I can only absolve you for what you tell me,” he quipped from behind the fabric screen, his voice detached and uninterested. “I’ve lied,” I began, unsure of the lies being confessed, but I continued, certain that there must have been something. “I made up an excuse for homework,” I guessed, still not positive if the confession was for something remembered or imagined, “but really, I’m just lazy, I think,” I added onto the end, hoping the half-baked self-awareness would constitute contrition for the unspoken sins. “Well, since you said that the last time we spoke, I can only assume you’ve failed to complete your penance,” the invisible judgmental voice said from behind the division. “Or, as we’ve discussed before, you’re lying in the confessional,” he continued, recalling the previous discussions held in this room: lessons on the sanctity of confession, the confidentiality of confessions, and the importance of completing my penance. “Yes, Father,” I conceded, again shifting my knees, hoping for some form of comfort as guilt settled onto my shoulders. “I just don’t know how to do this,” I sighed, gesturing around myself to the unseeing party. I knew what I wanted to say, but the fear was outweighing benefits of
I can only absolve you for what you tell me,” he quipped from behind the fabric screen, his voice detached and uninterested. “I’ve lied,” I began, unsure of the lies being confessed, but I continued, certain that there must have been something. “I made up an excuse for homework,” I guessed, still not positive if the confession was for something remembered or imagined, “but really, I’m just lazy, I think,” I added onto the end, hoping the half-baked self-awareness would constitute contrition for the unspoken sins. “Well, since you said that the last time we spoke, I can only assume you’ve failed to complete your penance,” the invisible judgmental voice said from behind the division. “Or, as we’ve discussed before, you’re lying in the confessional,” he continued, recalling the previous discussions held in this room: lessons on the sanctity of confession, the confidentiality of confessions, and the importance of completing my penance. “Yes, Father,” I conceded, again shifting my knees, hoping for some form of comfort as guilt settled onto my shoulders. “I just don’t know how to do this,” I sighed, gesturing around myself to the unseeing party. I knew what I wanted to say, but the fear was outweighing benefits of