Derek Washington embraced the warm rays from the sun. It was his first time in a long time being able to stand outside without being yellled at that his 20 phút were over.

The security guard took his trái cam, màu da cam jumpsuit and ID that he would need to officialy leave the prison.

His stepdad and his mom were waiting in the car in the parking lot. His mom was smiling and running to hug him. His stepdad, former soldier, was scowling, as usual.

"Oh honey," his mom cried. "That was the longest năm of my life and bạn grew a beard. How lovely."

"Good to see bạn too mom," he đã đưa ý kiến through her blonde hair.

"I can no believe they would arrest and jail someone for simply robbing."

"They can if it is a bank," mumbled his stepdad, Roger. "This boy was lavished here. They do not punish these men severe enough. They feed them three times a day. He should tham gia the army and see how fortunate he had it."

"Oh, Roger, leave him alone," his mom teased.

"Get in the car, boy," barked the step dad. "Come on, Tammy baby."

Derek watched the blur of the trees and cars. All he ever saw in jail ws the concrete walls and dry grass. There was rarely any sunshine there. It almost always rained and the guards were rough but it was better then being with his stepdad.

"So boy, tell me all the dirty work bạn have been doing in there?" Roger was most likely eager to hear misfortune and depression bởi his tone. Derek did not want to give him the satisfaction.

"Nothing really," shrugged Derek. "The guards werent easy on me. They thought I was too weak to do anything on my own."

"I knew guards have gotten lazy."

"Are bạn glad to come back home, Derek?" His mom looked at him expectantly through the mirror.

"Sure mom," he replied.

"I bet bạn can not wait to see Isabekke again." This perked his attention. He had not seen Isabelle since the ngày before the robbery. "She can not stop talking about you. She did meet a wonderful man who could help with bạn . . . um . . . stealing problem."

"Military Academy of St. James would help him more," đã đưa ý kiến Roger. "One thêm screw up, boy, and I swear I will send bạn there."

"Way to damper the mood," đã đưa ý kiến his mom in a less cheerful tone then before. "I told bạn we should tell him together."

"Tell me what?" Derek began to panic. It was an emotion he was bale to master when he was in jail. "If this is about the note then I already apologized for it."

"That note was pathetic," spat Roger. "It was about a bunch of hokey pokey. I certainly ddi not want to read about your anger towards the cellmate."

"It was his feelings and I loved it." His mom gushed at the thought of her son expressing his feelings. "Oh, we will continue the trước đó topic later."

Isabelle Davis was standing at the front door of Derek's house. She had balloons in one hand a baby in the other. It was not Derek's child.

"Hey!" Isabelle cam slowly down the porch steps and sauntered to him. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "How have bạn been?"

"Great," he replied with false enthusiam. "How about you?"

"Same ole, same ole."

"Belle," greeted Derek's mom. "Are bạn staring for dinner?"

"Oh no, Jason's cooking me some fancy seafood meal. He will be disappointed if I hủy bỏ but welcome back Derek." She patted him on the arm, boarded the car and left. Derek had never felt thêm beartbroken.

He knew things would change once he was arrested. He just did not believe they would change that much in his abscence.

The End.

Should there be a sequel to this?