when you moved in, it was like you needed to know more. this strange church, and the people who attended it. it all gave you bad vibes. but when you walked over on your second weekend in town, it changed. when you saw him.

black garb, with dark curly hair and these big ears that made you smile. jud duplenticy, you learned. assistant priest. you needed to be close to him.

church every week became a thing. you stayed pretty detached from the actual spirituality, but became attached to father jud. he was sweet, patient, shy, so smart. a little older than you, enough to give advice in that "oh, sweetheart" way.

confessions became a thing too. sitting across from him, you could always feel the energy. he felt it too.

one night you just couldn't take it, and you decided to go for a walk by the church. jud was still working, sitting on a pew and writing something.