Semua Bab Forgive Me Father: Bab 11 - Bab 16

CHAPTER 11EZRAThe first thing I did when I woke up was reach for my phone. My eyes were still heavy, but the glow of the screen pulled me in. Notifications buzzed at the top, most of them from school, one from the parish group chat.I tapped it open.Retreat this weekend. Three days. Pack warm clothes, journals, and devotional items. Bus leaves Friday morning.I stared at it for a second, then dropped the phone back onto my pillow.Great. Three days of forced prayer and group activities. I already prayed enough. More than enough.I rolled onto my back and covered my face with my arm. My brain flashed images from that night—the vestry, Father Dorian’s bare chest, the way the rosary had hung from his throat. I shoved the thought away before it made me tremble again. Retreat. Focus on that. Not him.Dragging myself out of bed, I got ready and went downstairs.Genevieve was already at the dining table, her posture perfect as ever. A plate was in front of her—eggs, fruit, toast neatly cu

CHAPTER 13EZRA The bus pulled up a long dirt road, tires crunching gravel until the trees broke open into a clearing. Cabins lined the slope, wooden and plain, with smoke curling from one chimney. The air was colder here, sharp against my cheeks when I stepped down.“Welcome to holy isolation,” Lily whispered, hugging her sweater tight.Jordan snorted. “Three days. We’ll survive.”Behind us, Father Nico hopped off the bus, stretching his arms wide like he’d just discovered a vacation resort. “Ahh, smell that air. Pure. Holy. Almost makes you forget Wi-Fi exists.”A few people laughed politely. I didn’t. Something about his tone was too slick, like a salesman trying too hard.Lily leaned close. “Why does he sound like he’s auditioning for a commercial?”“Shh,” I whispered, though I agreed.Sister Anne clapped her hands. “Cabin assignments! Everyone, gather.”We shuffled toward her. She held a clipboard, eyes bright as she called names.“Ryan and Ezra.”I exhaled in relief. Ryan was h

CHAPTER 15EZRADinner smelled amazing the moment we stepped into the hall. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, and the kitchen sisters had gone all out—big bowls of stew, rice, bread stacked high, even pitchers of juice. Everyone was buzzing, hungry and loud, the way church people always were when free food was involved.Lily dragged me toward a table near the middle, Jordan following with her plate already full.“Ezra, sit here,” Lily ordered, shoving me onto the bench like she was my mom.“I can choose my own seat,” I muttered.She batted her eyelashes. “Not when you’re prone to bad decisions.”Jordan smirked. “She’s right.”I rolled my eyes but stayed.The room filled quickly. Laughter, forks clattering, kids singing little songs in the corner. Someone started clapping rhythm to a hymn, and half the hall joined in.“Pass the bread,” Lily said, reaching across me.“Say please,” I replied.She kicked me under the table. “Please.”I shoved the basket at her. “Happy?”“Delig