Jailbird

I have a friend who did a really very bad thing. Well, had a friend.

The really very bad thing has been the object of my fretting for some time. It involved years of deception and theft against my family. I trusted her, loved her family, and she would tell everyone that Salty D. and I were part of her extended family. While she was thieving and lying.

It's been two years since her white-collar crime was discovered, over a year since her arrest, and her sentencing has been postponed and postponed. 

Today is, finally, I think, her day of reckoning.

The charges against her, an array of felonies and misdemeanors, have been bargained and whittled down to just a couple.  But those few could result in a year behind bars, or seven.  Or, she could manipulate the judge and get off with probation.

Before I understood the extent of the really very bad thing, I let her cry on my shoulder. I helped her with job hunting, I hugged her and told her I would do almost anything for her.  Then I found out that she had cut my family.

Even after that, after all of the drama, I decided to forgive her.  I wrote her a letter telling her that with our past and how much I loved her family, I could forgive her.

My other friends thought I was freakin' nuts!  How could I forgive her?  She needs help, and she doesn't care about you, obviously!

I thought that forgiveness was the right thing to do. No. Not always. Sorry, Jesus.

One girlfriend said, "But did the criminal apologize?  Does she fully realize she did you wrong?"

I said, "Ummmm well she said she was sorry, but, I don't think she knows what she did was really wrong."

The girlfriend said, "What did the criminal say when you said you would forgive her?"

I said, "Ummmmmm she said that I should never talk to her again."

Girlfriend said, "There you have it. She doesn't give a shit, and you shouldn't either."

I feel gutted by it all.

When this all started I wanted her to be able to escape prison. Surely the judge would see she's a decent human who works hard and raises a good family.

After all this time though, on this day, I want to see her punished. Not for seven years, not even for a full year. Just a little time in the big house so it sinks in that she really did a really very bad thing.

I sort of fantasize that after she gets out of jail, we'll have a barbeque and laugh about how she made friends and reorganized her cell block and all the new words that she learned in the joint.  Yeah, no...I don't think that'll happen. Do you?

Comments

[Tom Guarriello]

Um, no. That barbecue? Won't happen. And, it shouldn't. Even forgiveness isn't magic. People are often mysterious. This is one such instance.

[Lurker Girl]

Just like people who love you would never cheat on you (you can't lie and deceive someone you really love), a friend would never do that to you or your family. She's not your friend. Nor is she a good person. Good people don't do shit like that.

I hope she gets what's coming to her. You are much too good to keep wasting energy thinking about or worrying about this shit bag. BTW, I doubt SHE'S thinking about reconcillatory BBQ's with you.

[Kristin]

Remember the good times fondly, but realize there is no future with her. As they say in the movies "You're dead to me cheater lady." I think this applies here. And you can mourn that death cause it is sad - even when the person has done bad things.

[blaugra]

Excellent points all! She is dead to me.

But gawddamit, her sentencing got postponed AGAIN!! Looking for closure but I think I'll have to close it myself.

[Jeremy]

WTF...did my wife just throw a movie quote in her comment? Nice work Blaugie. This chick sucks, throw the book at her! Not for nuthin...but it is what it is.