No TIme left to Forgive

After spending several years away at college and then working, Sally Thomason returned home for her high school reunion. It was to be a week of activities planned out by the class president and corridor, Kathy Miller, another friend she looked forward to seeing again. As Sally returned to her small hometown, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia and excitement. Seeing familiar faces and revisiting the places she had grown up filled her with joy and anticipation. Sally had missed the close-knit community feel of her hometown and was looking forward to reconnecting with the people who had shaped her life in so many ways. Her childhood memories flooded back as she envisioned reuniting with her old school gang and catching up on lost time.

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However, one person in the town had always been a source of distress for her - Henry Waterford. He was notorious for his mean-spirited behavior and bullying tactics, which he used to torment others, especially Sally. She still remembered when Henry had played a cruel prank on her during a school play, embarrassing her in front of the entire audience. Henry's jokes were trudged and mean, and the only one who felt they were funny was Henry; even his best friend, Tommy Johnston, told him when he went too far with his jokes and stopped hanging with him, but it never stopped Henry.

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Sally knew that Barbara Benson had also been a victim of Henry's bullying and that he seemed to enjoy targeting Sally and Barbara in particular. Barbara Benson was Sally's best friend, and even though they did not stay in touch with each other, Sally knew through her mother that Barbara never left their small town; she stayed and married Tommy Johnston, Barbara's high school sweetheart, the marriage did not last, but they ended it on good terms and remind friends.

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Despite her apprehension about encountering Henry, Sally was looking forward to seeing Barbara again and catching up on old times--besides, that's what reunions are for. Sally was determined to enjoy her homecoming and reconnect with the rest of the community. She hoped to avoid Henry's cruel antics and enjoy the warm and welcoming environment she remembered from her childhood.

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When Sally caught a glimpse of her friend Barbara, a wave of emotion crashed over her. She couldn't hold back the tears that willed in her eyes as she greeted her long-time friend. "Barbara, you look absolutely stunning," Sally said, her voice trembling with emotion. You're positively glowing hometown living seems to be treating you well," she added, admiring the way her friend's outfit complimented her figure.

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Barbara smiled warmly, grateful for the kind words. "Thanks, Sally. You look great, too, as always," she said. It's so good to see you." The two women hugged tightly, enjoying the comfort of each other's embrace.

After a few moments, Sally's expression turned sad as she brought up the elephant in the room. "I was really sorry to hear about you and Tommy, she said. It must have been tough."

Barbara's face fell slightly, but she managed to put on a brave face. "Yeah, it was tough, but you know how it goes. We were just too young when we got together. We grew apart, and it was time to move on," Barbara explained. "But it's weird because even though we're not together anymore, we're still best friends. I guess some things never change."

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"Barbara informed Sally in a concerned voice that Henry was waiting to see her. Barbara advised Sally to stay away from him as she didn't understand his behavior towards her in the past or even now? Sally agreed and said, "Yes, I know it was like I was his punching bag. He always made cruel jokes about me, and I still don't understand why he did that.

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During the first two days of the reunion, Sally and Barbara did not run into Henry. It was a relief to them; the two old friends spent much time catching up with each other. They shared stories and laughed heartily, reminiscing about old memories as if no time had passed at all. Sally was excited to be reunited with her dear friend Barbara and looked forward to more happy moments together. However, she couldn't help but wonder where Henry was and if they would run into him soon.

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Kathy Miller had managed to arrange a small carnival to be set up on the old Stewart farm just outside of town. The whole gang was excited. Despite her efforts to steer clear of him, Henry approached Sally and tried to engage her in conversation. Barbara played interference for Sally. "Please leave Sally alone, Henry, Barbara said firmly. I don't know what you want, but she doesn't want to talk to you. We're not kids anymore; your jokes have become meaner and more crude. I still live here in our town, and I know what you are capable of, and I don't want to deal with the fallout from your behavior. Please respect Sally's wishes and give her space.

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Later that night, Sally was getting ready for the carnival when she received a letter. The letter was from Henry Waterford, her long-time tormentor, and it was an apology for his past behavior. He expressed a desire to make amends. Sally was shocked by Henry's unexpected gesture of remorse. She was torn between skepticism and curiosity about what might have prompted such a change of heart. In the letter, Henry suggested they meet in person to talk. "I don't trust him, and neither should you," Barbara said firmly to Sally, who asked if Barbara believed what she read.

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Upon arriving at the carnival, Sally and Barbara were delighted to see a few more of their former classmates. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone laughing, eating cotton candy, and playing games. As they caught up on each other's lives, Tommy, Barbara's ex-husband, couldn't help but compliment the ladies, "I can't believe it's been ten years; you all look as beautiful as ever. Time has been kind to you," he said with a charming smile. Sally and Barbara blushed at the compliment, feeling grateful for the kind words. "Thanks, Tommy, you're looking good, too," Barbara smiled. "Well, you have to say that; you're my ex," Tommy quipped, and everyone laughed heartily.

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As Sally and her small group of friends chatted, Henry called out to them, trying to grab their attention. Tommy let out a sigh, anticipating what was about to happen. Sally looked over to see what Henry was up to, while Tommy recalled a disturbing memory of Henry playing a prank by pretending to hang himself with a rope. Tommy's voice was filled with impatience as he addressed Henry, "Come on, Henry, we all remember this one. You will not get us again," Barbara, who was standing beside Tommy, chimed in, "Enough, we are not kids anymore." Henry's face fell, and he felt disappointed that his classmates did not fall for his once-famous prank. He remembers the consequences of his previous prank, which had landed him a 5-day suspension from school and a mandatory two-week counseling session.

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Sally was perplexed by Henry's behavior. "What is wrong with him? He is always doing things for attention. I don't understand him," she asked Tommy, once Henry's best friend. Tommy, who had known Henry for a long time, replied, "Well, Sally, he has always had a crush on you. Sally was taken aback by the unexpected comment that Tommy had just made. She let out a gasp and exclaimed, "What! No way, not Henry!" Her mind raced as she tried to process this new information. She had never thought Henry's attention-seeking behavior could result from his affection for her. The thought of Henry's romantic interest in her was something that she had never even considered. "He once told me he would marry you someday," Tommy continued. Hearing this only added to Sally's confusion and disbelief. "I never saw Henry that way; he was and still is a bother," Sally said, trying to make sense of everything. The revelation made Sally feel uneasy and unsure of how to proceed. Sally could only recall Henry's mean and crude jokes and actions on her and others.

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As the night progressed, Sally and her friends had a wonderful time, completely oblivious to Henry's absence. Suddenly, a loud scream pierced the peaceful stillness of the night. It was Kathy Miller, running frantically towards them, her eyes wide with terror. She kept repeating the same phrase over and over again in an almost manic tone, "He did it, he did it." Tommy quickly grabbed hold of Kathy and demanded to know what she was talking about, his voice betraying a hint of concern. Kathy, the organizer of the reunion, turned around and pointed toward the big tent that had been set up for their final dinner. The tent was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and colorful streamers, creating a cozy and warm ambiance. Tommy, Sally, and Barbara followed her gaze and made their way inside the tent. As they entered, they looked up in surprise and gasped at what they saw. There, hanging from the center of the tent, was Henry. He appeared to be lifeless, his body hanging limply from a rope tied around his neck. The ladies were shocked and horrified, thinking that Henry had committed suicide. However, being practical and skeptical. Tommy demanded that Henry get down from there and stop playing such a tasteless prank on them. After waiting several minutes, Tommy and a few classmates got a ladder, and Tommy climbed up; he turned a pale white as if all the blood drained from him and turned to face Sally and Barbara; he did do it; he's dead," Tommy, almost in tears said.

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As Officer Whitmore approached the cluster of classmates, he surveyed them with a stern gaze. His eyes rested on each of them before he inquired about Henry. "Tell me, he asked, what can you tell me about Henry?" The question was met with a few shrugs and nervous glances. Finally, Tommy spoke up; "Henry was always getting into trouble, he said. He liked to joke around and do stupid things like this. You know how it is, Officer; how many times have you dealt with him? The words spoken by Officer Whitmore seemed to linger in the air, heavy and ominous. His eyes scanned the crime scene, taking in every detail as he let out a long, drawn-out sigh. It was clear that this was going to be a long night. Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration and disbelief, "Well, it looks like the joke was on Henry this time. From the looks of things, it appears he's been murdered