The sound of the gate buzzed as it opened, her heart was filled pain and happiness for what laid ahead. Freedom. Freedom, for the first time in three years. She stood there in silence, afraid to take her first steps out of the threshold. It was like she just forgot to walk all of a sudden. Memories of the outside came rushing back to her. A lone tear fell and she got loss looking at the opened gate.
A hand touched her shoulder, she would remember the perfume of the beautiful soul behind her anywhere .The woman pulled her to a long hug which she didn't return. She wanted to but saying goodbyes were on top of her hate list. "You have to leave. It's a beautiful world outside and you have the freedom to do anything you desire.". She hugged her again and though she did not hug back. They understood eachother.
"I know." She responded with little emotion.
"HEY! CAN YOU LEAVE! YOU'RE DELAYING OUR TIME" A guard exclaimed annoyed.
"Take care of yourself ." It was the last words she heard from Mama Rita before Charline walked out of the penitentiary. The gate closed behind her, closing the chapter of her years of solitude and unjust years. "I will." She whispered a simple promise to the woman who took care of her.
The bus she was assigned to sit in was rickety and dusty. It was going to be a long ride from Massachusetts correction centre to boston. She wasn't surprised when no one showed up at the gate to pick her up. None of the people she knew visited, called or sent a simple post card. They forgot about her like she never existed. The bus stopped at walhem. Some ex-cons got out and she followed them out. It wasn't her stop. Walhem was the last place she would stop at but she couldn't shake of the feeling of being followed. She was able to use the payphone at the bus stop to call a cab .
The cab arrived thirty minutes later"Where 'll you be going, Ma'am?" The cab driver looked back as she sat in the back seat. She gave him the address . He just stared at her . She begun to feel conscious, the dress was wearing was three years late of fashion and she looked wretched as ever. The address was at the posh side of town and it was difficult that a girl dressed the way she was, was going there. "Can you drive or should I drive for you?" She arched her eyebrows. The driver noticing his passenger was furious, sped away without any questions.
There scenery was one she had not seen in a long time. The closer she got to her destination the more nervous and giddy she felt. The cab driver pulled up infront of her apartment in Commonwealth avenue and she paid him off. Lucky for her she had cash on her the day she was arrested. She stood there admiring the neighbourhood she called home for a short period of time. Nothing had changed but in her head a lot had changed.
Step after step, she entered the building and there were new renovations made. It looked more in style and classy than it used too. She felt out of place, with the way she looked. "Ma'am!May I help you, are you lost?" A lady in a uniform asked her.
Taken back by the sudden interaction. She took her breath in to compose herself. "No! I'm not and I live on the top floor". She answered still startled.
The receptionist stared at her like she had grown three heads at the moment and begun laughing like a lunatic. "No one has lived there for years and I was told it belonged to refined gentlemen not a ..." She spewed out while uttering words after words giving her a look that will make a coward cower in fear.
She was about to give her nasty reply when the building manager walked out of the elevator. "Oh my God,Miss Dove is that you?" He was shocked when his eyes met hers but managed to pull himself together and answered his own question unconsciously. "Oh my, such a foolish question, of course it's you Miss Dove. Of course,it is you." He hugged her tightly but she did not reciprocate the action. "I am sorry, Ms Dove, I got carried away".
"There's nothing to panic about." She smiled at him to calm him down. "Do you still have the key card to my apartment?" She straightened herself to face him directly. Forgetting about the rude receptionist and was actually looking forward to see her home.
"This way." He led the way. There were changes every where. The elevator itself felt different to her. They reached her door within minutes. Mr Slade opened the door and walked in. She stood there admiring the doorway while bits of memories shared played like a movie in ahead. She did not realise she had entered nor when Mr Slade mumbled about how he kept the place intact. Neither did she realise he had left. She walked around. She felt estranged to the place she once called home. She could see marks of her lost painting on the wall. She stared and move past it. The pain was too much for her . She wanted to forget about her price collection. She opened the adjoining door to her patio. Her patio. She smiled. For the first time in years it was hers again. It had the same beauty. The view of city. The spring air rushed to her face, messing her kinky hair. She smiled. Laughed. Screamed and finally broke down in tears. Kneeling on the wooden floor. She looked pathetic and stupid. She thought she would never see this day but she did. All the months,weeks, days,hours,minutes and seconds she spent counting was worth it. She entitled to the freedom she should have never lost. The pain she should have never experienced. She was not going to feel sorry for herself. She was ready to start over. As her tears dried out she was too exhausted to move and fell asleep. Leaving the misty air to caress her skin and a wave of peace to fill her soul.
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By Miss Forson.
