The three left the back room, entering the chapel once more, fully clothed. Already, there were a few people sitting on pews, interspersed through out the room, waiting for confessional. Emer could hear the quiet whispers in the booth a few feet to her left.

"I'm going to wait my turn." She whispered, catching the boys attention.

"I thought we already –" Connor began to protest, but he was cut off by his darker brother.

"We'll be outside waitin'." Together, the brothers walked in unison down the center aisle and out the door, giving her one last look before exiting.

Emer kneeled at the altar, at the Virgin's feet and began to pray. She stayed there, on her knees, until every last sinner left the sacred heart of the church.

"You know how the church feels about carnal sins, lass." The priest sighed. "If you can consecrate yourself, take your vows and remain intact here after, you need to decide that for yourself. I suggest you think heavily on this decision. It isn't something we take lightly. Read the scripture and pray on it, child." The priest insisted. "Perhaps you need more time."

"You mean, quit my studies?"

"It might be helpful if you pull yourself away. Some people need life experiences before they chose to make a commitment to God. If it truly is your calling, you'll come back." He said, sounding assured. "As for penance, I recommend five Hail Mary's and five Our Father's on top of the contrition prayer you've already said. I believe you're truly sorry… but if you are to continue with your training, this cannot happen again."

"I understand, Father." She sighed, instinctively touching her neck to find it bare. She had left her rosary behind her. "Could I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Is punishment a path to forgiveness?" Emer asked.

"Punishing yourself isn't the answer. That's for Christ to decide. If you aren't absolved, you'll find more than enough punishment in the afterlife." He warned. "Penance isn't an easy task, child. It's something you have to work toward daily. You wake up a sinner and work, every day, toward your salvation. You have to admit that you are a sinner and need a savior. You have to abandon self-effort and realize that you can't be saved by your own efforts. You have to accept Christ's payments for your sins and acknowledge him as your personal savior."

"I understand, Father, but what do you do when you feel like what you're doing isn't really a sin."

"You feel?" He chuckled. "Your soul gives you feelings. Happiness, guilt. Right, wrong. It's how the Lord speaks to us. You thought your answers would be here. You thought you needed to give yourself over, marry the Lord. You entered the convent of your own free will. You thought God brought you here? Is it so hard to believe that this was his plan all along?"

"To walk away from him?"

"Child, you wouldn't be turning your back on God." She could hear the smile in his tone. "You'd be listening to your heart."

"Thank you, Father. You've given me a lot to think about."

He waited a moment before he continued. "I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."

"Thanks be to God."

She exited the church with a newfound sense of self-assuredness. She trusted herself, knew who she wanted to be, and knew what she wanted. She may not be sure of her feelings, but she knew she had a lot of room for exploration. Wanting something so purely, so whole-heartedly couldn't be a bad thing, not in the eyes of the Lord.

"'Ave a good chat, den?" Connor laughed, watching the bounce in her step as she left the holy building, smiling.

"I did." She beamed. "He told me to follow my heart."

"And where exactly does that take ye, lass?" Murphy chuckled.

She smiled, proudly, looking between the two of them. "It leads me right here."