Jonathan, still confused, walked through the lonely church to clear his thoughts about whether it was really worth getting so deeply involved in this world. Everyone did their job—doctors, police officers, nurses, office workers, cooks, waiters. He also did his job, but he still wondered if it was worth going that far.
Now he knew that he could die because of the terrifying things that existed out there, of which he was aware, and that was something that left him uneasy.
All that remained was to wait and be patient.
"Priest Jonathan, you have finally returned…"
Jonathan, who was stroking a cat that wanted to eat his hand, lifted his gaze and saw this old man who seemed familiar to him. After thinking about it for a moment, he remembered that before exorcising an Evil Spirit in the house of a young couple, he had spoken with this old man, whose wife was in the hospital.
Upon seeing the tired face of the old man and the sadness overflowing from his eyes, Jonathan showed a more serious expression and replied briefly, "I just returned this morning. Has something bad happened?"
The forced smile on the face of the old man named Harry Brown remained unchanged, but after hearing that question, he nodded and said, "I would like to speak with you. Would it be possible for you to give me a bit of your time?"
Jonathan stopped stroking the cat that had almost ended up eating his little finger and nodded with a calm look. "It would be nice to have a few words with you. Let's go and talk inside the church."
…
In the main building of a church there is an altar, which is the place where Mass is held and where blessings are carried out, as well as a place reserved for hearing confessions from listeners or simply for having a closer conversation with a priest. This more private place can also serve as a place to unburden oneself and hear the opinion of a priest.
In that regard, Jonathan decided to take old Harry to that room where there was a confessional and sat next to him to listen to what he had to say.
While seated inside the confessional booth, there is a division between the two people; in the space beneath the divider, one cannot see the face, only the lower part of the body, which makes it easier for the confessor to express what is in their heart without being seen.
Jonathan knows what the duty of the listener is, and the best way is to remain silent and let them speak first. In fact, he probably also knew Harry's situation, so he knew how to treat him.
He knew that Harry, a former marine, had his wife hospitalized. He often ran into him when he was called to give a blessing to someone who was going to undergo a very dangerous operation.
That was why he was familiar with the lamentable situation in which this old man's family was tormented.
"Open your feelings, Harry. What are your thoughts?" Jonathan closed his eyes as he asked this question; his voice became colder than usual, and seriousness overflowed from his words.
For a moment, the only sound left in the entire space was the breathing of the two people. Jonathan did not know how much time passed, but when Harry seemed ready, he began to speak. "The truth is that I have always asked myself a question, Priest Jonathan. Does heaven really exist?"
Jonathan opened his eyes upon hearing this question, because he truly knew that there was something after death, and if he was here now, it was because he wanted a place in heaven after washing away all his sins in this world.
But being a priest, he formed a response based on his own judgment. "If you believe that a place exists after death, then it exists. If you believe that such a place does not exist, then wait to die and discover it yourself. But if you are looking for my personal answer, then what I can tell you is that there is a place where everyone will pay and be rewarded for their good and bad actions."
Upon hearing these words, the corners of Harry's mouth silently lifted. For the sake of his wife, he, who did not have even a trace of faith, was willing to believe that heaven truly existed.
Harry's words got stuck in his throat, tears overflowed from his eyes, and he felt a deep sorrow burn in his chest.
"Priest Jonathan, my wife left me today…"
Jonathan, who felt these words deeply mark his feelings, closed his eyes and then said, "May your wife's soul rest in peace… I am sure that no matter what, we all have the opportunity to live in heaven."
For everyone, whether good or bad, there was an opportunity to ascend to heaven. Jonathan was a living example of that, and he was sure that if he had been given a chance, others would have it as well.
Harry sighed, his tired eyes showed signs of sadness, and he said, "I am also sure that she is in heaven right now. She truly was a beautiful woman full of joy…"
After finishing those words, Harry spoke as if he were a lifeless robot. "As usual, I went to see her yesterday. She was awake and more alive than ever…"
"We talked like we never had in all these years she spent in the hospital. I never could have imagined that she was about to leave… She said that her only pain was that I couldn't take proper care of myself in these last years."
"She held my hand and apologized to me. She said that as a woman it was her duty to take care of me, but for some reason she was very tired and could barely hold a conversation with me, her husband."
"She told me that she never regretted being my wife and that if heaven existed, she would be waiting for me there with a delicious meal, just like in the old days."
Upon hearing this, Jonathan was able to imagine the scene. He remained silent and continued listening to old Harry's story.
As Harry spoke, he gradually returned to his past memories and began to talk about how he met his wife, his relationship with her, their wedding, and his beautiful life alongside her.
"We lived so happily, and I think it is a relief that it was she who left first. I am sure that was for the best, to feel her departure from this life firsthand…"
By this point, Jonathan had become a true listener. As old Smith had said, he needed someone who could listen to him.
At the end of everything he wanted to say, old Smith spoke of something else unrelated. He said, "Priest Jonathan, thank you for listening to me… Now I can say that I feel better… But can I ask you another question?"
Jonathan remained calm and replied, "Yes, you can ask me whatever you want."
"Do you remember how those gang members insulted you near my house, right?"
Harry's voice was very calm, and Jonathan's eyes darkened. Of course he remembered; after all, not much time had passed since it happened.
"I can remember…" Jonathan did not remember, but in his life as a priest there had been countless people who had insulted him.
Many of them accused him of believing in something that does not exist, but Jonathan ignored all of them.
As soon as he said that, Harry's voice sounded as he said, "I recently discovered what they usually do. They are the dogs of a famous gang that worked for the Tarasov family. They called themselves Hooligans… Do you think they are guilty of what their dogs do, or are they not?"
After hearing this, Jonathan thought about it for a moment, but he did not understand what Harry was trying to do against those young men or the leaders of the gang to which they were connected.
"The evil in human beings is a very complex dilemma that many can interpret in different ways, old Brown… It can be argued that it is not innate, but rather a consequence of circumstances, choices, and sometimes a lack of understanding. The ability to choose between good and evil defines us, and constant reflection on our actions can be the compass that guides us toward a more compassionate and just society."
Jonathan smiled and said, "In the end, they will know whether they will be forgiven or not. Many times it is not too late. As for blaming others, I believe that no one is guilty unless we are directly involved with them."
"I understand, Priest Jonathan. Thank you for chatting with this old man all day."
After saying these words, old Smith seemed to be leaving, and then Jonathan, seeing him get off the stool, also stood up. "It's no problem. You can talk with me whenever you wish. But old Brown, can you tell me what you are plotting by mentioning those last people?"
Harry sighed and said calmly, "I won't do anything. I just wanted to know if they have forgiveness…"
As he watched old Brown walk away, Jonathan knew that something was wrong with him.
He was an exorcist priest; his duties as a human being who had life on loan were not to get involved in the lives of other people. He should not look for trouble. He had to remain tense, focused, and avoid any kind of distraction.
Even so, he could not help but think about what Harry wanted to do, and he came to a terrible conclusion. Could it be that Harry wanted to judge that group of scum with his own hands to carry out his grief?
Jonathan could not imagine it. As far as he knew, Harry was almost eighty years old, so he could do very little, even though he was a retired soldier. Logically speaking, he should not have the strength to do it alone.
Jonathan, who had debated whether to act or not, was ultimately certain that he had to prevent Harry from doing something foolish.
But just as he was about to take a step forward and follow Harry, he noticed a thick envelope on the stool where Harry had been sitting while telling his story.
Jonathan stopped short, looked at the envelope, and after seeing it, he sighed. From the thickness of the envelope, he could feel what was inside.
On the outside of the envelope were a few small words that read, "Priest Jonathan, please do not stop me."
Jonathan's eyes grew cold. He clenched the envelope in his hands and wondered, "Come on, Jonathan… are you sure that eliminating evil spirits is my only job?"