Goretti by M. D. Schaffer
In a nostalgic reunion, three long-term friends gather for a night of fun. It’s the 10th anniversary since Molly, Kyle, and Benji decided to turn their backs on their Catholic faith in high school. The festivities and recounting of stories enrapture Kyle’s new roommate, Sky. However, the usually private Kyle has recently taken on painting his patron saint, Saint Maria Goretti (the Catholic Saint of forgiveness...
In a nostalgic reunion, three long-term friends gather for a night of fun. It’s the 10th anniversary since Molly, Kyle, and Benji decided to turn their backs on their Catholic faith in high school. The festivities and recounting of stories enrapture Kyle’s new roommate, Sky. However, the usually private Kyle has recently taken on painting his patron saint, Saint Maria Goretti (the Catholic Saint of forgiveness and sexual assault victims), more and more. While divulging spicy memories and gossip, old wounds and secrets are unearthed in Molly’s mission to figure out what's behind his art. After she abrasively confronts him, Kyle secludes himself to his room. Sky, in turn, questions the legitimacy of the trio’s friendship. They accuse Molly of using her assertiveness to make Benji and Kyle follow her desires for the past eighteen years, a sentiment Benji finds himself agreeing with. As Molly defends herself, Benji reveals that he was groomed by Molly’s older brother, Chance, as a pre-teen.
During a discussion later that night, Kyle reveals he knew about Benji’s assault. Exhausted by the day’s events and the decade-plus years of carrying his own secret, he tells Sky a woman from his church sexually assaulted him, and when he tried to speak out about it, he was silenced by his pastor. Sky consoles him but shares that maybe to heal, he has to return to what hurts him. Kyle goes into confession to confess the anger he’s been holding onto. There, he comes to learn forgiveness isn’t always an active apology, but it is to let go and live one’s life for themselves.