door. Surely it cannot be Francine this soon, but I have not yet told anyone else about Vince. Deep in thought, I move over to the door.
The figure that stands in the hallway is very familiar. For a moment, my mind is a blank slate, until I realize who it is and how much she has changed since I last saw her.
"Cheryl. Sorry for barging in uninvited."
Francine is dressed in a long overcoat, a hat and a scarf. Her hair is long and uncombed, and her glasses seem damaged. It's not her style, but it is also not what kept me from recognizing her. That award goes to her face. Her eyes seem stern and cold, and she has sunken cheeks. Her mouth is a thin line.
"Francine? I barely recognized you!"
Her expression softens.
"I can't blame you. I hardly recognize myself either."
I step forward, pulling her against me and letting my head sink on her shoulder. It's been months since I last saw her. We stand like that for just a moment before Francine lets go.
"I'm glad you're here."
"I am happy to see you too. I didn't come only to see Vince."
"Vince is still unconscious. I think it's just sleep, though."
"He'll be just fine. He'll wake up again in the morning. Anyway..."
Francine looks at my mother. I can't tell what she's thinking, but her expression has changed once again. She seems more serious, yet her voice remains light-hearted.
"We have so much to talk about, and I don't want to wake him up. Should we go to the back yard? The stars are bright tonight!"
I nod and grab my jacket. It's not very cold yet, but the days have been getting shorter. Together, we step outside. Francine stands beside me, looking up at the sky.
She speaks. I listen. The tone of her voice is very deep. I don't think I've ever heard her speak like this before.
"Cheryl, I'm about to tell you something important. You must hear me out."
"Today, Vince's father was murdered. Vince turning up on your doorstep? Odd, but whatever. This? I don't even know what's going on any more."
"Shit. What? He was killed?"
"I'm afraid so."
Francine pulls a shimmering brass object from her pockets. I look at her, then back at the device and at her again. She nods solemnly.
"The very same."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I mean, I think it's a time machine, but I'm not exactly sure what it does or how it works, because it's not straightforward in any sense of the word. Just thinking of the implications of what this thing can do is making my brain hurt and...- what was I talking about?"
"What it does?"
"Right. It alters past events, or something. It changes stuff. I don't know more about it."
"Well, shit."
The device in Francine's hand makes a soft clicking sound. She looks at it with a worried expression on her face.
"It didn't do this before. Hold on, I may need to-"
There's a flash of light. Francine is gone. With a quiet thud, the device she held in her hand hits the ground.
After what seems like an hour, I reach forward to pick it up. Nothing but the breeze remains. What in heaven's name just transpired here?