For Better And For Worse
Chapter 18

At the anti-drug squad, the commander returns to Krist after a few minutes in his office. He sits down in front of him and starts talking to him.

Boris: it was his 18th birthday, I had always forbidden him from going to bars but he told me that he is now 18 and that he will know how to take care of himself, that I would give him a little confidence. So, for the first time, I decided to let my son go celebrate his birthday with his friends at a bar. A little late at night, someone called me to tell me that my son was in the hospital, I hurried to get there. I found my son in a bad state. The doctors told me he had taken a huge amount of drugs. According to his friends’ accounts, it appears they had a drinking contest. He was a little drunk when he left for a room with two girls. It seems that they were the ones who made him take drugs, which I never believed. My son died without apologizing to me or saying a word to me. After his death, his mother left me, holding me responsible for her death because of my job. I carried out investigations but they yielded nothing. But I’ll keep going until I catch the big fish. I’m sorry for my bad way of treating you.

He gets up to leave.

Krist: Commander, I’m sorry about your wife and your son.

Boris: thank you. I was blinded by what happened to my son and I judged you too quickly. Now I realized that like him, you are just a victim. I’m so sorry Krist, I know it’s too late because there’s nothing I can do to change the evidence that is against you, but I want you to know that I am sincerely sorry.

Krist: I accept your apologies, Commander, and if you want to catch the big fish in this matter, replace this famous Gauthier.

Boris: we have nothing on him, even his image that Mr. Félix gave us didn’t give anything, he’s a ghost.

Krist: that means that one, this man is not called Gauthier and two, he wears a mask, where he disguises himself.

Boris: I think you’re right.

Krist: it’s up to you to remove his mask.

Boris: thank you Krist, we will dig into this area. Tomorrow you will be transferred to prison.

Krist: This is my destiny.

The commander leaves. At Krist’s, Isabelle had refused to eat, they begged him in vain to taste something. In the evening, her father-in-law decides to come home but her mother-in-law decides to stay with her for another day or two. Vincent goes to the brigade to see his son.

Vincent: I… I don’t know where to start.

Krist: start what?

Vincent: I’m so ashamed of myself, son. I had looked at my interest rather than yours, I had not taken into account the love you had for this girl. When she told us that her parents were very rich, we immediately thought about getting out of poverty thanks to her but when you told us that her parents had disowned her because she chose you, I should have to be proud but instead I watched as my interest sank and instead asked you to leave her. I refused to attend your wedding which was a very important event in your life, I disowned you as a son, I am so ashamed today. If your heart could be big enough to forgive me, then forgive me, forgive me for denying you and forsaking you, but if not, I wouldn’t blame you.

Krist: Dad, no matter what harm you might have done to me, I will never be able to blame you. If you fail in your role as a father, it is first of all God that you would have disappointed, you would have disappointed me too but I would never blame you. I would just say that I wasn’t lucky enough to have a good father. And if you become aware and come back to me, it is with arms wide open that I k**s you, Dad.

This is how he hugs his father with tears in his eyes.

Vincent: I’m so sorry my son, sorry to have missed so many moments in your life.

Krist: We’ll have better times, Dad. Tell me how is my wife?

Vincent: ah my son, I don’t know what to tell you, she is so bad, I didn’t realize how great and strong the love you have for each other is. You are an example that all couples should learn from. She’s been crying ever since.

Krist: the pain that lives in her is the same that lives in me, dad. When I imagine my life without her, I see no future, everything is black before me.

Vincent: the Lord will support you, my son.

Krist: Sometimes I wonder if he’s really there.

Vincent: of course he is there and he will get you out of there. Be strong, keep the faith and trust in Him, He knows why He allows something to happen.

Krist: thank you father. I really needed it.

Vincent: Please my son, I have to leave you now.

Krist: okay, tomorrow I’m going to be transferred to prison.

Vincent: I will be there before you leave.

They hug and he leaves. Krist regains some strength thanks to his father’s visit. At home, Isabelle finally decides to go out, she wants to go see her husband. Stella and Odette decide to accompany him and they go to the anti-drug squad. They were installed in the waiting room and Krist was brought to them. He k****s first his mother, then Stella and finally his wife.

Krist: how are you feeling baby?

Isabelle: I’ve been feeling bad since this verdict. It’s unfair what you’re going through.

Krist: I know, we will get through this my love, you have to be strong.

Isabelle: I try but it’s stronger than me, imagine five years without you, how do I survive?

Krist: I ask myself the same question but we have no choice but to settle for this. By tomorrow I will be transferred to prison.

Odette: what, already?

Krist: yes mom, my wife needs you, you have to take care of her.

Odette: I know my son. I apologize to you both for all the harm I have done to you. I would love to make it up to you but I know I could never make it up. Excuse me !

Krist: Mom, I have no hard feelings or anything against you. No matter what you did to me, you are still my mother so I forgive you.

Isabelle: I forgive you too, mom.

Odette: thank you, thank you, you really relieve me.

She hugs them.

Odette: be strong and you will overcome this ordeal.

Krist: thank you mom. Stella come here!

She snuggled up to him with tears in her eyes.

Krist: I want you to know that I am very proud of you, you behaved really well like a good and respectful daughter. I hope that one day I will have a daughter who has your qualities.

Stella: What you say to me means a lot to me. Thanks to you, I felt like I never lost my father. By your side, I really felt at home, you are my family and what you are going through really upsets me a lot.

Krist: I know but I ask you to be stronger because you have to take care of my wife, you have to support her and I hope that when I get out, you will have your master 2 and that you will become a real sociologist .

Stella: I don’t want to do sociology anymore, I’m going to do law. I want to become a lawyer, if not a judge.

Krist: As you wish. May God help you in your ambitions and enable you to realize your dreams.

Stella: amen, thank you uncle.

Krist: my love, take care of our baby, don’t forget to tell him about me.

Isabelle: I will never forget, I will never stop talking to him about you.

Krist: The years go by quickly, you will see that I will join you soon enough.

Isabelle: I hope so.

Odette: we all hope so, my son.

Krist’s family returned a little later and Krist was taken back to the cell. Tomorrow morning his family returns to say goodbye one last time before he is transferred to prison.

Isabelle: my love, this will help you!

His wife gives him two photos, one of her and the other of them as a couple.

Krist: thank you my love, I love you.

Isabelle: I love you too.

They k**s then he k****s his mother, his father and Stella. His father gave him a lot of advice, including not to give up. After which, the commander comes to bring him. Before getting into the vehicle, he said this to the commander.

Krist: Commander, if you want to help me, unmask this Gauthier and put him under arrest.

Boris: I will do everything possible.

The commander led the convoy that transported Krist to the prison.