Innocence: A Novels & Stories

And because she found understanding before madness tried to mix into it, that same innocence earned her forgiveness. Love is innocent as well, love is crazy, too.

Even after leaving the city and painful past behind, I couldn’t able to move on from my miseries until one day Sky collides with me. ‘Her innocent face her, big doe eyes filled with fear, her all-time jingles giggle worked on me like a medicine. I forgot my agony and slowly moved on from the past. Today again after many days my old wounds refreshed by aunty Rita’s phrases.’ ‘I am feeling guilty for Melisa and my unborn child, but I can’t do anything about it. I am guilty of that girl, don't know who she was and how she is after I took her virginity.’

This afternoon I was convinced he’s lying to me, now I’m convinced he’s lying to Innocent. Maybe he’s lying to both of us. Innocent perches on the edge of his desk and runs the whip through his long fingers, caressing the lashes as if they’re his lover while his grey eyes pierce into mine. I keep his gaze. He can beat me all he likes, but I will not back down to him. “Do you know what this is?” Innocent asks. “A cat o’ nine tails. I’ve been whipped with it before.” My father used it on me when I ran to Aunt Mildred’s that time.

And yet it is lodged deep inside me like a poisoned thorn. And behind it, another thought rises , stronger than logic, more visceral than fear. It is an innocent being. The realization strikes me full force, stealing my breath. This cluster of cells, this beginning of life, the consequence of a night of violence and confusion… is innocent. It asked for nothing. It chose neither its father nor its conception nor the shame in which it will grow. It is here, silent, vulnerable, entirely dependent on me. A fleeting, painful image flashes before me: tiny fingers, a soft breath, a heart beating in time with mine. A life. My life.

But my mournful ululation wasn't because of the insincerity of his words but because I was trying to find even a trace of truthfulness in his voice. I wanted to drown in the comfort of his hold, I wanted to place my lips on his to show that I appreciated his comforting words, I wanted to close my eyes and let my heart call out to him because it believed in the words he said. But I couldn't, because once upon a time, the man before me broke my very being, and now I can't trust him. Just as I can't trust anyone, not even the air I breathe. ~END OF FLASHBACK~

Every person has been given a different understanding. She looked down before she decided to voice out her thinking, “I can’t save the body from getting dirty like a cloth, but I can save the soul from getting dirty. This may sound funny to people, but for me, my innocence is still intact.” Rebecca remained silent. “If my body commits a crime, it will get mixed in the soil and beyond that, it can’t receive anything, but if the soul sins, it’ll burn in the fire of hell which will never end.”

"I lost my childhood, my innocence, any chance at being normal, My father made sure of that," "Then you should understand why I am doing this, You should understand what it means to want someone to pay," "I do, but my son is innocent, Veronica is innocent, They did not hurt you," "Neither did I hurt anyone, but I paid the price anyway, That is how the world works, Four, The innocent suffer for the guilty,"

What is innocence? Some would say innocence is a state of purity, untouched by the complexities of the world, where trust reigns supreme and the heart remains unburdened by cynicism or suspicion. Others would argue that innocence is a fleeting illusion, a veil that shields us from the harsh truths of reality, blinding us to the complexities of human nature and the moral ambiguities that define our existence. Whatever it was, Leonardo lost his on this very sad and life changing day. His instructor, Enzo, was pushed to the ground by Matteo.

It was eerily convincing. "Be a queen of the majority. Then change the governance. Change the system, Your Grace. " I feigned ignorance of the Feluns and their successors' administration policies and said it out loud. However, there are occasions when innocence is best defined as a lack of knowledge. While I acknowledged that a lack of knowledge or intent was no defense in a court of law, I maintained that a person's lack of knowledge or plan might prevent them from being unfairly judged or even betrayed.

By his pupils, he was clearly high, but that didn't invalidate the legitimacy of the love and sympathy in his eyes. "I'm uh, pretty stoned so- uh, take what I say with a grain of salt… Hey, look at me, please?" Dillon obeyed and met his gaze. "You really think I care that I don't got the Virgin Mary for a cocksucker? No. None of us are innocent, Dill. I may be wrong, but I felt tension when I said 'innocent'. I don't give a shit about how innocent or guilty you are, 'cause I'm just as guilty!