Forgivemefather 21 05 03 Lily Joy Teacher Picke... ◉

May 3, 2021

May 3rd.

She had stayed late to revise a poem. The classroom was empty except for the two of them. Pickett closed the door. “Lily,” he said, “you’re special. But you’ve been distracted.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. Then lower. She froze. He whispered, “This stays between us. You wouldn’t want to ruin my career over a misunderstanding, would you?” ForgiveMeFather 21 05 03 Lily Joy Teacher Picke...

Lily walked to the police station that afternoon. She didn’t pray. She didn’t cry. She handed the note to an officer and said, “His name is Mark Pickett. He still teaches at Jefferson High.” May 3, 2021 May 3rd

“Forgive me, Father, for I have finally spoken.” If you’d like a different genre or a more specific interpretation of “Picke” (e.g., pickle, picket, picker), let me know. Pickett closed the door

Three years later, cleaning out her closet for college, she found the book. And inside, in Pickett’s neat handwriting: ForgiveMeFather 21 05 03 —the date of the incident. A code. Maybe a confession he’d written to himself, then hidden. Or a reminder of what he thought he needed forgiveness for.