RP: Forgiveness

[rar_stephen]

Date: Sunday, 25 December 1999 | Evening
Characters: Stephen Cornfoot, Joan Cornfoot (NPC)
Location: London
Status: Private
Summary: Stephen and his mother have a long overdue talk.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_stephen]

Joan watched the flames cast shadows inside the hearth. She glanced up at Stephen; he wore a curious expression. Well, that's something. He isn't looking at me with loathing.

Joan folded her hands in her lap and inhaled slowly. It's now or never. He might not come back for a while.

"Will you ever forgive me?"

[rar_stephen]

Stephen sipped his bourbon and swallowed. Upon hearing his mother's question, he lowered the glass and stared at her. He opened his mouth to speak and closed it. What was he going to say? How could he possibly answer her? His stomach clenched.

"I--You don't need my forgiveness," he finally said.

[rar_stephen]

Joan wiped a stray tear from her cheek. She wanted to look up at Stephen, but she couldn't. She felt somehow diminished, ashamed. She shouldn't feel either of those things in front of her child, but Stephen had always been so upright and moral--characteristics she and Richard had instilled him.

"I do," she said. "You've not been the same since...not in longer than I can bear. I've apologised--"

[rar_stephen]

"Apologised?" Stephen interrupted. "To who? Dad? I've not heard a single apology from either of you," he said and stood. Stephen walked away from his mother; his anger was rising quickly, and still he felt torn. He couldn't stand to see his mother cry, and her voice sounded pitiful, broken.

Stephen turned back to her. "The two of you have tried to force me to go back to how I was before, but how can I? Nothing is the as it once was. Our family has changed. We've tiptoed around Dad our whole lives because he's a right bastard most of the time." His mother gasped, but he continued.

"But you can't expect me to pretend your affair never happened. How would you feel if the person you respected most did something so wrong? I--I don't--how am I supposed to--it happened. It's too late to change the past." Stephen shoved his hands through his hair and clenched his jaw.