Forgiving Shamrock

Colin was driving fast in the warm dark night on his way to West Street with a gun in his lap. He was looking for a man named Shamrock who caused the death of his sister Vicky in a drunk driving accident last year one night after leaving a club. Shamrock was on his way to prison for involuntary manslaughter and he’s going to be gone for a very long time, but he was able to posted bail a few months ago because he comes from a wealthy family. Colin decided to use this as an opening to exact revenge for the death of his sister.

“I’m gonna kill him.” Colin thought to himself. “He put my family through hell when caused my sister’s death and now he’s gonna get his.” Colin pulled up to the Moore residence and found Shamrock sitting on his front porch with his head. Shamrock never looked up even with the headlights on the car shining bright above, perhaps he was under the impression that it was just one of his family members pulling in the driveway.

Colin quickly got out of the car with the gun in his hand and started towards Shamrock. As he neared him Shamrock quickly looked up and was startled to find Colin hovering over him. Colin pointed the gun at Shamrock’s face at which point Shamrock slowly rose to his feet. “Colin!” Shamrock started softly. “What are you doing?”. “I’m here to make you pay for what you did.” Colin responded angrily. “You took my little sister on your drunk driving journey and now she’s dead.” “Colin I’m sorry for the pain I caused you and your family, but please don’t do this.”

“What?” Colin asked angrily. “You don’t think you deserve to die for the life you took and the lives you messed up in the process?” “Of course I deserve to pay with my life.” Shamrock answered sharply. “But you owe it to your sister to not destroy yourself.” Colin then hit Shamrock in the head with the butt of the gun. Shamrock held his head in pain as Colin addressed him again. “You don’t get to tell me what’s good for my sister and what isn’t. You’re the reason she’s dead.” “You’re right.” Shamrock responded tearfully. “It is my fault that she’s dead, but don’t let me be the reason you destroy yourself because Vicky wouldn’t want that.”

Colin’s emotions began to subside as he thought about Shamrock’s words. “You’re right Colin. I ruin lives when I was drunk driving with Vicky that night and it’s hurt me to my heart everyday since. I spent the last year wanting to die, but I found God and realized I owed it to Vicky to make sure no one else makes the same mistake I did. Allow me that Colin, let me dedicate the rest of my life to saving some other poor soul from sharing my fate.” Colin slowly began lowering his gun. He had a rush of anger flowing through him, but he also had a sense of understanding.

Colin knew if he killed Sham that he would potentially rob someone else of a chance at redemption. He also believed that his sister Vicky was looking down on him with faith in his future. “Let me go, Colin.” Sham began. “Don’t destroy yourself all because I’ve destroyed myself. I had to take a hard look at myself in jail and I realized I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to saving someone else’s.” Colin’s anger began to subside as he began lowering his gun.

“You know what, Sham? I’m gonna pray for you. Honor my sister, do you your time and dedicate your life to saving another. I forgive you.” Sham nodded in agreement with tears in his eyes as Colin got back in his car and drove away.