David Johnson pushed Carolyn away sobbing and ran off. He had just told Carolyn Cross, who was now chasing him through the woods, that he was not a virgin. He had never told anyone this before.
When Carolyn caught up to him, David threw a burning orange fist at her face. She dodged it easily, then grabbed his other arm and subdued it behind his back.
“Let go of me!” David cried. “Let go of me! Leave me alone!”
“Calm down, David,” Carolyn said with a tender voice. “You don’t have to be ashamed.”
“But I am ashamed.” David turned to look into her eyes. “I’m ashamed of myself. I’m so ashamed.”
Carolyn embraced him and David’s tears wet her shoulder.
“When did it happen?” she asked.
“It was a few months before my 14th birthday.” David began. “I wasn’t hanging out with the right crowd back then, at least that’s what grandpa always told me. All of my friends had already done it with girls before. I didn’t have a girlfriend, so my friend Dale found this 15 year-old girl who live down the street from him. I remember thinking she was so hot. Dale and the rest of my friends took us to this old hotel that’d been shut down. And that’s where I lost my virginity. I never told grandpa. The real sad part is that I don’t even remember the girl’s name. So I can‘t join your group, Carolyn.”
“Well, David,” Carolyn began. “If that’s the way you feel, then I guess I can’t stop you. But if you quit C.O.R.E…then I guess I should quit, too.”
David Johnson looked at her. “You mean…”
“That’s right,” Carolyn said after a sigh. “I lost my virginity when I was young too. My parents were always telling me to wait till I was married. But when I was in high school I had this really cute boyfriend. He was a senior and I was a freshman. He was captain of the football team and the school president. One Saturday while his parents were away, he invited me over. He told me that if I didn’t come over, he’d dump me. So I did what he wanted me to do. And he’s the guy I lost my virginity to.”
Carolyn laughed a bit, as if just to keep herself from crying.
“It’s so funny.” Carolyn began to sniffle. “I saw him at the grocery store few months ago and you know what? He didn’t even recognize me. Didn’t even remember my name. I felt awful. Even after all those years. I gave that special part of myself to someone who’s a complete stranger to me now. So I should be the one to leave C.O.R.E., David, not you. If there’s anyone not fit to be apart of this organization, it’s me.”
“That’s not true,” David said. “You’re a child of Christ. My grandpa says that if you’re a child of Christ, then you’ve been forgiven, that God will wash your sins away. You may not be worthy…but the Lord has made you worthy by forgiving you. In fact, I can’t think of a better person for C.O.R.E. than you. You shouldn’t feel guilty about something that you’ve been forgiven for and…”
Carolyn Cross tilted her head with a big smile while slowly place both hands on her hips. David Johnson was starting to get the picture.
“Alright, I get it. I get it.” David smacked his lips. “I won’t quit C.O.R.E. But can we take a break?”
"Good," Carolyn said. "Because there's someone I want you to meet."