For Better And For Worse
Chapter 120

Komer Prison.

Krist goes to the prison to visit a friend. We check him in and he comes in. Aristide is brought to him.

Krist: hello pastor.

Aristide: Krist, what a pleasure to see you! Haven’t you forgotten me?

Krist: I could never forget you.

Aristide: It touches me a lot.

Krist: So, how is it here?

Aristide: we are calm. The prison has been quiet since you left. No more champions even if some think they are kings.

Krist: Glad to hear that.

Aristide: So, what was Mexico like?

Krist: did you know I was in Mexico?

Aristide: I knew that long before you went there. That night, I had a vision of the future. You were brought to Mexico and I saw your wife remarry. I wanted to talk to you about it but I knew it was very hard. I told myself that if God showed me this vision, it was so that I would tell you so after two days of reflection, I decided to say it but you also told us that you were going out that day. I saw how happy you were and I didn’t want to ruin that.

Krist: It was God’s plan and you were right. The first time I told you about my problems, you told me that I was the one who was supposed to end it all. The prophecy had come true. I took down the Mexican drug cartel and I put an end to Gauthier’s drug trade, not to brag. And you know what, I will never doubt God again even in the worst.

Aristide: I’m happy to hear it. I wish you good luck in your endeavors.

Krist: Thank you very much. How are the others ?

Aristide: They are all well, we have brought back many other lost sheep.

Krist: Glory to God! I’m sure that as soon as your mission here is finished, you will leave here. I feel like God brought you here because he knew I would come here and need you.

Aristide: it’s possible, but some advice my friend. Everything God does, he does for a reason that only he knows in advance. So don’t try to understand God otherwise you will get lost in a spiritual labyrinth that you will not escape from and which will end up driving you crazy. All you need is to believe in him, put all your trust in him, rely only on him and give him first place in your life.

Krist: I take this advice my friend.

Aristide: Yesterday, you were lamenting, you were saying that God had abandoned you, you were wondering why you were suffering all this injustice. Today, do you know why?

Krist: yes I know. To become clean, to be sharpened and to take a better shape, the iron must necessarily pass through the fire.

Aristide: May the hand of God be upon you and may his Holy Spirit enlighten your paths!

Krist: Amen! Say hello to Leo and everyone else for me. I will visit him another day. Good luck !

Aristide: thank you.

Krist leaves and Aristide is taken back to the cell.

Renaissance hospital.

Doctor Roger wakes up and who does he see, his wife still next to him. He’s been here for weeks and yet there hasn’t been much change.

Roger: darling!

Clémence: my love, finally you have regained consciousness. How are you feeling ?

Roger: very tired. Honey, today isn’t the day I’m going to get better so you need to get back to work.

Clémence: no, I’m not leaving you for a second.

Roger: I am so touched by your love.

Clémence: it’s not like it’s today that you realized that I love you more than anything and that you come before everything else and I want you to get healthy again.

Roger: you love me so much and yet I betrayed you, I ask you for forgiveness my love.

Clemence: what are you talking about?

Roger: do you remember Isabelle, the midwife?

Clémence: yes, that woman who was chasing you, of course I remember her.

Roger: well, I lied to you my love, I didn’t honor my promise of fidelity. It was me who made advances towards her but she refused so I sent her away but despite this, I still continued to make advances towards her and I almost raped her.

Clémence: what are you talking about darling?

Clémence: what are you talking about darling?

Roger: It’s the truth. I’m so sorry my love. If you know how ashamed I am of myself. I don’t think I’ll get through this so I pray that you forgive me so that I can go in peace.

Clémence: Roger, tell me what you’re telling me is false.

Roger: I’m sorry my love.

Clémence: don’t call me that anymore. Do you realize how you pushed me to treat this woman unfairly, how you could do this to me Roger, how?

Roger: Please forgive me.

Clémence couldn’t bear this revelation so she leaves the room and starts to cry. Her children arrive and she quickly wipes away her tears.

Fabrice: mom, are you not okay?

Clémence: I’m fine, it’s your father who isn’t well.

Gracia: why are you crying, is he really bad?

Clémence: you can’t understand, go see your father!

Gracia: aren’t you eating, mom?

Clémence: I will eat later, my darlings.

The children go to see their father who talks to them a little. Clémence leaves the hospital and goes to her store.

Clémence: my darling, I’m going to get some fresh air here, go see your father.

Charity: okay mom, see you later!

Charité goes to the hospital, Clémence couldn’t stop crying again.

Clémence: what don’t I have that you go get it from another woman Roger, to the point where you almost raped her? Did I ever deny you my body or anything? Why are you stabbing me like that? I can’t believe it, to say that I treated this woman… no, but why did you do that to me? What was my fault or my fault? Did you no longer love me, did I become too old in your eyes?

Customers arrive to be able to stop her in her whining.

Krist’s home.

Krist has just returned, he replaces his wife in the living room.

Krist: hello darling!

Isabelle: hello my love, your day?

Krist: That’s how far it goes! Here, the printed copy of our business project. Read it and tell me if it’s good.

Isabelle: I thought you submitted it to an expert?

Krist: Yes but I need you to look at it too to make sure it’s good.

Isabelle: I remind you that I am a midwife, not a specialist in project management.

Krist: I know, but take a look at it and you’ll see that you don’t need to be a specialist to understand.

Isabelle: okay.

Krist: Thank you. You know, I also thought about your hair salon. We could expand it and make it a hairdressing training center, no; what do you think about it ?

Isabelle: no, I think we should abandon the living room. I hardly open it because I’m busy at the hospital. Only Stella opens it from time to time in the afternoon but now that she is getting married, that will no longer be the case.

Krist: I understand but we are still going to expand it and we are going to hire hairdressers who will work there. We will also hire trainers who will also give training there from time to time. You know, there are people who have chosen the hairdressing profession, that could help them.

Isabelle: you’re right, I think it’s a good idea.

Krist: thank you my love, I’ll give you time to read the project.

Isabelle: okay. I have prepared so, let me serve you first.

Krist: no, don’t worry, I’ll help myself.

Krist goes to help himself while his wife reads the draft. He comes and sits in front of her to eat and they discuss a few points from time to time. So, together they make the necessary changes.

Isabelle: I think it’s perfect now.

Krist: Thanks, we need to start executing it as soon as possible.

Isabelle: yes.

Krist: Commander Léon called me this morning, we have to see each other this evening.

Isabelle: do you know why?

Krist: no not yet, I’ll know when I meet him.

Isabelle: okay.

Krist: and otherwise, regarding your father…

Isabelle: sorry, don’t even broach this subject with me!

Krist: I’m sure you’ll lose him one day. I haven’t been able to sleep in peace since he asked me for forgiveness and I didn’t give it to him. I know you too are good at sleeping in peace.

Isebelle: if you want to lose him, go ahead but don’t count on me!

Krist: I understand this…

Isebelle (furious): no, you don’t understand anything Krist, you don’t understand anything at all. Everything he did to us, is it nothing to you?

Krist: Of course, everyone has the right to a second chance and I think that everything that happened was God’s good.

Isebelle: I don’t want to hear anything from him, can you understand that?

Krist: ok, ok, I’m sorry.

Isebelle: don’t take it personally, I don’t want to yell at you.

Krist: no I understand. We won’t talk about it until you’re ready.

Isebelle: thank you.

Resteurent.

At midnight, Ernestine goes to a restaurant not far from where she is staying for lunch. Yves got everything figured out. For weeks he tried to reach out to him in spirit, today I take his courage with both hands to act. He also goes to the rest. He sees it all alone and approaches her.

Yves: hello princess!

Ernestine: hello.

Yves: are you waiting for someone?

Ernestine: no.

Yves: can I sit down?

Ernestine: go for it!

Yves: thank you. I feel like I’ve seen you before.

Ernestine: Well, your face doesn’t mean anything to me.

Yves: It’s not a strike. We can get to know each other. I’m Yves.

Ernestine: Ernestine!

Yves: yes, it’s coming back to me now. One day I was out with Krist on a motorbike and we saw you coming to throw out the trash.

Ernestine: eh it was you! I didn’t recognize you. Now that you’re a gem, I remember seeing you at the medal ceremony last week.

Yves: yes, it’s true. I myself replace it hard to recognize you. You look much more beautiful today.

Ernestine: thank you. And you too are much more elegant today.

Yves: that’s nice. That’s because the other day we lost on a spy mission.

Ernestine: are you a police officer?

Yves: no, I’m a computer technician, I do info meths. I’m just helping Krist set up surveillance cameras at Geuthier. It is thanks to this that he could have been dismembered.

Ernestine: wow, but you should be rewarded too!

Yves: no, it was a pleasure to do what I love and that’s enough for me.

Ernestine: wow, you are an exceptional person.

Yves: Hey, don’t exaggerate, you don’t know me yet.

Ernestine: it’s cool. So, are you already waking up?

Yves: no, I’m still in training, I hope they will end up hiring me. And you, are you still?

Ernestine: yes, in the company which is right there, as secretary.

Yves: Hey, I wonder why business leaders always have beautiful girls as secretaries.

Ernestine (smile): I don’t worry.

He stares at it with admiration.

Ernestine: what’s wrong?

Yves: no nothing, it’s just that… you have a wonderful smile.

Ernestine: thank you.

Yves: have you ever ordered anything?

Ernestine: Yes. Just something light for lunch.

Yves: okay.

We take Ernestine’s order and Yves orders the same thing. We take it to him and they talk while they lie. After the repes.

Ernestine: I was delighted to recognize you, Mr. Yves, but now, it’s time for me to lose.

Yves: all the pleasure was for me Ernestine. I would really like to see each other another time, preferably outside of your short lunch.

Ernestine: OK.

Yves: will you give me your number?

Ernestine: no worries.

They exchange tales and leave together. He accompanies him until his business fails.

Yves: oh Lord, it’s as simple as that! Really afraid too!

Krist: You’re going to have to forgive him one day. I haven’t been able to sleep peacefully since he asked me for forgiveness and I didn’t give it. I know you too have trouble sleeping peacefully.

Isabelle: if you want to forgive him, go ahead but don’t count on me!

Krist: I understand this…

Isabelle (furious): no, you don’t understand anything Krist, you don’t understand anything at all. Is everything he did to us nothing to you?

Krist: Of course it is, but everyone deserves a second chance and I think everything that happened was God’s plan.

Isabelle: I don’t want to hear about him, can you understand that?

Krist: ok, ok, I’m sorry.

Isabelle: don’t take this the wrong way, I didn’t mean to yell at you.

Krist: no I understand. We’ll only talk about it when you’re ready.

Isabelle: thank you.

Restaurant.

At break time, Ernestine goes to a restaurant not far from her workplace for lunch. Yves had calculated everything. For weeks he tried to approach her in vain, today Io takes his courage in both hands to act. He also goes to the restaurant. He sees her all alone and approaches her.

Yves: hello princess!

Ernestine: hello.

Yves: are you waiting for someone?

Ernestine: no.

Yves: can I sit down?

Ernestine: go ahead!

Yves: thank you. I feel like I’ve seen you before.

Ernestine: oh well, your face doesn’t mean anything to me.

Yves: It doesn’t matter. We can get to know each other. I’m Yves.

Ernestine: Ernestine!

Yves: oh yes, it comes back to me now. One day, I was out with Krist on a motorcycle and we passed you, you came to throw the garbage.

Ernestine: ah it was you! I didn’t recognize you. Now that you mention it, I remember seeing you at the medal ceremony last week too.

Yves: oh yes, it’s true. I had difficulty recognizing you myself. You look much more beautiful today.

Ernestine: thank you. And you too are much more elegant today.

Yves: that’s nice. It’s because the other day we were going on a spy mission.

Ernestine: are you a police officer?

Yves: no, I am a computer technician, I do info math. I was just helping Krist install surveillance cameras at Gauthier’s house. It was thanks to this that he was able to be unmasked.

Ernestine: wow, but you should be rewarded too!

Yves: no, it was a pleasure to do what I love and that’s enough for me.

Ernestine: wow, you are an exceptional person.

Yves: ah, don’t exaggerate, you don’t know me yet.

Ernestine: It’s not false. So, are you already working?

Yves: no, I’m still on internship, I hope they will end up hiring me. And you, do you work?

Ernestine: yes, in the company which is right there, as secretary.

Yves: ah, I wonder why business leaders always have beautiful girls as their secretaries.

Ernestine (smile): I don’t know.

He stares at her in admiration.

Ernestine: What’s wrong?

Yves: no nothing, it’s just that… you have a magnificent smile.

Ernestine: thank you.

Yves: have you already ordered anything?

Ernestine: Yes. Just something light, it’s my lunch break.

Yves: okay.

Ernestine’s order is brought and Yves orders the same thing. We bring it to him and they chat while eating. After lunch.

Ernestine: I was delighted to meet you Mr. Yves, but now it is time for me to leave.

Yves: All the pleasure was Ernestine for me. I would like to see you another time, preferably outside of your lunch break.

Ernestine: OK.

Yves: will you give me your number?

Ernestine: no worries.

They exchange contacts and they leave together. He accompanies her to her business before leaving.

Yves: eh Lord, it’s that simple! Really fear too!