FORGIVE ME FATHER

CHAPTER 3: MONASTERY

Father Marcelo removed his clothes, carefully placing them in the laundry basket, a dark stain of dried blood still marked the fabric, a reminder of the stranger who had arrived at their gate in the middle of the night.

He stepped into the shower, allowing the warm water to wash away the exhaustion the clung to him, his muscles ached from hours spent tending to Alex’s wound, but at least the man was alive.

The image of Alex’s bare chest drifted into his thoughts.

Marcelo frowned, he had spent the night treating Alex’s wound and nothing more. So why was that the details his mind chose to remember?

When he finished, he changed into a clean and fresh set of clothes, he stood in front of the mirror adjusting the collar of his shirt, for a moment his thoughts drifted back to Alex, the scars and the fear in his eyes when he woke up.

He wanted to know who this man was and the life he lived, a knock echoed through his room causing him to turn toward the door.

“Come in” he answered

The door opened, Sister Grace walked into the room, her usual warm smile was nowhere to be found, instead it was replaced with worries.

Immediately Marcelo straightened himself “Sister Grace?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

She gently closed the door behind her. “I’m afraid we may have a problem.”

Marcelo frowned but didn’t take his eyes off her, “What kind of problem?”

“It concerns our guest.” She spoke, trying to find the right words to use.

“Alex? What’s wrong, is he bleeding?” he asked as he felt his stomach tightened, his heart seemed to have skipped a beat.

“Nothing of that sort” she hesitated, searching for the right words but Marcello felt a bit of relief just hearing Alex was in good condition. “Jacob was looking through the news on his phone this morning. An article came up.”

Marcelo remained silent waiting for her to continue.

“I think you need to read it yourself” she handed him the phone that was in her possession.

Marcelo took hold of the phone and looked at the screen. His eyes immediately landed on the headline. MAFIA KING ALEX MARTINS ASSASSINATED IN CHICAGO ATTACK LAST NIGHT. His grip on the phone tightened and for a moment the room fell into silence.

He slowly exhaled before handing the phone back. “And what exactly is the problem, sister Grace?”

She looked at him in disbelief. “That man is a criminal, Father” her voice dropped.

“We have sisters here, elderly residents. Children from the shelter visit every week.” She spoke with her hands folded nervously.

“What if someone comes looking for him?” she whispered

Marcelo understood her concern, it was a truth they couldn’t ignore but when he thought about Alex lying helpless in bed, barely clinging to life, he found himself unable to turn him away.

“The house of God is open to everyone,” Marcelo said softly.

Sister Grace remained unconvinced. “Even him?”

Marcelo nodded. “Jesus didn't reject sinners, did He?”

She lowered her gaze. “No”

“Then neither would we, Alex is our guest; we are going to let him stay as long as he needs to recover. Besides there is no picture to show or prove that this may be the same person.”

It was only half a truth and they both knew it, Sister Grace sighed. “Very well Father”

She slipped the phone back into her pocket. “I will make sure the others doesn’t spread this around”

“Thank you” Marcelo offered her a reassuring smile.

“Now let’s prepare for the mass.” He added. Sister Grace nodded before walking out of the room.

Marcelo found his thoughts drifting to Alex. A mafia boss, a sinner.

The morning passed quietly, After Mass, Father Marcelo was gathering the prayer books when he noticed Kelvin waiting near the chapel doors.

“Do you have a moment, Father?” Kelvin asked.

Marcelo nodded. “Of course.”

The two men stepped outside into the courtyard. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the stone pathway as they walked.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Finally, Kelvin broke the silence “I wanted to thank you.”

Marcelo looked at him.

“For saving Alex. I really appreciate it” he spoke, a small smile appeared on Marcelo's face.

“You don't need to thank me. Anyone in my position would have done the same.” He replied.

Kelvin shook his head, "No. Most people would have called an ambulance and washed their hands of the situation."

Marcelo remained silent as his mind flashed to the article he had read.

“I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing.”

Kelvin let out a quiet laugh. “That's probably the first time I've heard that in years. Nothing is done for free these days”

The comment earned a curious look from Marcelo before he could ask, Kelvin continued.

“There's something else I wanted to discuss.”

“Go on” he said waiting

"I'd like Alex to stay here until he recovers.” He spoke, looking at Marcelo for the slightest disapproval

But the priest wasn't surprised. “I assumed that was your intention.”

Kelvin nodded. “The accident seemed planned and I’m scared that someone out there wants him dead"

“Is he in danger?” Marcelo asked.

Kelvin's expression darkened. “Very.” He replied, his answer came without hesitation.

Marcelo studied him for a moment. “Then hiding him here is the safest option?”

“Probably. That’s the only option I can think of” Kelvin said rubbing the back of his neck.

“I don’t think that’s a problem.”

“Well the problem would be convincing Alex to stay.” He voiced knowing his friend very well.

Marcelo couldn't help but smile. “He's stubborn.”

“You have no idea. It’s as though his ears are for decorative purposes” the smile on Kelvin's face faded. “If Alex decides he wants to leave, he'll leave.”

Marcelo thought about the man lying in bed upstairs, he was definitely someone who wouldn’t accepted orders easily. “I'll do my best,” Marcelo said.

Kelvin sighed. “You don't understand. He'll argue. He'll complain. He'll try to sneak out. He'll convince himself he's fine when he's clearly not.” He explained.

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It actually is, I have spent the better part of my life looking out for him and I can tell you, it doesn’t get easy" he spoke.

Marcelo folded his hands behind his back, he could imagine. “I give you my word that I'd care for him. And I intend to keep it.”

Something in Marcelo's voice reassured him, for the first time since the attack, Kelvin felt as though he could leave Alex in someone else's care.

“Thank you, Father.”

Marcelo nodded. “I'll make sure he recovers”

Kelvin glanced toward the convent. "Good luck."

Marcelo raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

A grin spread across Kelvin's face. “Trust me Father, you need all the luck you can to look after Alex”

For the first time that day, Marcelo had the feeling he was about to face a challenge unlike any he'd encountered before.

Night had fallen over Saint Gabriel's Monastery, the halls were quiet as Sister Maria carried a tray containing fresh bandages, medicine, and warm water toward Alex's room.

Sister Grace had instructed her to change his dressing before bedtime. She hummed softly to herself, she got to his room, she knocked but there wasn’t any response from inside the room, she slowly pushed open the door.

The smile on her face vanished. The bed was empty, the blanket had been thrown aside.

And the room itself was deserted, Sister Maria simply stared in disbelief.

Then panic settled in. “Oh no.” She voiced as she quickly checked the bathroom.

But nothing, she looked under the bed. Still nothing.

The window was slightly open.

"Oh no, no, no..." she said dropping the tray onto a nearby table, she hurried into the hallway.

“Sister Grace!” she shouted, her voice echoed through the Monastery.

Several sisters poked their heads out of their rooms. She made here way to Sister Grace’s room.

“Sister Maria? What's wrong?" she asked.

“It's Alex.” She said breathless.

Sister Grace’s expression immediately changed. “What happened?”

“He's gone.”

“What do you mean he's gone?” Sister Grace asked

“He isn't in his room.” She explained. Sister Grace walked pass her without another word, within seconds she was standing inside Alex's room.

The empty bed greeted her, “we need to tell Father Marcelo about this” she voiced.