The Confession (Maupassant)
Marguerite de Thèrelles was on her deathbed, with her elder sister, Suzanne, sobbing by her side.
The two sisters had a touching story; Suzanne had been engaged to a young man named Henry de Sampierre, but he died suddenly before they could marry. Marguerite, only twelve at the time, vowed to never marry and stay with her sister forever.
Sister, I don't want you to be unhappy. I don't want you to cry all your life long. I will never leave you, never, never! I won't marry either. I will stay with you forever and ever.
They lived together all their lives, inseparable, but Marguerite seemed sadder and aged more rapidly.
As Marguerite's death approached, a priest arrived to administer the last sacrament.
Marguerite began to confess a terrible secret to her sister. She revealed that she had been deeply jealous of Suzanne's relationship with Henry and had been unable to bear the thought of them marrying. In her jealousy, Marguerite had poisoned the cakes Suzanne made for Henry, causing his death. She had always been ill since then, and the thought of confessing her actions to Suzanne had tormented her throughout her life.
I said to myself: 'I will never leave my sister. And I will tell her all, in the hour of my death.'
Suzanne, devastated by the revelation, thought of the happy life she could have had with Henry. However, as the priest urged her to forgive her sister, Suzanne tearfully embraced Marguerite and forgave her.