Sorry About The Door

With the final ring of the elevator bell, Kelcy stepped out of the parting doors into the hazy fluorescent hallway. The row of ivory doors emitted noises of t.v. shows, dinners cooking, and persistent shouting matches which were a gauntlet for her as she navigated quietly to her apartment. Her hospital scrubs were in dire need of washing she thought to herself as she passed by the tiny laundry room. Exhausted and restless, she removed the clattering keys from her purse, but stopped as she approached her door to see that it was kicked in and cracked open.

There was a moment of fearful hesitation but then she quickly shouldered her purse and placed her keys between her fingers as she rolled her hand into a fist; the keys protruding and ready to strike. Kelcy then tapped the door open, cautiously, with the toe of her white shoe as it made a prolonged squeak. Her white-knuckled fist still at the ready as she crept into the small faded teal kitchen. She stepped around the corner and froze in place as she saw an older man in a dark denim coat, around his forties or fifties, sitting still and calm at her kitchen table as if he was waiting for her; with a navy blue duffel bag placed in front of him.

He looked up from his clasped hands and stated quickly, "Please, don't scream or call rge cops. Kelcy, right?" Kelcy still did not move an inch, but only quickly glanced the kitchen knives next to her as she fearfully nodded her head. The man continued with his deeply smooth voice, "You don't know me and I understand how this looks, but trust me I mean you no harm. You don't have to do or say anything, just listen."

The man seemed sincere to Kelcy, she lowered her fist but only slightly as she did not want to let her guard down completely. The man released a deep sigh as he rubbed his graying beard.

"I know you work at Mercy Hospital down the street. You're a nurse. Working shift after shift to make a living for yourself, but more importantly your boy." Kelcy looked at him surreal confusion, but she let the man continue, "His name is Tyler. He likes to read, and play hockey with his friends. I also know he is in the same hospital you work in; as a patient. Hit and run, three months ago."

Slight tears began to fill in Kelcy's eyes as she tried to keep herself composed. The fear of a stranger in her kitchen and the details of her life being laid before her was overwhelming.

"You must be asking yourself how I know all this?" he asked in an understanding tone, "How you and Tyler were walking home from school, on a beautiful and normal Tuesday afternoon, and before you knew it as you crossed an alley, a van came speeding through; full force right into Tyler. Crushing his spine. A miracle he lived, but now the poor kid may not walk or move again. Not without expensive surgery."

The man finally unzipped the bag in front of him and a look of disbelief came over Kelcy as she glanced at it, wiping a tear from her cheek. A bundle of fifty to one hundred bills lay before her.

"I hope this will help. It's twenty thousand dollars. It's all there. All for Tyler.", the man genuinely stated. Kelcy looked to him again as a kind, but sorrowful smile formed on his face. "And now you're asking yourself, why? Is it just my lucky day?"

He opened his jacket to pull a little black book from his inner chest pocket, with a small pencil placed in the middle as a bookmark.

"Truth of it is, I'm a lowdown thief, Kelcy. Been stealing and scamming my whole life and never once thought about consequences." He hesitated and took a deep breath as if hold back his own sadness. "That day...Tyler was hurt, I was the getaway driver for my crew. We robbed First National on that beautiful Tuesday afternoon. I didn't see him...I swear...I didn't see him...coming."

The man lowered his head as if to hide himself, and Kelcy now in a whirlwind of despair and anger, broke down in full and silent tears. She could not look at the man in disgust, and he could not bear look at her in guilt.

"If I had seen him sooner...no matter if anyone was chasing us or not...I would have stopped. I should've...it doesn't matter at this point I guess." He wiped his face and slowly rose him from the chair. He opened his black book and crossed a line through Kelcy's name and address, and looked back up at her; the raging pain in her eyes so evident. "I'm a tired man, Kelcy. I'm making amends with those I've hurt. I'm moving on to hopefully find some peace, and no amount of money can give me that. Not this money."

With a small pause, he then he pocketed his book, zipped his jacket and began for the front door. He stopped to stand by Kelcy for a moment, she could only focus with sheer disdain on the bag when he said, "I know this is a cheap way of apologizing. You can throw the money out for after I leave, but just know that I would trade places with your boy in a heartbeat if it meant he could play hockey with his pals just one last time."

She let him pass, glancing at a fridge magnet picture of Tyler placed on the fridge. The man stopped at the door, his palm on the handle as he added, "My name is John by the way. And, sorry about the door." He finally left Kelcy alone, turning his collar as he quickly began to walk down the hallway. However, a creaking behind him made him slow to stop when a voice, like an angel, softly spoke to him.

"I forgive you, John."

He looked over his shoulder to see Kelcy standing in her doorway looking to John, full with grace in her demeanor. John only nodded and smiled in return as he continued on and for the first time he felt like a good man; his peace waiting just around the corner.