The cathedral on Selis Nine had only been open for a short while and the priest had yet to have any parishioners come to confessional.
He was busy setting up for the evening service when he heard footsteps.
He didn't turn round, just in case the owner of the footsteps was here for confessions.
The bang of the door to the told him that was the case and he left what he was doing and settled himself in his side of the box.
The panel that covered the grill opened and a voice spoke.
"Bless me father, for I have sinned," a man's voice said.
The priest could tell the man was not from Selis, but it didn't matter.
"How long since your last confessional my child."
"Actually...I've never done this before. I'm not really a religious person."
"God doesn't mind, he loves everyone...even those that are not devout. So, what brings you to confess now?"
There was silence for a few seconds,
"I killed someone."
The priest frowned, he had to tread carefully now.
"And you cannot live with the guilt of killing this person. But you must give yourself up to the authorities or at least tell them where the body is, so they can be given a proper burial."
There was silence and then the voice came again and it sounded so sad. "It would be better if she was dead..."
The priest frowned. "Then why did you say that you killed her, if she is not dead."
"Because I killed what made her who she was...she was my friend, my best friend and I destroyed it all. So I might as well have taken a gun and put a bullet in her head."
"Surely then my child, you can go back to her and make what is wrong right."
What sound like a stifled sob came back as an answer. "I can't."
"Why not, there is always hope."
"You don't understand, no-one does. If I ever see her again she'll..."
The voice broke off and the sound of the door slamming open and the sound of footsteps walking rapidly away.
The priest quickly left his side but he only caught a fleeting glance of a long brown coat as the person went out the door.
The priest sighed.
He frowned when he heard a strange sound like ancient engines. He shook his head and hoped whoever it was would find the forgiveness they were desperate to find.
