Todestrieb
The knife clatters to the floor as you try desperately to make sense of what is going on. The cut on his shoulder looks deep and painful and you can see the struggle in his face as he attempts to smile at you. Somehow, he manages to stand up. Bending over very carefully, he steps into his pants. He ties one of the towels around his shoulder before shakily replacing his shirt. He hands your clothing back to you, calmly waiting for you to get dressed. He motions for you to take a seat next to him.
"Anna, I have hurt you and there is nothing I can ever do to take that away. But today you have done something very important that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Now go. You're already free."
You stand up on shaky legs, making your way slowly to the door. You pause with your hand around the doorknob. You turn back to him.
"I forgive you," you say, and leave the room.
"Can you believe what happened to poor Dr. Morton? It's just lucky he was near a hospital when it happened. Imagine getting attacked in broad daylight like that!"
You shake your head sympathetically, biting at your cheeks to suppress your smile. The wide-faced young nurse looks to be about your age. You think you could have become friends if you were staying in Boston. But San Francisco calls.
"Just sign there and you're all set to go," she instructs you, diverting her eyes to the soap opera on the TV above you. You sign your name, smudging the last letter a little. You thank her and walk out the door without looking back.
My Dearest Anna,
This is a letter that I will never be able to send. But that's all right, because I think you already know everything that I want to say to you. So I will keep it very simple.
First of all, I love you. I love you and I will always love you.
I stayed for a long time in the room after you had gone. I could imagine myself as you, lying in your bed on that warm summer morning. You sacrificed your innocence so I could reclaim my own. I don't deserve this gift, Anna, but I humbly accept it.
I never believed in anything until you. I still can't put it into proper words. I have it all in my heart, but when I try to put it to paper, it sort of dries out and changes into something much smaller than what it really is. Perhaps this is as it should be. The real truth, and the real mystery, can never be expressed in mere words. I love you. That is the only phrase that even comes close.
I'm a different man now, living a different life. I look at everyone around me, and they're different too. The shadows are gone from my eyes and for the first time, I can see people clearly.
Thank you, Anna, for everything.
Yours forever,
Doug Morton
"Anna, I have hurt you and there is nothing I can ever do to take that away. But today you have done something very important that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Now go. You're already free."
You stand up on shaky legs, making your way slowly to the door. You pause with your hand around the doorknob. You turn back to him.
"I forgive you," you say, and leave the room.
**********************************
"Can you believe what happened to poor Dr. Morton? It's just lucky he was near a hospital when it happened. Imagine getting attacked in broad daylight like that!"
You shake your head sympathetically, biting at your cheeks to suppress your smile. The wide-faced young nurse looks to be about your age. You think you could have become friends if you were staying in Boston. But San Francisco calls.
"Just sign there and you're all set to go," she instructs you, diverting her eyes to the soap opera on the TV above you. You sign your name, smudging the last letter a little. You thank her and walk out the door without looking back.
**********************************
My Dearest Anna,
This is a letter that I will never be able to send. But that's all right, because I think you already know everything that I want to say to you. So I will keep it very simple.
First of all, I love you. I love you and I will always love you.
I stayed for a long time in the room after you had gone. I could imagine myself as you, lying in your bed on that warm summer morning. You sacrificed your innocence so I could reclaim my own. I don't deserve this gift, Anna, but I humbly accept it.
I never believed in anything until you. I still can't put it into proper words. I have it all in my heart, but when I try to put it to paper, it sort of dries out and changes into something much smaller than what it really is. Perhaps this is as it should be. The real truth, and the real mystery, can never be expressed in mere words. I love you. That is the only phrase that even comes close.
I'm a different man now, living a different life. I look at everyone around me, and they're different too. The shadows are gone from my eyes and for the first time, I can see people clearly.
Thank you, Anna, for everything.
Yours forever,
Doug Morton