Tailored to Villain (On Hiatus)

Ovo

We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection.
-St. John Paul II

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•

Silence strummed through the cathedral while the cleaners mopped along the narrow hallway. Alice tapped her heels to the rhythmic squeaking of the mops as the cleaners moved them back and forth past her. Voices came from behind the counseling door. Her gaze flew to it just as it opened and a pudgy man stepped out, dabbing his eyes with a tissue.

"It will be okay, brother Paul. Come back next week," said the priest, partly obscured behind the door.

The man sniffed and nodded.

"The peace of the Lord be with you," the priest blessed.

The man nodded and mumbled, "And also with you."

The priest smiled and turned towards the chairs arranged against the wall outside the office. His forehead creased when he saw the sole visitor left, Alice.

"Please come in," he gestured to her.

Alice stood up, gathered her handbag, umbrella and coat then followed him inside his cupboard-sized office.

"Nice to see you this week, sister Alice." The priest lowered himself into his chair. "Please take a seat."

Alice took the seat opposite him, crossed her legs elegantly and smoothed imaginary creases off her gown. Her posture was a dead ringer of a sexy, confident woman that every young girl aspired to be.

The priest smiled warmly at her. It was warm and fatherly. Exactly what Alice expected a priest's smile would be like. A smile that took all the dirt and filth of the world around it and still spoke of salvation. A smile that never judged, only welcomed.

The priest stretched his hands across the table. "Let us pray."

Alice placed her hands in his. A whip of disappointment lashed at her wavering self-worth as she placed her cold, soft hand in his calloused palm. Even a priest's hands were more worked than her useless, unskilled fingers. Well, her fingers were skilled in certain acts that should never be mentioned in a holy place.

The priest bowed his head. "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Holy Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, pray for us sinners..."

Alice closed her eyes, the prayers going over her head. Behind her eyelids, her mind wandered. The balance payments for Kale's semester fees were not yet done. The milk in her fridge was already two weeks past the expiration date, she had to get a new bottle amongst other groceries.

Eggs, pasta, tomatoes... She tapped her feet under the table. Soy sauce, chillies, noodles... Her teeth gently nibbled on the corner of her lower lip. Bread, sausages, cheese... Her mind drifted off in another direction that had been tugging for her attention. The utility bills were still pending. Another detective was tracking her; counter-paying nosy detectives to back off always skinned the pound of flesh off her unemployed behind.

"Amen." The priest let go of her hands.

Alice raised her head and smiled shrewdly. "Amen, father."