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As round and I searched distractedly for my fallen Kindle, I felt uplifted and revitalized I couldn’t wait for him to come back and steal more from me

I think I knew, even then, ain

The electronic belch of the prison gate rang to notify guards on the other side whenever the doors were about to open It wasCaution But to me, it was the sound of freedom, because today, they blasted for me

As I stood before the intensity It made e in an to peel apart, slowing baring the world beyond

Color assaulted ht yellow taxi with a white puff of sates, a piercing red stop sign down the block, and grass as green as the rew on the trees in the woods behind hteen when I’d stepped behind bars For six years, rays and browns, blacks, and inht of fresh, new color until I lifted ht warmed my chilled palm and it sent a ripple of anxiety down my spine I tried to control my erratic breaths and slow the whiplash ofinsecurities

I hadn’t expected quite this level of eh, was that the overriding sensation wasn’t even relief It was fear I no longer knew this world I wasn’t prepared to step into it I didn’t even know if I wanted to be a part of it But I sure as hell didn’t want to stay here

Wiping my hand over my face to clear my expression, I took a step forward, ed my arm "Hey, Parker"

The heels ofhireleased today--I did nothing but stare blankly when he pulled a folded bill from his pocket and extended it my way

When I only blinked at the cash, he jabbed it atstick "Buy yourself soaze darted fro pendulum of indecision I didn’t understand

I started to shake lanced away, uncoift "It’s only twenty bucks You’ll barely be able to buy a meal with that"

My eyes flared If you couldn’t even buy a meal with twenty dollars these days, I wasn’t prepared for life on the outside at all