He Made Me Promise

I walked into the church and stared at the crucifix above the alter.

"What's wrong?" asked the priest.

"Just remembering." I answered.

"What?"

"I met him once a long time ago." I looked at the priest and saw his obvious look of skepticism. "I speak the truth preist. It was a long time ago. He was praying on a small hill. I was looking for a friend of mine, but I just had to stop and listen to this man. I looked at him and he looked in my direction and I just knew that he knew every little thing I had ever done. He knew all my transgressions and not only did he not care, he forgave me for them."

"I have killed countless people priest. There were times when I was so covered with the blood of innocents that it dripped from me like rain."

"In the instant his eyes met mine all I wanted to do for the rest of my life was to protect him and see to his every earthy need. I think I may have loved him."

"I waited for him to finish speaking. I walked up to him to offer up my services for whatever he might need."

"I want you to make a promise to me" "Those were the first words he spoke to me. I replied 'Anything.' "Do not interfere." "I agreed with out thinking, and climbed a small tree to watch over him. The solders came not long after. He looked at me one last time to remind me."

"I them torture him. Then I watched him die slowly and painfully. I felt … well I can't really describe it to well. It felt like the universe itself wept at his passing. I looked on and did nothing. I saw the light leave his eyes. I can never forgive what I did. He died and I did nothing."

The priest looked at me and said, "Surly you know that is why he had you promise. That he forgives you."

"OF COURSE I KNOW THAT! That … that just makes it worse. I committed the worst possible crime. I stood by and let a great evil occur. The greatest man this world has ever known died in front of me and I just let it happen. I looked into his eyes and he won't condemn me. There is nothing I can do to atone for this."

"Be carful with your promises priest." I said gathering my things, "You never know who you're making them to, or what they'll cost you."

I walked out the door my guilt weighing on me as heavy as it always was.