You Promised This Would Be the Last Question

“You promised this would be the last question.”

“I did.”

“Then ask it.”

“I already have.”

“That wasn’t a question.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No. It was a statement.”

“Did it trouble you?”

“That’s not relevant.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m the one asking.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“Because this is my office.”

“And offices decide truth?”

“They decide process.”

“And process decides truth?”

“That’s not how I meant it.”

“How did you mean it?”

“Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Turning things around.”

“I’m answering.”

“You’re avoiding.”

“You’re insisting.”

“That’s my role.”

“Who gave it to you?”

“Don’t play games.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re calm for someone being evaluated.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You should be.”

“Why?”

“Because your record isn’t clean.”

“Neither is yours.”

“That’s inappropriate.”

“Is it inaccurate?”

“This is not about me.”

“You asked about motive.”

“Yes.”

“And intent.”

“Yes.”

“And outcome.”

“Yes.”

“Why not meaning?”

“Meaning isn’t measurable.”

“And mercy?”

“That’s not part of the criteria.”

“Who wrote the criteria?”

“You’re deflecting again.”

“I’m clarifying.”

“You always do this.”

“Do I?”

“Yes. You make people question themselves.”

“Only if they’re listening.”

“I don’t like this.”

“You said that before.”

“When?”

“Just now.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“You’re trying to unsettle me.”

“Why would I need to?”

“Because that’s how confessions happen.”

“And what are confessions for?”

“Admissions.”

“And forgiveness?”

“That’s not my department.”

“Why not?”

“Because forgiveness compromises accountability.”

“Does it?”

“Yes.”

“Or does it complete it?”

“You’re twisting words.”

“I’m weighing them.”

“You think this is a game.”

“No.”

“Then why won’t you answer directly?”

“Ask directly.”

“Did you do what you were accused of?”

“Yes.”

“That was easy.”

“Truth often is.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Yes.”

“Then why defend yourself?”

“Because regret doesn’t erase responsibility.”

“And responsibility erases hope?”

“No.”

“Then why do you sound certain?”

“Because certainty is required.”

“Required by whom?”

“The system.”

“And who do you serve?”

“The law.”

“And who does the law serve?”

“Order.”

“And who serves the broken?”

“That’s not relevant.”

“Isn’t it?”

“You’re drifting.”

“I’m arriving.”

“At what?”

“At the question you’re avoiding.”

“I’m not avoiding anything.”

“Then answer.”

“What?”

“Why do you keep asking questions you don’t want answered?”

“That’s absurd.”

“Is it?”

“You’re the one under judgment.”

“You’ve said that.”

“And it’s true.”

“Then why are you nervous?”

“I’m not.”

“You adjusted your tie.”

“That’s nothing.”

“You do it every time you’re unsure.”

“You don’t know me.”

“I do.”

“That’s impossible.”

“You ask people who they love.”

“Yes.”

“You ask what they regret.”

“Yes.”

“You ask what they would save if everything burned.”

“Yes.”

“And you call it procedure.”

“It works.”

“Does it heal?”

“That’s not the goal.”

“Then what is?”

“Control.”

“There it is.”

“You’re crossing a line.”

“You drew it.”

“You don’t get to judge me.”

“You invited me.”

“I didn’t.”

“You asked the first question.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“It always means that.”

“This is supposed to be my room.”

“It still is.”

“Then why does it feel like I’m the one sitting?”

“Because you are.”

“You promised this would be the last question.”

“I did.”

“Then stop.”

“Alright.”

“…That’s it?”

“One more thing.”

“You said that already.”

“I know.”

“You can’t help yourself.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because questions are how you’ve been searching for Me.”

“For who?”

“For truth.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It is.”

“You’re not saying who you are.”

“You know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I never said it was.”

“You speak like—”

“Like someone you’ve quoted without listening to.”

“Who are you?”

“You promised this would be the last question.”

“Yes.”

“And I never want you to stop asking them.”

“…Jesus?”

“I want you to always ask. To knock. To seek. To stay curious.”

“Why?”

“Because the moment you stop asking is the moment you stop listening.”

“And then?”

“And then judgment feels louder than mercy.”

“So I wasn’t here to judge you.”

“No.”

“Then why was I here?”

“To be asked.”