Falling for the Enemy || Captain America || Book 1

Chapter 39: Forgive and Forget

Forgive and forget.

A common quote, a common saying. The first documentation of it was in Shakespeare's piece 'King Lear' but no doubt someone had spoken it before that. So no one really knows who first said it, but it is none the less, over used.

People ask you to forgive... and forget. The first part of this request is to forgive. That... is not so easy. Forgiving your friend for stealing the last chocolate chip cookie is monstrous, but easier to accept than other things. Like trying to forgive your husband for having an affair for example. What if your husband had been sleeping with another woman — or man if you're a dude and you roll that way (no hate, I appreciate) — for the past three or so years of your marriage? Yet every night he tucked you into bed, kissed your forehead in such a way that you felt completely and blissfully loved, then he told you how much he loved you, and how you were the brightest star of all. So in other words, a mushy monologue.

Is that so easy to forgive? Would you do so?

Okay, let's say you do. You like the thought of moving on. I don't, but that's me. Anyway, so you have miraculously completed the first step in the 'Forgive and forget' guide. Then there's step two.

Forget.

Most would think step one would be the hardest but no, it's step two. You might forgive, but to forget? You are trying to shove a dark memory to an even darker pit in your mind. You can't possibly ever truly forget some things, especially if they leave a scar. Let's say the husband is a changed man — yes I'm still using this analogy, deal with it — after his wife found out. He realises the error of his ways, apologises, queue another sappy monologue blah blah blah, etcetera etcetera etcetera. Let's also say the wife finds it in her heart to forgive him. Step one, check.

Can she forget though? Every time she looks at her husband now, every time he tucks her in at night, every time he kisses her forehead, and every time he tells her she's the brightest star of all, will she see the husband she once loved and knew before all the lies? As if she completely forgot all that had happened? If she does, Fury must have really done a number on her memory.

People try to forget, they really do, but it's easier said than done. Lies tend to often lead down this road of 'Forgive and forget'. Like I said before, we all have our secrets; just don't let them destroy you, because while some secrets are like a knife, others are like a nuclear bomb. Each one has a different impact, how strong the impact is depends on how long you keep it and how dangerous the secret can be. Don't make the mistake of keeping anything big from the people you care about, for they will always be the first ones to trigger that bomb, no matter how hard you try.

You may be able to have a heart big enough to forgive, but forgetting is a whole new game. A new board, with new rules and new ways to win. The only thing that remains the same is the players. Lying can destroy people, relationships, friendships, families, political alliances and so on. People don't forget things like that. Has the entire world forgotten World War II? Pfft, of course not! We've forgiven, but not forgotten. When I say forgiven, I mean we've forgiven Germany — most of us — I don't mean Hitler himself because I mean come on, the guy was a raving lunatic and — whoops, having a Felicity moment. Back on track...