<Neighborhood bar. A man (Wolf)
sits at a tall round table. He has a folder in front of him and a glass of
clear colourless liquid in front of him. He is staring at the phone in his
hand. A beautiful blue eyed blonde woman (Rose) about 5ft 8” tall and slims
strides over to his table.>
Rose:
“Rebecca Rose. I understand you have been asking about me?”
<Stares hard at the mark on his forearm as he rises
and extends his hand>
Wolf:
<Seeing her eyes widen as she sees the mark on his
forearm> “Perhaps you recognize me, then?”
Rose:
<Calm, cool,
collected, she keeps her hand by her side>
“Yes, and I cannot see why you think I might want to talk to
you.”
Wolf:
“And yet, here you
are. You see young Rebecca Rose, it is because I believe you to be a good and
kind and forgiving person. And in the past 20 years I have had a lot of time to
think about the pain I inflicted on you and your family, I have had a lot of time
to be deeply ashamed of what I did, and I have spent a lot of time trying to
figure out how to demonstrate that regret and beg for your forgiveness. Won’t
you sit down?”
Rebecca:
<Rebecca stares, bewildered. This is so far from
anything she had ever dreamed or imagined>
Wolf:
“Please hear me out.”
<Rebecca reluctantly sits on the bar stool across from
him. >
Wolf:
“That fateful day I met you in the woods, Rebecca, please may I call you Rebecca? I was in a very
bad place.”
Rebecca:
<frostily> “Indeed”
Wolf:
“Yes. I had gotten in with a bad crowd, and I was doing some
seriously nasty things alcohol, drugs… One day when I went to the apartment we
rented, I found my stuff packed in a suitcase outside the door with a note. My
girlfriend had taken my little girl and gone home to her parents. She did not
want my shadow to darken their lives anymore. I moved into a homeless shelter; I couldn’t
afford my own place. II missed them both, but especially my little girl. I
swore I’d clean up my act, and we’d all be a family again. I attended a couple
of AA meetings; I tried to get clean. But it was difficult. I had serious
withdrawal symptoms, and a relapse every now and then.
That day in the woods, I saw you and once again I yearned
for my little Rosa. And when you talked about your grandmother’s cottage –
something inside me snapped. If I was your grandmother, I could sleep in a nice
soft bed in a warm cozy cottage. And my little Rosa would come visit me. She
would bring me food …. ”
Rose:
“What……?”
Wolf:
“I know it sounds crazy. I was crazy with the drugs and the
withdrawals. Honestly, it must have been your kindness and wholesomeness that
stopped me from just running away with the food basket you were carrying for
your grandma. All I wanted was her home, her bed and the love of a family.”
<A tear rolls down his face, which he hastily dabs with his handkerchief>
Rose:
“But you killed an innocent, weak old lady…….”
Wolf:
“And I will regret that till the day I die. I will regret
the pain I caused you and your family. I regret the fear I created in your
community. I know it is too much for you to absorb and take in. But perhaps,
you will think about it? Perhaps you will consider forgiving me, and helping me
make amends? I know I can never right all the wrongs I’ve done. But I want to
do whatever I can. I won’t be up for parole for another six months. Maybe you
will correspond with me? Come see me in prison? Talk to my supervisor and
pastor? Help me in my journey of atonement.
It would mean a lot to me.” <Hands her a slip of paper>
Rose:
<Numbly, she takes it and stares at it>
Wolf:
<He rises and bows> “Thank you Rebecca Rose for your
kindness. I shall now look forward to tomorrow, knowing that there is hope for
me after all.
<Door closes behind him>
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