I wander down the street, toward school, and the outskirts of our little suburbia community.
The city's a train ride away. I have a token in my pocket, jingling around with my change. I consider going into the city, but something in the back of my mind keeps me in the area. I wander around, and suddenly, I hear a far off ringing noise. Something catches my memory.
Trinity… "The bells will send you to me." That's what he said.
I listen. They're coming from Sacred Heart Holy Catholic Church down the block. I used to go there with my grandparents while they were still alive. I take off in a jog toward the bells. My blood pounds. I couldn't rightly remember if speaking to Trinity had been real or just a beautiful dream. But…the bells. It couldn't just be a coincidence. I speed up.
I reach the doors. Well-dressed families cluster in as the bells solemnly toll for mass. I stand on the corner, my eyes following each person who goes in. I sit there. Waiting. The bells stop ringing. I still sit, as the last stragglers enter the building. With a hesitant look around, I straighten my shirt and follow inside. I look at a corkboard with various announcements on it. Then a sign with moveable letters catches my eye. "Confession Sunday" it says.
With a jolt, I hear the bells ringing again. I follow their noise. It leads me away from the sanctuary, where the rest of the people are filing in and finding seats. Up. Up a set of stairs behind a closed door. I'm almost to the top, when the bells stop ringing. I'm in a small corridor… There are several doors. Which one leads to the bell tower? I open one of the doors. It's dark. Then I open another. It's dark as well, but there's a confessional booth inside. I slowly close the door behind me, and realize that the room is illuminated from within the booth. There is a little light inside. I go into the one side, slide into the seat, and close the door behind me. I sense someone else's presence. "Trinity" I think to myself. This is it.
I make the sign of the cross and repeat in the mantra taught to me by Sunday school. "Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been three years since my last confession."
I wait for a reply. There is silence.
"Trinity?" I whisper slowly.
"I'm here." A low voice replies.
