"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned." nervously stated the long-haired boy.
"What plagues you my child?" the priest humbly replies.
Rick, the boy on the other side of this conversation, shook, he was afraid to tell anyone in the entirety of Mineral Town what was going through his mind.
"Well Father, I believe I may be in love." Rick spoke as if this were poison on his tongue.
The pastor was baffled by this. "What is wrong with being in love, it is a joyous thing to be proud of!" he exclaimed still confused by the boy's reaction to his own words.
"It's different when the person you love is already married to that farmer, Jack." Rick replied bitterly while stressing Jack's name.
"Oh, oh dear. So it is Karen that you love?" he questioned gently.
"Yup and I'd like to try to tell you about when I realized it." he replied shakely.
Flashback:
It had all happened last Winter, Rick was heading to the Supermarket to see Karen. Today was going to be the day he asked Karen on a special date to finally admit he had a crush on her.
Before he could even reach it a blonde streak raced toward him. "Rick!" Karen cried out as she leaped into his embrace. "Look at what Jack gave me!" she squealed.
Slowly and carefully she pulled a majestic blue feather from her pocket.
He had proposed before Rick even had a chance to tell her how he felt, he never even managed to fight to win her. It was at this moment, this tragic and painful moment, he realized how truly in love he was with this girl.
All the blood drained from his face as he paled, he couldn't believe what was happening because it was simply too fast for him to comprehend. Despite his extreme sadness he forced a smile for her, the one girl he would always love. He congratulated her then headed home in despair.
Rick sat there silently thinking about the event and what happened. He couldn't find the strength to tell the man waiting patiently.
"I'm sorry but I can't do this, have a nice day Father." he murmured.
Rick stood up to leave the church as tears gently cascaded down his cheeks. If only he had had more time, maybe Karen would have ended up his wife. Everything would have been different if only he had done it sooner.