For Better And For Worse
Chapter 127

Komer Prison.

While the prisoners are playing sports, a guard comes to pick up Bruno.

Guard: 8777, follow me!

Bruno: can’t you see that I’m training?

Guard: follow me I tell you. Stand up!

He gets up and follows the guard.

Bruno: where are you taking me?

Guard: be quiet!

He brings him to the roof of the prison where Francis and Bayoko are.

Bruno: Francis!

Francis: hi Bruno.

Francis: Bayoko and I made a deal.

Bayoko: you must leave your business to us. Besides, you built it with dirty money, right?

Bruno: why would I give this to you?

Francis: so that we leave you alone in this filthy place.

Bruno: my business belongs to my daughter and when I die, it will rightfully belong to her.

Francis: Are you talking about this girl who hates you so much that she wants to see you dead?

Bayoko: I bet if she’s here, she wouldn’t hesitate to push you off that roof.

Bruno: it doesn’t matter, she remains my daughter and I love her even if I never showed her this love like a father should do towards his daughter.

Bayoko: what if we gave him a simulation?

Francis: yes, that’s a good idea.

Bruno: I have already given my life to Jesus Christ and I know that even if my body dies, my soul will live eternally with God.

Bayoko: send my greetings to God!

He pushes him off the roof and he falls, screaming at the top of his lungs. He has not yet reached the ground when Isabelle suddenly wakes up from her sleep. It was another nightmare.

Krist’s home.

Krist also wakes up after his wife’s sudden awakening. Isabelle’s heart is beating so fast like it’s going to burst out of her chest.

Krist: Honey, are you okay, did you have another nightmare?

Isabelle: yes, but it’s okay, still the same nightmare.

Krist: you want God to speak to you in what way my love. Do you think you will be relieved if your father dies? No my love, you will blame yourself and you will suffer greatly. And this will have a negative impact on our home, even risking destroying it. Please give yourself the will and you will replace the strength to forgive him like I did. My love, he regrets.

Isabelle: I understand.

A few days later. Doctor Roger has put aside his pride and his previous position to accept a lower position as an attending physician in a renowned private clinic.

Komer Prison.

BRUNO approaches Francis to talk to him during sports time.

Bruno: it looks like you’re angry!

Francis: yes, I am very angry.

Bruno: against me?

Francis: no, against myself. I should have abandoned everything and started my life again when I got out of here but no, I was too stupid to think about changing my life. I had a second chance to become a better person but I didn’t take it and here I am again in this shithole for another five years.

Bruno: this crisis of conscience has invaded me too but for you it is better. I might die here. However, I am truly liberated knowing that God has forgiven me and accepted me as his son.

Francis: hum, it looks like you’ve converted!

Francis: hum, it looks like you’ve converted!

Bruno: yes, Pastor Aristide freed me through the love of God. You too can be freed if you want. You will replace an inner peace that you never had by coming to Jesus, I speak to you from experience.

Francis: you know, I didn’t want to believe these stories about God and religion. Rather, I believed in some of these doctrines which say that man forges his own destiny and that there is no destiny established by God. But now, I believe that everyone’s destiny is truly mapped out because I never thought of building my destiny by spending time in prison, you see, but it happened. Which means someone else holds my destiny.

Bruno: exactly! And that someone is none other than God. We think we are taking actions on our own and yet we are only following a script developed by God. And I think this conversation has already been happening for a long time.

Francis: you are right and you know what, I am ready to follow the way of the Lord.

Bruno: you made the right decision.

A few hours later. A guard goes to tell BRUNO that he has a visitor. He hoped it was his daughter or his wife. They bring him into the visiting room and who does he see, his wife!

Bruno: hello darling, I am very happy with your visit.

Florence: hello, how are you?

Bruno: I’m fine and now that you’re here, I’m still fine.

Florence: I thought I knew my husband but I can’t understand what happened.

Bruno: I’m sorry my love, I know I disappointed you enormously but I want you to know that my love for you was very sincere. The man you knew and loved has not changed and is not a different person. It’s me, Bruno and even hidden under this mask, I always remain the same.

Florence: how could I believe you?

Bruno: I’m telling you the truth. I gave my life to Christ so no more lies. I love you Florence and mask or not, this love is very real and true. I ask you for forgiveness my love, everything I did was so that my family would be free from want. Don’t doubt the love I have for you because it’s the only thing that gave me the strength, the courage and the motivation to surpass myself and do more. Your love was for me the reason why I lived and I had to give you a better life. I admit that I didn’t use the right means but I wanted you and our daughter to have a better life, that you didn’t want for anything. Please forgive me and tell me you still love me just the way I am. Don’t look at this other side of me but look at me as I am, look at my heart as God saw my heart and forgave me.

Florence burst into tears at these profound words from her husband. She placed her left hand on the window and Bruno placed his right hand there too.

Florence: I forgive you my love, I am incapable of hating you.

Bruno: I thank you with all my heart, you don’t know how much these words do me good.

Florence: I will pray that you live in peace.

Bruno: thank you darling. I’m almost 60 years old, I don’t have much time left to live and with these years I have to spend here, I don’t think I’ll make it so you’re going to go replace my lawyer. Tell him to visit me. I have to chat with him.

Florence: no, don’t worry about your will. It is a document which is only readable to the dead and you are not yet dead.

Bruno: darling, when my years here are over, I will probably be 83 years old, do you really think I will be alive?

Florence: nothing is impossible with God and if you believe, you will see his glory. Jérémy is a good man and he will continue to manage your business until you leave here.

She enters and they go according to. She takes him a drink.

Isebelle: You’re so relaxed!

Florence: yes, darling, I removed a big iron from my heart.

Isebelle: what a ferdeeu!

Florence: the heine that I woke up for my husband. This prevented me from being happy. It’s like a poison that is eating away at me and robbing me of all smiles, all joy, all inner peace and all good humor. But today I am freed because I am out of prison, I lost your father and finally I feel peace in my soul. It’s not meant to force you, but it really does you some good!

Isebelle: I understood myself. Besides, there’s no point in blaming him. It doesn’t erase everything he does.

Florence: that’s it, darling. It is better to turn the tide and leave the event behind, life continues regardless of what has happened in the past.

Isebelle: you are right.

Florence: where is my little girl?

Isebelle: she’s in her cradle, I’ll take her to you.

She takes Merie to her grandmother’s house and starts cooking to prepare lunch. Krist comes home a little later and talks for a while with his mother-in-law about having lunch. Florence leaves them and returns home a little later. Krist receives a call from Commendent Nero from Mexico.

Krist: hello, comment! What a pleasure to have had you on the phone!

Nero: Hello Krist! How are you?

Krist: I see the comment, thank you. You too ?

Nero: That’s very good, thank you. How are you girl?

Krist: If you bother too much, you lose everything, but let me think about it.

Nero: OK. Let me know when you’ve made a decision.

Krist: sense felt!

After the call, Krist is in awe of his wife.

Krist: what do you advise me to do, darling?

Florence: no, don’t talk to me about a will. It is a document that is only valid after death and you are not dead yet.

Bruno: Honey, when my years here are up, I’ll probably be 83, do you really think I’ll be alive?

Florence: nothing is impossible with God and if you believe, you will see his glory. Jeremy is a good man and he will continue to manage your business until you leave here.

Bruno: okay darling, whatever you want. THANKS !

The visit ends and she returns home relieved and relaxed. She goes to Krist’s house to see her daughter.

Krist’s home.

Florence arrives and Isabelle goes to open the door for her.

Florence: hello my daughter.

Isabelle: hello mom. Please come in.

She enters and they go to the living room. She brings him a drink.

Isabelle: You look so relaxed!

Florence: yes my darling, I have removed a big burden from my heart.

Isabelle: what a burden!

Florence: the hatred I had for my husband. It kept me from being happy. It was like a poison that was eating away at me and tearing away all smiles, all joy, all inner peace and all good humor. But today I am freed because I am out of prison, I have forgiven your father and finally I feel peace in my soul. It’s not to force your hand but it really feels good!

Isabelle: I understood, mom. Besides, there’s no point in blaming him. It won’t erase everything he’s done.

Florence: that’s it, my darling. Better to turn the page and move forward, life goes on no matter what happened in the past.

Isabelle: you are right.

Florence: where is my little girl?

Isabelle: she’s in her cradle, I’ll bring her to you.

She takes Marie to her grandmother and goes to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Krist comes home a little later and talks for a while with his mother-in-law before eating lunch. Florence leaves them and returns home a little later. Krist receives a call from Commander Nero from Mexico.

Krist: Hello Commander! What a pleasure to have you on the phone!

Nero: Hi Krist! How are you ?

Krist: I’m fine Commander, thank you. You too ?

Néro: it’s going very well, thank you. How is your daughter doing ?

Krist: She is doing well. What’s new ?

Nero: I have good news but I don’t know if you would be interested.

Krist: What is it?

Nero: a boxing competition which will be organized in two weeks in Los Angeles.

Krist: you know that boxing is neither my passion nor my vocation.

Nero: I know but it’s a talent that you have in you and it wouldn’t be good if you wasted it unnecessarily. It could earn you big if you use it. Let me tell you, the winner will walk away with $10 million.

Krist: if you want to win too much, you lose everything, but let me think about it.

Nero: OK. Call me back when you’ve made a decision.

Krist: without fail!

After the call, Krist tells his wife about it.

Krist: what do you advise me to do darling?