My Ex Next Door

Novieenteredtheconfessioncubicleandkneeldown,shewantedtotellsomeoneaboutherfeelings,thepainandconfusionthat’sbeentormentingherheart.

Minuteslater,theoppositecubicleopenedandNoviesawamaninapriestclothingsatdownandfoldedhishands.

“FatherIamheretoconfessmysin”shestartedandloweredherhead.

“Whatisyoursin?”Thepriestasked.

Noviesighed,“Fiveyearsago,Ihurtaman,Ilefthimthenextdayheproposed”hervoicecrackeddown,rememberingthepast

“Whoa!Thatwasharsh!”thepriestmurmuredsilently,butsheheardit.

Beforethepriestcouldgivehisresponse,shespeaksup.

“IwasalsohurtbutIknowthatifIstaywithhim,myfamilywillsuffer,soIleft.ForfiveyearsFatherIcarriedtheguiltofleavingandhurtinghim.ImeanwhatIdidwasright,right?it’sformyfamily”sheblurtedoutwithoutlettingthepriesttalk.

“Ithink-”

“It’snotlikeIhaveachoiceoranything”shecontinuedandinterruptedhim.

“Weallhaveachoice,Idon’tknowyourreasonforleavinghimbuttheremustbeareasonwhyafterfiveyearsyoudecidedtocomeandconfess”

Noviegulpedbyhiswords,unsureofwhattosaynext.

“Well?”thepriestasked,waitingforheranswer.

“Whatmadeyouconfessnow,yousaidyoulefthimfiveyearsago,whynow?”

Novie’seyeswentroundwhileherheartpalpitate.

“Because...”sheshuthereyesandexhaled.

“Hmm?”thepriestwaitedforherresponse.

“Becausemyex-fianceismovingnextdoor,andIdon’tknowwhattodo!,myparentsdidn’tknowthatIwasengagedtohimbefore”

“Areyouheretoconfessyoursinortoaskforadvice?”thepriestasked.

Novie,withhereyesclosed,twitchedherlips.

“What’sthedifference,father?”

Thepriestclearedhisthroatandreplied.

“Well,relationshipcoachgetpaidperhourwhileus,weacceptdonation”Novie’sfaceflattenedbyhisresponse.

Shewantedtocontinue,buttheprieststoodupandopensthedoor.

“statessomeprayerandIwillprayforyou.Goodluck!”thepriestsaidandclosedthedoor.

Noviewasspeechless.“Ineedtodonate?”shewidenedhereyeswhenshethoughtofthepriest.“Whatdidjusthappened?”sheaskedherselfwithdisbelief.

Noviehasdecidedtoleave,she’sstillconfusedandnervous.Shetookherumbrellaandwalkstothedoor.ShewasabouttoopenherumbrellawhenshesawKenwavingather.

Seeinghissmile,sherememberedthedinnerlastnight.