I Forgive Everyone Everything

The Dr. Goodwell leaned closer to Maria from his chair. “If you want to move past this, you have to forgive him for leaving you.”

The clock interrupted each second with a heavy tick. Maria kept her eyes down while she hugged herself. Her fingers slowly move back and forth on her soft cotton sleeves. Maria reluctantly shook her head.

Her psychologist frowned slightly. “Why not?”

Maria kept her eyes staring down as she forced her face up. “Because my family always forgave him. My mom kept letting him think that it was okay to leave without warning. He never told us how long, or who he was with. It was like that for so long, I started thinking it was okay.” Maria let her eyes stare at the clock. “I don’t want him to think that it’s okay anymore.”

The psychologist leaned back, “Has he tried to make up with you?”

“Yes. He took me and my brothers bowling. They loved it.”

“Do you not want to have a more personal relationship with your father?”

“It’s not that.” Maria furrowed her brows as she thought. “I feel like I deserve to be bitter for a little while longer.”

The therapist glanced at the clock and deeply inhaled the musty, stale air. “That’s all the time we have for today.”

Maria slowly got up and walked out of the cramped office. Her mother stood up when they saw each other. They walked to their worn down car together. Her mother’s sweet, flowery perfume drifted toward her.

“Mom?”

“Yes, Maria?”

“Do you forgive him?” Maria asked as her mother stopped at the driver side door. Her mother didn’t say a word until she opened the door.

“I do, he’s trying to be a part of our lives again and make up for lost time.” Her mother stared at her through the dark. “I understand though, Maria. Trying to change the future will never change the past.”

major conflict of human versus society - cultural in the prolonged:

Maria is being told by others around her to forgive, even if she doesn’t want to.

1. minor conflict human versus human - behavioural in the augmented

Maria feels that her father does not deserve her forgiveness even though he has tried to make amends.

1. characterization:

• action that = moral compass, the moral direction of the story

Maria not wanting to forgive her father shows she feels her feelings are valid and doesn’t want to give the forgiveness to be meaningless to her.

• thoughts that = moral compass, the moral direction of the story

Maria feeling that she should be able to stay angry and forgive him when she calms down shows that she feels her choice needs to be based on her feelings, not her father's.

1. 2 symbolic actions that define/develop 2 different characters

Maria rubbing her sleeves shows she uncomfortable with the topic of her father shows she is not comfortable with talking about her father..

Maria’s mother staying silent while opening the door signifies that she is not completely certain if she actually forgives him.

1. 1 symbolic object that reflects belief

The clock symbolizes Maria’s belief that she has the right to stay angry about her father’s actions by letting herself not forgive him even though time is ticking away.

1. imagery

• 1 sound that = pathos of discomfort

The ticking clock reminds Maria that time will not wait for her. She has to eventually choose whether or not to forgive him.

1 touch that = security

“Her fingers slowly move back and forth on her soft cotton sleeves.” Maria is using the fabric to calm herself down from the uncomfortable topic of her father.

• 2 smells that =discomfort, security

Discomfort: The stale musty office air. The therapist office forces her to discuss a topic that has brought her pain

Security: Her mother’s perfume shows security. She values her mother and hopes to find the right choice by asking if she forgave him.