Sabrina Appreciation Week, Day 7: Forgiveness
This week I will be writing Sabrina-based drabbles in the Just for Tonight universe before the main story takes place. :)
One Week before Just for Tonight
Sabrina offered the box of cookies to Max and he took it with a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, leaning back against the trunk and patting the stake-out platform. “Been a while since we were up here.”
“The hideaway has lost its purpose. There are no shifter packs that live close by any longer.”
“Wonder why,” she sighed ruefully. “It’s funny. I know we’re the adults now but it still felt like sneaking out to come here.”
Max chuckled softly. “Well, people would probably ask questions so there is a bit of the forbidden.”
“True.”
The last light of the day died around them, forest nightlife blossoming. “I’d like to speak with you about something.”
Sabrina took the offered cookie box back from Max. “What is it?”
His brows furrowed as he studied the cookie in his gloved hand. He always wore gloves these days. Sabrina suddenly realized she couldn’t remember the last time she had seen the bare skin of his palm. In fact, Max was covered neck to toe at all times. It would have been funny if Sabrina didn’t know the reason. Losing his brother Judah while experimenting with unstable compounds to use against vampires had hit him hard. Sabrina inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. They were all so young to have already lost so many.
“Do you think we deserve forgiveness?” he finally asked, voice quiet.
“No.”
He nodded.
“But no one does, right?” she added. “Every person in the world has done something that doesn’t deserve forgiveness. It isn’t just hunters.”
“Perhaps.”
Sabrina watched him toss the cookie uneaten into the brush below them. “There’s someone you want forgiveness from?”
“I shouldn’t have broached this subject.”
“We don’t have to talk about your situation.”
“Thank you.”
Sabrina nodded, enjoying the peaceful sounds around them. “If you don’t mind though, since you brought it up, could I talk about forgiveness for me?”
“If you would like.”
“I’ve never taken a life and still feel like I have just because of this organization. There’s something wrong with that, isn’t there?”
“You want to leave.”
Sabrina pursed her lips. “I’m thinking about it.”
“You would have to disappear completely,” he said slowly. “There are those that wouldn’t allow your defection. You would become the prey.”
“I know.”
“There is an alternative,” Max offered.
Sabrina glanced at him. “What’s that?”
“Change from the inside.”
“That doesn’t seem effective. Especially when it’s just me.”
Max looked out over the dark trees and adjusted his glasses, gloves making a soft sound as his fingers curled. “And if you weren’t alone?”
“That would be something to consider then,” Sabrina replied.
Buy me a coffee?
