WHOM I SHOULD LOVE ABOVE ALL THINGS

[align center] [[WHOM I SHOULD LOVE->2]] [align center] [[ABOVE ALL THINGS->2]] [align center] Sophia de Augustine

[align left] Text is left-aligned. [align center] Text is centered / centred. [align right] Text is right-aligned. [Continue] Text-alignment has been reset to the default. <li>{reveal link: 'TO BE REPLACED', text: 'WHAT YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT.'}</li>   to add space in page https://klembot.github.io/chapbook/guide/index.html (AFTER A PAUSE.) [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right]

Heavy oak doors groan as a man slips through. His palm caresses the wood as he eases them to a quiet close. He has dark hair, shimmering grey eyes, and carries himself with an easy assurance. Candlelight glitters off of his diamond tie pin. He sidles into confessional, smiles- brushes his lips with his left hand as if to wipe it away, pinky shorn short. His voice is low and soft, tapping the honeycombed lattice. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] Forgive me Father, [align left] for I have sinned. [align left] I cannot remember [align left] when I last confessed. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] [[Andrey.->3]]

The priest blinks hard, long dark lashes wet with tears. His fingers scrunch in the heavier weight of his winter cassock, pulling long lines in the black fabric. He's terribly young, for a priest. His crucifix, an elegant pendant in gold, glimmers against his chest. The low lighting makes his brown hair gleam amber. Dark eyes stare into grey, as they hold each other's gaze. Joel looks away first, biting his lower lip. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] (AFTER A PAUSE.) The one and only. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] Why are you here? [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] (HE LAUGHS.) We're going a little off script, aren't we? [align left] I've hardly told you how I've [[sinned.->4]]

Joel takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. He moves his hand to clutch onto his cross, thumb rubbing over the burnished metal. The small, fussy circular motion seems to bring him comfort. He still can't meet Andrey's eyes. Something like pity flits across the man's face. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] I don't want to know. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] (HIS VOICE SOFTENS.) Hardly priestly behaviour. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] Hardly a priest. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] Don't be so hard on yourself. [align left] You've certainly kept the faith better than [[some.->5]]

Andrey runs his hand through his hair, tousling loose waves. His suit is grey- not nearly as pale as his eyes. Not funerary black, or wedding white. The leather on his shoes is just well worn in enough to not squeak. The stiff Roman collar bites the faintest red line into Joel's tanned throat. His voice is strangled, thin- rasped through with hurt. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] (HIS VOICE BREAKS.) You lost your faith. [align right] Why did you come to All-Saints? [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I wanted to see you. [align left] For myself, not deciphered through the colour of handkerchiefs or secondhand chat on the circuit- [align left] Perhaps it was selfish of [[me.->6]]

Joel places his cross between his teeth, biting into the soft gold. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] You always have been. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I know. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] You left. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I know. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] I loved [[you->7]].

[align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I know. [align left] And it passed, didn't it? [align center] JOEL IS SILENT FOR AN UNCOMFORTABLY LONG TIME. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] (HE SIGHS.) Take comfort, Father- Psalm 147:3. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] (BITTERLY.) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] You always knew your [[scripture.->8]]

For all that he tries, Joel can't quite conceal the tremor of hope in his voice. Andrey's fingers twitch, itching for a cigarette. He can't stand the clarity of the light, how it slides warm and golden and tender over Joel's frame. His face is half hidden in shadow, the cross in sharp relief as it falls from between his lips. His hands shake, as he re-adjusts it. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] How long will you be staying in Anchorite? [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] As long as you'd want me to. [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] You'll stay? [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I'll [[stay.->9]]

[align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] I don't forgive you. Not yet. Maybe not ever. You know that, right? [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I do. I didn't expect you to. [align left] Repentance is earned. [align left] Tell me, Father- what is my penance? [align right] FATHER JOEL RYDER [align right] Don't go. Be with me. [align left] ANDREY DADDANO [align left] I will. [align left] For tonight, [align left] and every [[night.->10]]

[align center] ACT OF CONTRITION [align center] (EXCERPTED) <blockquote> My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart, and I detest them. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. </blockquote> {reveal link: 'NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR', text: 'WHOM I SHOULD LOVE ABOVE ALL THINGS is a small excerpted scene from Anchorite, an unreleased (as of publishing) Gothic Horror work-in-progress. This scene was entered into the Neo-Interactive Bare Bones Jam of 2023, where modification of base UI was prohibited.'}