A story about... Forgiveness © 2000 Damon Diehl, Marg Frey, Greg Gbur, Bryce Graves-Hurst	GREG	MARG	BRYCE & DAMON
				DAMON & BRYCE
			BRYCE	MARG & DAMON
				DAMON & MARG
			DAMON	MARG & BRYCE
				BRYCE & MARG

     His hair was filthy, the disgusting bastard. It clung together, oily brown strands glistening in the light. I was sick of looking at it, so I started shaving it off. I think that's what finally brought him around. He jerked his head when he realized what I was doing, and the knife nicked his scalp. "Welcome back," I said. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead, down the left side of his nose, and onto the tape.

     "I've talked about this with my therapist. Do you know what she said?" He was silent. "She said I need to forgive you and move on with my life."

     He looked absurd, sitting in the chair, his scalp half shaved. I directed his attention to the mirror above the bureau and enjoyed his shock and horror. Then I realized I was wasting time.

     "I'm going to take the tape off, but you have to shut up. I think it's obvious that I'll kill you before anyone gets through the door. The only way you're getting out of here alive is if you keep your mouth shut, got it?" He nodded.

     I ripped the tape from his mouth, pulling out his whiskers, and leaving his face looking red and raw. The words spilled out of his mouth... "Jack, why? I was always good to you Jack? What did I do? Why are you doing this to me? I'd never hurt ya Jack? Never never never? I haven't even seen you in years, but we used to be best friends Jack? Why'd ya leave Jack? Why can't we be friends."

     "This is just the problem, Wally. This simple sniveling. You revolt me. You're lazy and you turned out a nobody. We had plans, don't you remember? We were gonna be best friends forever and be rich...

     "Well, I'm rich, Wally. I'm successful. I've got everything I ever wanted. So WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!!!"

     He started to talk again, but I cut him off. The tears welled in my eyes, and I fell to my knees in front of him. "Jack... it's okay, Jack. It's okay..."

     "It's not okay, Jack. I haven't got a single damn friend in the world now. You were the closest I ever got."

     "Jack, we was kids. We was ten years old."

     "You promised, Wally. You promised we'd be friends forever. Forever and ever till the day we died." I lunged at him, sinking the blade into his chest with each word.

     "Till the day we died, Wally, till the day we died."