Ransom
He stretched his arms out like a crucifix and attempted to make amends with his wife, who was centered on a park bench underneath a rainbow umbrella watching him without her curiosity intact. He told her about God, how he was being cleansed and how good it felt to be free. His arms remained out and ready, palms upturned to catch his atonement, which he said would fall from heaven. Then it started to rain, and his sorries fled downhill and into the pond with the ducks, and the frogs, and the dragonfly who couldn't keep his wings to himself. The wife put down her umbrella. She hugged her husband, her thin arms tightening under his lifted shoulders. She told him he could convince himself of anything so well that she was convinced. And so, for the moment, God existed.