AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘The first of many, I hope.’
‘Maybe.’
‘So, how can I help you?’
‘I’m really struggling with something at the moment, and I don’t know what to do. I’ve never known who my father is. Last week, my mum finally told me the truth. The problem is, he’s in prison for committing a murder. He’s always denied doing it, but the evidence against him is… well, all signs point to him being guilty. He’s due to be released next month, and I’m not sure what to do about it or how to feel.’
‘Wow, that’s quite a story,’ he said, with a smile. He wouldn’t be bad looking if he straightened his teeth, maybe had a decent haircut and put on a few pounds. He thought for a moment. ‘You don’t have to tell me, but I’m guessing you’re talking about Dominic Griffiths.’
I laughed. ‘Everybody seems to know about him but me.’
‘You’re his daughter?’
‘I am.’
‘And you want to know how to forgive him?’
‘I don’t even know if I want to do that. Sorry, I’m feeling very conflicted right now.’
‘That’s perfectly understandable. Murder is wrong. We all know that. The law is very clear on that. Even the Bible is clear on that.’ He smiled again. ‘You said Dominic has always maintained his innocence – is he still sticking to that story?’
‘I believe so. I haven’t seen him yet. I’m not sure if I want to.’
He nodded as he thought. ‘Luke 17, verses three to four, says: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying ‘I repent’, you must forgive him.”’
‘But he hasn’t repented,’ I said. ‘If he was sorry for what he’d done, I might be able to forgive him.’
‘Could you? Truthfully?’ he asked, looking deep into my eyes.
I thought for a moment. ‘I’m not sure, actually. My mum can’t forgive him. Stephanie’s parents can’t forgive him. His own father can’t forgive him. Why should I?’
‘They can’t forgive him because he hasn’t admitted his crime. Pleading guilty, owning up to our actions, is the first step to repenting. Because he hasn’t, everyone connected has been suffering in a limbo state, waiting either for him to finally admit his guilt or for the real killer to come forward.’
‘Some cases never get solved, though. What if the real killer is out there, and we never know it and wrongly believe Dominic is the killer?’
‘You will be forgiven in God’s eyes, as you’re taking the only evidence you’ve been given,’ he said, with a smile.
‘But Dominic has said he’s innocent, and we’ve ignored him.’
‘Numbers 35:30 says: “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” You, yourself, will be forgiven for not believing in him.’
‘You really know your Bible, don’t you?’ I said, with a chuckle.
‘It’s my job to know it.’ He smiled. ‘I understand you want a father whom you can love and develop a relationship with, but it’s not easy to love someone who has committed a mortal sin, especially if he doesn’t repent.’
‘So, there is nothing against me turning my back on him?’
‘Nobody will judge you for doing so.’
‘I’ll judge me.’ I could feel myself tearing up.
‘You’re being too hard on yourself.’
‘Can I ask you a non-religious question?’
‘You’re going to ask me what I would do if I were you, aren’t you?’
‘Wow, you really are good.’ He might not be Hot Priest, but he was very personable. I liked him.
