Prelude to Sin

Written for the Daily Flash Fiction Challenge with a word limit of 300.

The prompts: This story must contain the words: Roses, basket and candle

Prelude to Sin

The priest knew this man was different.

There was something about him that demanded attention; something that said, “Stand aside.” Perhaps it was the way he stood framed in the doorway. With the setting sun at his back, it was hard to make out much detail other than his size – tall and broad-shouldered.

As he stood there, it looked for a moment as if he had a bright aura around him, angelic-like.

The illusion disappeared as he entered the relative darkness of the church.

His steps were slow and deliberate; thudding with a deep echo one could almost feel.

Curious, the priest wondered closer; fiddling with a vase of roses in a small alcove near the back pews. The man walked right by him without a glance. The priest noted the fine leather shoes and the expensive overcoat. This was a man of means.

He also saw the eyes.

They were dark and set deep inside the black circles of sleeplessness. His beard was days old and unkempt.

The man reached into a pocket and pulled out a wad of bills which he tossed into the donation basket.

The priest watched as the man lit a candle. He watched as the man mumbled a silent prayer, clearly unfamiliar with the task, but driven to it none-the-less. He watched as the huge man’s shoulders shuddered. He watched him cry.

The priest knew this scene. The man had suffered a loss.

Duty called and the priest hurried forward.

The man straightened at the sound of the priest’s approach. He turned to meet the priest who noticed, for the first time, the gun in the man’s hand.

Before he could offer his help, the man said, “Forgive me Father, for I intend to sin.”

With that, he walked out into the coming night.

Word count 300



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