Amor

The Last Day

It's the last day.

It's the last day.

It's my last day in prison.

I can see them again. I'll be free again.

The guard called me over. He told me I didn't have any visitors for today, again. I haven't had any visitors for a few years now. It's been so long since I last saw my wife and son. Hopefully, it's because they're too busy. My cellmates don't like me. I only have a few friends here: Rick, who was wrongly accused of r**e, and Thomas who burned a bank down.

When it was time for lunch, Rick and Thomas waved me over. I went and sat beside them. So as I was saying, Thomas once burned a bank down. Why he didn't just steal the money instead of burning it, I don't understand. But he just keeps on telling us that it was the bank of his rival and that he didn't need money.

"Hey, I've heard from little birdies that it's your last day! Is it true?" Thomas asked.

"Yes, the court finally saw that I was just defending myself and the kids," I said, "I hope I'll see my family again. It's been so long since I last saw my kid,"

"That's good, that's good. You were just defending the kids from those child traffickers. I really don't understand why they took so long figuring that out. How long were you here again? Seven years? Eight?” Thomas inquired

"Ten," I answered. Rick just shook his head.

"That's the justice system for you guys, It doesn't only take so long for the court to make a decision, they also can't find the actual criminal," he said

"Not really, I just regret working for him in the first place. And when we fought for the gun, I knew that I have to get them out of there, and I was put here a few days later." I said.

That was the truth. Or at least what I convinced myself the truth was. I don't really remember what happened that night, but I know I went and brought them home. I knocked on the door that day to see Kim's terrified eyes staring back at me. After I explained everything to her and we called the police. I haven't seen her since. I really miss her. And I also miss my son. He was just a year old then, I wonder how he looks like now?

I finished packing what few possessions I had and the money I got from the work we had to do here. I nodded to the jailer as he opened the cell for me. Once I got outside, I took a very deep breath of the fresh air. It smelled of freedom, and of hope. I wonder what I should do next?

I went on a bus and thought of our previous address. If they still lived there, then maybe I can find them. It took so long and I got lost a lot of times, Asking people for directions, but I got there. The sight of the house filled me with nostalgia. I gathered my courage and knocked on the door. the door was answered by a small boy.

"Who is it?" He asked in his small voice.

"John? Is that already you?" I asked him.

"Um, who are you? How do you know my name? I don't know you," He asked again.

"Just call your mom. She knows me. Is she there?" I asked him.

"Wait a minute," he told me before running off inside. I just waited there. Kim appeared, with a man holding her by the waist. I don't know him, and he didn't seem to recognize me, but Kim's eyes widened when she realized who I was.

"Mark? Is that you?" She started to walk towards me but the man beside her was holding her back.

"It's me, Kim. I finally got out. They ruled me as innocent," I told her.

"Who are you?" The man beside her said. He stood protectively in front of her and pulled John behind him.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. After everything? After all those years where all I thought about was them? After all the things that we've been through? I can't take this. I went out of there and just... ran. I don't know where I was going, but I just kept on running. When I got tired, I just walked. I kept on walking and walking until I realized I was at the bus station again. I sat down on one of the benches and just tried to forget what happened. Maybe if I cleared my mind... No. I won't forget this. I will never forget this.

I still remember the first time I met her. That was before I started working for him. We met at the beach when I was with some friends of mine who on vacation. I didn't notice her while taking their pictures and stepping backward, so I accidentally stepped on her and tripped on the process. Then the next time I saw her was in our hotel lobby. You can probably guess the rest. When we had our son, our income wasn't enough, with me just being a typical office worker with a low salary. That's when I met the boss, and he offered me work just watching over a warehouse. I didn't know what was inside ten, but the pay was good so I had no complaints. At least that way I could feed my wife and son.

I still don't understand what happened to them while I was in prison. Did she find someone else? Was that man a friend? Maybe I should go back to hear the truth. Yes, that's what I'll do. I stood up and started walking back. I still sort of remember the way back, but if memory serves me there's a faster route down an alley. I went to the alley, which was completely dark in the night sky. After ten years in prison, things like this don't faze me anymore. I just continued walking in the dark.

In the dim light of the moon, I saw someone smoking in the alley. I looked at him closely, wondering at the familiarity. I know him, but I can't place who he is. Then he noticed me and smiled. I know that smile. Joel. He worked with me for the boss. After I told the police everything, he disappeared. I tried to hide my fear. I know what this man can do. I waved at him.

"So we are reduced to that, my friend? After everything, you'll just smile and wave?" He said, straightening up and throwing his cigarette. "After you told on us, after we lost our jobs and went on the run, ALL because of YOU, you just smile and wave? No, how are you doing, Joel? No hey, what's up?" He walked to the middle of the alley, blocking my path. I tried to go past him but he pulled me back.

"Come on, I just want to go back to my family," I said.

"It's not that easy, my friend. do you know how long I've been wanting to do this?" He pulled out a gun from his jeans.

"Please, just let me go," I said again. His grip on my arm was like steel. I tried to smack the gun away, and it worked for a second before he recovered and aimed it at me again. I grabbed the gun, trying to take it from him. We were grappling like that for a few seconds when-

BANG! the sound of the gunshot filled the air. We stared at each other wondering what happened when the pain finally hit me. I looked down and saw that I was shot in my chest. I fell on the ground while he dropped the gun in a panic and ran away. My last thought before blacking out was the face of my family smiling at me.